Electrical connector for flat conductors

Abstract

Provided is a flat-type conductor electrical connector capable of ensuring the strength of a mold pin of a molding die for insert molding the terminals while closely arranging the terminals. Extensions (33, 43) of a plurality of terminals (20) are formed separately in the terminal arrangement direction, and at least at the end portion located on the housing (10) side of a portion located outside a housing (10) in the front-to-back direction, have a narrow portion (33A-1, 44A-1) whose terminal width in the terminal arrangement direction is narrower than the terminal width of a retained portion (32, 42). An opening (33A-2, 44A-2) is formed by the narrow portion (33A-1, 44A-1), and a spacing between the narrow portion (33A-1) of any extension (33) and other extensions (43) adjacent to the narrow portion (33A-1) with the opening (33A-2) sandwiched therebetween is larger than a spacing between mutually adjacent retained portions (32, 42).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric connector for a flat conductor that is mounted on a circuit board and to which a flat conductor is connected. Background Art

[0002] This type of flat conductor electrical connector, when mounted on a circuit board, connects a flat conductor extending in the front-to-back direction, parallel to the surface of the circuit board. The connector's mounting portions, held by a housing, are soldered to the circuit board while aligned on the board. Since multiple terminals are typically arranged, miniaturizing the connector requires that the mounting portions be closely aligned in the direction in which the terminals are arranged.

[0003] A known electrical connector for flat conductors in which terminal mounting portions are densely arranged is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, semi-finished terminals ("contacts" in Patent Document 1) are formed by punching a metal plate and extending in a comb-like pattern from a carrier (connecting piece). Each terminal of the semi-finished product is held by a housing, and the carrier is subsequently separated from the terminals to remove the carrier, thereby manufacturing the connector.

[0004] In such a connector, if the terminals are closely arranged, there is a problem that the spacing between the terminals for the blades used for punching cannot be sufficiently ensured in a semi-finished product. In Patent Document 1, two semi-finished products are used and staggered by half the pitch of the terminals and fixed to each other between carriers. After being held by a housing, the carriers are separated, thereby closely arranging the terminals.

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-194263 Summary of the Invention

[0008] In recent years, in connectors that arrange terminals closely, there are many forms in which the terminals are held by insert molding with the housing. In such connectors, generally speaking, a small spacing between the terminals must be ensured with high precision so that the housing can be molded and the terminals can be tightly positioned, and components such as pins of the molding mold (mold pins) are arranged between the terminals. However, in the connector of Patent Document 1, if the terminals are held by insert molding, the spacing between the terminals becomes too small to be able to arrange the mold pins, or the mold pins become too thin to ensure their strength. However, if the spacing between the terminals becomes larger, the original purpose of arranging the terminals closely cannot be achieved.

[0009] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a flat conductor electrical connector capable of arranging terminals densely while ensuring the strength of die pins of a mold for insert-molding and holding the terminals.

[0010] The electrical connector for flat conductors of the present invention is mounted on a circuit substrate and electrically connects the front end portion of a strip-shaped flat conductor extending in the front-to-back direction, wherein the connector comprises: a plurality of terminals, each of which is formed by bending a metal plate member in the direction of its plate thickness; and a housing, the housing holding the plurality of terminals arranged with the strip width direction as the terminal arrangement direction by insert molding.

[0011] In this flat conductor electrical connector, the present invention is characterized in that the above-mentioned multiple terminals have a retained portion and an extension portion at at least one end portion in the front-to-back direction, the above-mentioned retained portion is retained by the above-mentioned housing, the above-mentioned extension portion extends from the above-mentioned housing and forms a mounting portion that is soldered and mounted to the circuit substrate, the above-mentioned retained portions adjacent to each other and the above-mentioned extension portions adjacent to each other are arranged and positioned in the above-mentioned terminal arrangement direction in a manner that has an overlapping range in the above-mentioned front-to-back direction, the above-mentioned extension portion is formed as one or separately formed into a plurality of portions in the above-mentioned terminal arrangement direction, the above-mentioned extension portion has a narrow width portion at at least the end portion located on the housing side in the portion located outside the housing in the front-to-back direction, the terminal width of the above-mentioned narrow width portion in the above-mentioned terminal arrangement direction is narrower than the terminal width of the above-mentioned retained portion, an opening portion is formed by the narrow width portion, and the spacing between the above-mentioned narrow width portion of any extension portion and the other extension portions adjacent to the narrow width portion with the above-mentioned opening portion sandwiched therebetween is larger than the spacing between the above-mentioned adjacent retained portions.

[0012] In the present invention, an opening is formed by the narrow portion of the extension in the terminal, and the mold pin of the molding mold can enter the opening. Therefore, even if the terminals are arranged in a manner that narrows the intervals between the terminals in the terminal arrangement direction, the mold pin can be arranged in a manner with sufficient strength when the terminal and the housing are insert-molded without the need to form the mold pin thinner.

[0013] In the present invention, the opening portion of the terminal may be formed as a recessed portion at a side edge of the extending portion.

[0014] In the present invention, the terminal may include a first terminal member and a second terminal member for clamping the flat conductor in the thickness direction of the flat conductor, the extension portion may be formed by the first extension portion of the first terminal member and the second extension portion of the second terminal member, and the narrow width portion may be formed on at least one of the first extension portion and the second extension portion.

[0015] In the present invention, when the terminal includes a first terminal member and a second terminal member, an opening may be formed at a side edge of the first extension portion and a side edge of the second extension portion by recesses that oppose each other in the terminal arrangement direction. In this manner, the opposing recesses of the first extension portion and the second extension portion together form a large opening space, thereby allowing a thick mold pin to enter.

[0016] According to the present invention, an opening is formed by the narrow portion of the extension portion in the terminal, and the mold pin of the molding mold can enter the opening. Therefore, a mold pin with sufficient strength can be used without narrowing the entire area of ​​the terminal or increasing the arrangement spacing of the terminals, and the terminals can be tightly arranged while being held in the correct position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing an electric connector for a flat conductor according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a flat conductor. Figure 1 (A) shows the state before the insertion of the flat conductor, Figure 1 (B) shows the state after the insertion of the flat-type conductor.

[0018] Figure 2 It will Figure 1 A perspective view showing a flat conductor electrical connector with a movable member in an open position. Figure 2 (A) shows the state viewed from the rear side, Figure 2 (B) shows a state viewed from the front side.

[0019] Figure 3 It will Figure 1 A perspective view showing components of a flat conductor electrical connector in a separated state.

[0020] Figure 4 (A) is a perspective view showing the terminal in a state where the first arm member and the second arm member are overlapped. Figure 4 (B) is a perspective view showing the first arm member and the second arm member separated from each other. Figure 4 (C) is a perspective view showing metal fittings.

[0021] Figure 5 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of the flat conductor electrical connector at the position of the slit of the first arm member in the terminal arrangement direction. Figure 5 (B) is Figure 5 A partial enlarged view of (A), Figure 5 (C) shows Figure 5 (A) is a plan view of a terminal mounting portion of a flat conductor electrical connector.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the flat conductor electrical connector after the flat conductor is inserted. Figure 6 (A) shows a cross section at the position of the locking portion of the movable member in the terminal arrangement direction, Figure 6 (B) shows a cross section at the position of the first contact arm portion of the first arm member in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0023] Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a process of installing a movable member when manufacturing a flat conductor electrical connector. Figure 7 (A) shows the state just before installation. Figure 7 (B) shows the state of installation in progress. Figure 7 (C) shows the state where the installation is completed.

[0024] Figure 8 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified example of a flat conductor electrical connector at a slit position of a first arm member in a terminal arrangement direction. Figure 8 (B) is Figure 8 A partial enlarged view of (A).

[0025] Figure 9 (A) is a top view of the mounting portion of the terminal in another modified example, Figure 9 (B) is a bottom view of the mounting portion of the terminal in another modified example.

[0026] Figure 10 This is a perspective view showing a connector in still another modified example with the movable member omitted.

[0027] Explanation of symbols

[0028] 1 connector

[0029] 10, 110, 210, 310, 410 housings

[0030] 20. 420 terminal

[0031] 30, 130, 230, 330, 430 first arm components

[0032] 31, 131 first abutting arm

[0033] 32 first front held portion

[0034] 32A, 132A first front transverse section

[0035] 33, 233, 333 first front extension (first extension)

[0036] 33A, 233A, 333A first front mounting portion

[0037] 33A-1, 233A-1 first narrow part

[0038] 33A-2, 233A-2 first recess (opening)

[0039] 40, 140, 240, 340, 440 second arm member

[0040] 41, 141 second abutting arm portion

[0041] 42 second held portion

[0042] 42A, 142A second horizontal part

[0043] 43, 143 connection part

[0044] 44, 144, 244, 344 second extension

[0045] 44A, 144A, 244A, 344A second mounting portion

[0046] 44A-1, 244A-1 second narrow part

[0047] 44A-2, 144A-2, 244A-2 second recess (opening) DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] Figure 1 (A) and (B) are perspective views showing an electric connector 1 (hereinafter referred to as "connector 1") of this embodiment together with a flat conductor C as a mating connection body. Figure 1 (A) shows the state before the insertion of the flat conductor C. Figure 1 (B) shows a state after the flat conductor C is inserted.

[0050] The connector 1 is an electrical connector for flat conductors that is placed on the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) and connects a flat conductor C to electrically connect the circuit board and the flat conductor C. Figure 1The strip-shaped portion shown in (A) and (B) extends in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction), and the front end side portion is connected to the connector 1. In this embodiment, the X1 direction is the front, and the X2 direction is the rear. In the flat conductor C, a plurality of circuit portions (not shown) extending in the front-to-back direction within the insulating layer of the flat conductor C are arranged in the strip width direction (Y-axis direction) of the flat conductor C, and the circuit portions reach the front end (head end) of the flat conductor C. The front end side portion of the circuit portion is exposed on the lower surface of one surface of the flat conductor C and can be in contact with the terminal 20 of the connector 1 described later. Notch portions C1 are formed on both side edges of the above-mentioned front end side portion, and the rear end edge of the ear portion C2 located in front of the notch portion C1 acts as a locked portion C2A that is locked with the locking portion 54 of the movable component 50 of the connector 1 described later (refer to Figure 6 (A)) Furthermore, a reinforcing plate C3 is attached to the upper surface of the other side of the front end portion of the flat conductor C.

[0051] The connector 1 includes: a housing 10 made of an electrically insulating material, the housing 10 being formed parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate (not shown) and extending in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the front-back direction as the long side direction; a plurality of metal terminals 20, the plurality of the terminals 20 being held in the housing 10 with the connector width direction as the terminal arrangement direction; a movable member 50 made of an electrically insulating material, the movable member 50 being supported on the housing 10 in a manner capable of moving (rotating) between an open position and a closed position described later; and metal fittings 60, the metal fittings 60 being held at both ends of the housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction. The front end portion of the flat conductor C is inserted into and connected to the connector 1 (refer to the FIG. 1 ) from the rear side (X2 side). Figure 1 In the present embodiment, the terminal 20 is used as a power supply terminal and includes a first arm member 30 as a first arm portion and a second arm member 40 as a second arm portion, which are formed as metal plate members independent of each other, as described later.

[0052] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the housing 10 has side walls 11, a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13. The side walls 11 are located at both end sides in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) and extend in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction). The front wall 12 extends in the terminal arrangement direction and connects the front ends of the two side walls 11 to each other (refer to FIG. Figure 3 The rear wall 13 extends in the terminal arrangement direction and connects the rear ends of the two side walls 11. A receiving portion 14 capable of receiving the front end portion of the flat conductor C from behind is formed in the space surrounded by the two side walls 11 and the front wall 12 and open to the rear.

[0053] The side wall 11 has a guide portion 11A near its rear end. This guide portion 11A extends inward from the upper portion of the side wall 11 in the terminal arrangement direction. This guide portion 11A is positioned to create a gap with the rear wall 13 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The vertical dimension of this gap is slightly larger than the thickness (vertical dimension) of the flat conductor C. This gap allows the side edges (the ends in the Y-axis direction) of the flat conductor C to enter the receiving portion 14 from the rear. An upper guide surface 11A-1 is formed on the lower surface of the rear end of the guide portion 11A. This upper guide surface 11A-1 slopes downward as it approaches the front, guiding the side edges of the flat conductor C into the receiving portion 14 via this upper guide surface 11A-1.

[0054] A side guide surface 11B is formed at the rear end of the side wall 11 . The side guide surface 11B is configured as an inclined surface that slopes inward in the connector width direction as it goes forward, and guides the side edge of the flat conductor C to the receiving portion 14 .

[0055] In addition, a side groove portion 11C is formed in the rear half of the side wall 11. The side groove portion 11C penetrates in the vertical direction at the middle position in the terminal arrangement direction and opens to the rear. The side groove portion 11C is located below the later-described transverse arm portion 63B of the later-described restriction arm portion 63 corresponding to the later-described restriction arm portion 63 of the metal fitting 60 in the terminal arrangement direction (see Figure 2 (B)). In addition, rear protrusions 11D are formed at the rear end of the side wall 11, protruding upward on both sides of the side groove 11C. The front surface of each rear protrusion 11D is a curved surface that is concave in an arc shape, and this curved surface forms a support surface 11D-1 (see FIG. 1 ) that supports the rotating shaft portion 53 of the movable member 50 described later in a rotatable manner. Figure 7 (A) to Figure 7 (C)).

[0056] The front wall 12 has a function as a front holding portion that holds the first front held portion 32 of the first arm member 30 and the second held portion 42 of the second arm member 40, which will be described later, by insert molding (integrally molded). On the front wall 12, at a position corresponding to the terminal 20 in the terminal arrangement direction, a supporting protrusion 12A is formed that protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the upper portion of the front wall 12. As described later, the supporting protrusion 12A abuts against the front surface of the connecting portion 43, which will be described later, of the second arm member 40 and supports the connecting portion 43 (see Figure 5 (A) and Figure 6 (B)).

[0057] In addition, if Figure 5 (A) to Figure 5As shown in (C), on the front wall 12, at a position corresponding to between the first front extension portion 33 and the second extension portion 44 described later in each terminal 20, a lower protrusion 12B is formed that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the front end portion of the front wall 12 and extends toward the front end. The lower protrusion 12B is formed to have the same dimensions as the first front extension portion 33 and the second extension portion 44 in the vertical direction. The lower surface of the lower protrusion 12B is located at the same height as the lower surfaces of the first front extension portion 33 and the second extension portion 44, respectively, and can be in surface contact with the mounting surface of the circuit substrate (not shown). The lower protrusion 12B has a front end protrusion 12B-1 that protrudes further forward than the front surface of the front wall 12.

[0058] like Figure 5 (A) to Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 (C), the front end protrusion 12B-1 extends to a position midway in the front-to-back direction within an insertion-permitting space 20A (described later) formed between a first recess 33A-2 (described later) of the first front mounting portion 33A and a second recess 44A-2 (described later) of the second mounting portion 44A. Furthermore, the upper surface of the front end protrusion 12B-1 is formed as an inclined surface that slopes downward as it approaches the front.

[0059] The rear wall 13 has a function as a rear holding portion that holds a first rear held portion 34 of a first arm member 30 described later by insert molding. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1A , a lower guide surface 13A that slopes upward toward the front is formed on the upper surface of the rear end portion of the rear wall 13 . The front end portion of the flat conductor C is guided to the receiving portion 14 by the lower guide surface 13A.

[0060] The terminal 20 includes a first arm member 30 as a first arm portion and a second arm member 40 as a second arm portion, which are formed as separate members. Forming the terminal as two members in this manner eliminates the need for bending the metal plate member during manufacture, thereby facilitating terminal manufacture and improving material yield. Figure 4 (A) is a perspective view showing the terminal 20 in a state where the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 overlap. Figure 4 (B) is a perspective view showing the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 in isolation. The first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 are formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate member extending in the front-rear direction in the plate thickness direction.

[0061] The first arm member 30 includes: a first abutting arm portion 31, which extends linearly in the range between the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 in the front-to-rear direction; a first front retained portion 32, which extends from the front end of the first abutting arm portion 31 in a generally horizontal L-shape and is retained by the front wall 12; a first front extending portion 33, which extends forward from the lower end of the first front retained portion 32; a first rear retained portion 34, which extends from the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31 in a generally horizontal L-shape and is retained by the rear wall 13; and a first rear extending portion 35, which extends rearward from the rear end of the first rear retained portion 34 as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown in (A) and (B), the first front longitudinal portion 32B and the first front extension portion 33 of the first front retained portion 32 of the first arm member 30 are formed on the Y2 side of the first arm member 30 in a manner having a terminal width (dimension in the terminal arrangement direction) that is approximately half of the terminal width of other parts of the first arm member 30.

[0062] like Figure 3 As shown, the first abutting arm portion 31 extends in the front-to-back direction between the rear end face of the front wall 12 and the front end face of the rear wall 13, with the vertical direction being the direction of the plate thickness, and is exposed from the housing 10. A window-like slit 31A is formed in the first abutting arm portion 31, extending vertically and in the front-to-back direction. Abutting strips 31B are formed on both sides of the slit 31A in the terminal arrangement direction, extending in the front-to-back direction and elastically displaceable in the vertical direction.

[0063] In this embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown in (B), the slit 31A is formed into a roughly diamond shape with the longitudinal direction being the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the terminal width of each contact strip 31B located on either side of the slit 31A is smallest at the center in the front-to-back direction (where the width of the slit 31A is greatest in the terminal arrangement direction) and largest at the front and rear ends. The portion of the contact strip 31B where the terminal width is smallest forms a first contact portion 31B-1, which is capable of abutting the lower surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor C with contact pressure. In this embodiment, a circuit portion is exposed on the lower surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor C, and the first contact portion 31B-1 functions as a contact portion that abuts and contacts this circuit portion.

[0064] In this embodiment, by forming a slit 31A in the first abutting arm 31 and providing two first abutting portions 31B-1 on a single first abutting arm 31, the reliability of contact with the flat-type conductor C can be improved. Furthermore, since each abutting strip 31B is thinner than the entire first abutting arm 31 and is more easily elastically deformable, the flat-type conductor C can be easily inserted between the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A, described later. Furthermore, as described above, since the terminal width of the abutting strip 31B is smallest at the first abutting portion 31B-1, it is easier to elastically deform vertically at the first abutting portion 31B-1 when contacting the circuit portion. Furthermore, since the terminal width is greatest at the front and rear ends, the strength of the abutting strip 31B can be ensured at these locations.

[0065] The first front retained portion 32 is formed by bending in the plate thickness direction so as to form a generally horizontal L-shape when viewed along the terminal arrangement direction, and is retained by insert molding on the front wall 12. The first front retained portion 32 includes a first front transverse portion 32A serving as a first base extending forward from the front end of the first abutting arm portion 31, and a first front longitudinal portion 32B that bends downward at the front end of the Y2-side portion of the first front transverse portion 32A.

[0066] In this embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown in (B), the first front transverse portion 32A is formed to have the same terminal width as the first abutting arm portion 31, but the first front longitudinal portion 32B is formed at a position on the Y2 side in the terminal arrangement direction to have approximately half the terminal width of the first abutting arm portion 31. The first front transverse portion 32A and the first front longitudinal portion 32B are embedded in the interior of the front wall 12.

[0067] The first front extension portion 33 is located at a position lower than the lower surface of the front wall 12 (excluding the lower protrusion 12B), and is bent and extended toward the front at the lower end of the first front longitudinal portion 32B. The first front extension portion 33 is located within the range of the front wall 12 in the front-to-back direction, and extends along the lower surface of the front wall 12, and further extends to a position further forward than the front surface of the front wall 12. The first front extension portion 33 is located within the range of the first front transverse portion 32A serving as the first base in the terminal arrangement direction. The portion of the first front extension portion 33 that is located further forward than the front wall 12 is formed as a first front mounting portion 33A that is soldered and mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit substrate. When the connector 1 is arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit substrate, the first front mounting portion 33A can be in surface contact with the corresponding circuit portion (not shown) of the circuit substrate at the lower surface of the first front mounting portion 33A and be soldered and connected to the corresponding circuit portion.

[0068] like Figure 5As shown in (C), a first narrow portion 33A-1 is formed at the rear end portion of the first front mounting portion 33A, that is, the end portion located on the front wall 12 side. The side edge extending in the front-to-back direction at the Y1 side of the first narrow portion 33A-1 is located at a position that is more recessed toward the Y2 side than the side edge on the Y1 side of other portions in the first front extension portion 33, and thus, the terminal width is smaller than other portions in the first front extension portion 33. In the first front mounting portion 33A, a first recess 33A-2 serving as an opening portion is formed on the Y1 side of the above-mentioned rear end portion through the first narrow portion 33A-1. That is, the first recess 33A-2 is shaped such that the side edge on the above-mentioned Y1 side of the above-mentioned rear end portion of the first front mounting portion 33A is cut into an angle, and is open toward the Y1 side. As shown Figure 5 As shown in (C), the rear end of the first wide and narrow portion 33A- 1 , in other words, the rear end of the first recessed portion 33A- 2 is located at the same position as the front surface of the front wall 12 in the front-to-back direction.

[0069] like Figure 4 As shown in (A) and (B) of FIG. 1 , the first rear held portion 34 extends from the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31 in a manner having the same terminal width as the first abutting arm portion 31. Figure 5 As shown in (A), the first rear retained portion 34 is formed by bending in the plate thickness direction in a manner that is roughly horizontally L-shaped when viewed along the terminal arrangement direction, and is retained on the rear wall 13 by insert molding. The first rear retained portion 34 has: a first rear transverse portion 34A extending rearward from the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31; and a first rear longitudinal portion 34B that bends at the rear end of the first rear transverse portion 34A and extends downward. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 2A (A), the first rear horizontal portion 34A and the first rear vertical portion 34B are located inside the rear wall 13 and are embedded in the rear wall 13 .

[0070] The first rear extension portion 35 bends at the lower end of the first rear longitudinal portion 34B and extends rearward. The first rear extension portion 35 is located within the range of the rear wall 13 in the front-to-back direction and extends along the lower surface of the rear wall 13, further extending to a position further rearward than the rear surface of the rear wall 13. The portion of the first rear extension portion 35 located further rearward than the rear wall 13 forms a first rear mounting portion 35A that is soldered and mounted to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate. When the connector 1 is configured on the mounting surface of the circuit substrate, the first rear mounting portion 35A can be in surface contact with a corresponding circuit portion (not shown) of the circuit substrate at the lower surface of the first rear mounting portion 35A and be soldered to the corresponding circuit portion.

[0071] The second arm member 40 includes: a second abutting arm portion 41, which extends in the front-to-back direction; a second held portion 42, which is located further forward than the second abutting arm portion 41 and is held by the front wall 12; a connecting portion 43, which extends in the up-down direction and connects the front end of the second abutting arm portion 41 and the rear end of the second held portion 42; and a second extending portion 44, which extends forward from the lower end of the second held portion 42. Figure 4 As shown in (A) and (B), the second longitudinal portion 42B and the second extension portion 44 of the second retained portion 42 of the second arm member 40, which will be described later, are formed on the Y1 side of the second arm member 40 in a manner having a terminal width (dimension in the terminal arrangement direction) that is approximately half of the terminal width of the other parts of the second arm member 40.

[0072] The second abutting arm portion 41 extends rearward from the rear end of the front wall 12 at a position above and separated from the first abutting arm portion 31 of the first arm member 30. The second abutting arm portion 41 has the same terminal width as the first abutting arm portion 31 and is located at the same position as the first abutting arm portion 31 in the terminal arrangement direction. Figure 5 (A) and Figure 6 As shown in (B), the rear end (free end) of the second abutting arm 41 is located between the first abutting portion 31B-1 of the first abutting arm 31 and the rear end of the first abutting arm 31 in the front-to-back direction. The second abutting portion 41A, which projects downward at the same position as the first abutting portion 31B-1 in the front-to-back direction, is formed by bending the second abutting arm 41 along the thickness direction. The gap between the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A in the vertical direction is smaller than the thickness of the flat conductor C. Furthermore, the portion extending from the second abutting portion 41A to the rear end of the second abutting arm 41 forms a rear end inclined portion 41B that slopes upward as it approaches the rear end.

[0073] like Figure 4 As shown in (B), the second retained portion 42 is formed by bending in the plate thickness direction to form a substantially horizontal L-shape when viewed along the terminal arrangement direction, and is retained by insert molding on the front wall 12. The second retained portion 42 includes a second horizontal portion 42A serving as a second base extending forward from the lower end of the connecting portion 43, and a second vertical portion 42B that bends downward at the front end of the Y1-side portion of the second horizontal portion 42A.

[0074] In this embodiment, if Figure 4As shown in (B), the second transverse portion 42A is formed to have the same terminal width as the second abutting arm portion 41, but the second transverse portion 42A is formed to have approximately half the terminal width of the second abutting arm portion 41 at a position close to the Y1 side in the terminal arrangement direction. The second transverse portion 42A and the second longitudinal portion 42B are embedded in the interior of the rear wall 13.

[0075] The second transverse portion 42A has the same terminal width as the first front transverse portion 32A of the first arm member 30, and is located at the same position as the first front transverse portion 32A in the terminal arrangement direction. In addition, the portion extending from the second transverse portion 42A to the rear end of the second abutting arm portion 41 and the portion extending from the first front transverse portion 32A to the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31 are located at the same position in the terminal arrangement direction in such a manner as to have the same terminal width. In this way, a plurality of terminals 20 can be arranged closely, resulting in miniaturization of the connector 1 in the terminal arrangement direction. Here, "closely arranged" means that the first front extension portion 33 and the second extension portion 44 are each located at a portion further rearward than the front surface of the front wall 12 of the housing 10 ( Figure 5 The intervals between the dashed lines in (C) are ( Figure 5 The first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 are arranged closely in such a manner as to make the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 as small as possible.

[0076] The second longitudinal portion 42B has the same terminal width as the first front longitudinal portion 32B of the first arm member 30, and is located at the same position as the first front longitudinal portion 32B in the front-to-back direction and the up-down direction, and is located at a different position from the first front longitudinal portion 32B in the terminal arrangement direction and is adjacent to the first front longitudinal portion 32B.

[0077] like Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 (A), the lower surface of the second transverse portion 42A is in surface contact with the upper surface of the first front transverse portion 32A of the first arm member 30 and is electrically conductive with the first front transverse portion 32A. Thus, in this embodiment, the first front transverse portion 32A and the second transverse portion 42A are held on the front wall 12 in a state where they overlap and contact each other in the vertical direction. This allows the vertical dimensions of the connector 1 to be suppressed, achieving vertical miniaturization, i.e., a lowered height.

[0078] In addition, in this embodiment, Figure 5As shown in FIG. 1A , the second transverse portion 42A is supported on its upper surface by the front wall 12. Therefore, when the flat conductor C enters between the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A, causing the second abutting arm 41 to elastically displace upward, the force acting on the second transverse portion 42A in the elastically displacing direction, that is, the upward force separating the second transverse portion 42A from the first front transverse portion 32A, is counteracted, thereby preventing the first front transverse portion 32A from separating from the second transverse portion 42A. Consequently, a sufficiently high contact pressure against the flat conductor C, which allows the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A to be more reliably maintained, is achieved.

[0079] like Figure 5 (A) and Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1B , the connecting portion 43 has the same terminal width as the second abutting arm portion 41 and the second transverse portion 42A. It bends upward at the rear end of the second transverse portion 42A and is connected to the front end of the second abutting arm portion 41. The connecting portion 43 extends along the rear surface of the support protrusion 12A of the front wall 12, i.e., the protruding top surface of the support protrusion 12A, at a position further rearward than the front wall 12. The front surface of the connecting portion 43 is supported by the rear surface of the support protrusion 12A.

[0080] In this manner, since the front surface of the connecting portion 43 is supported by the rear surface of the supporting protrusion 12A, when the flat conductor C enters between the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A, causing the second abutting arm portion 41 to elastically displace upward, the force with a forward component acting on the connecting portion 43 is resisted. As a result, the first front transverse portion 32A and the second transverse portion 42A are prevented from separating. Therefore, a sufficiently high contact pressure against the flat conductor C, which allows the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A to sandwich the flat conductor C, can be more reliably ensured.

[0081] The second extension portion 44 bends and extends forward at the lower end of the second longitudinal portion 42B, located below the lower surface of the front wall 12 (excluding the lower protrusion 12B). The second extension portion 44 is located within the confines of the front wall 12 in the front-to-back direction and extends along the lower surface of the front wall 12, further extending forward of the front surface of the front wall 12. The second extension portion 44 is located within the confines of the second transverse portion 42A, which serves as the second base, in the terminal arrangement direction. Furthermore, the second extension portion 44 has the same terminal width as the first front extension portion 33 of the first arm member 30, is located at the same position as the first front extension portion 33 in the front-to-back and up-down directions, and is located at a different position from and adjacent to the first front extension portion 33 in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0082] The portion of the second extension 44 located further forward than the front wall 12 forms a second mounting portion 44A that is mounted by soldering to the mounting surface of the circuit board. When the connector 1 is placed on the mounting surface of the circuit board, the lower surface of the second mounting portion 44A can come into surface contact with a corresponding circuit portion (not shown) identical to the corresponding circuit portion to which the first front mounting portion 33A of the first arm member 30 is mounted, and can be soldered to the corresponding circuit portion.

[0083] like Figure 5 As shown in (C), a second narrow portion 44A-1 is formed at the rear end portion of the second mounting portion 44A, that is, the end portion located on the front wall 12 side. The side edge of the second narrow portion 44A-1 on the Y2 side extending in the front-to-back direction is located at a position that is more recessed toward the Y1 side than the side edge on the Y2 side of the other portions in the second extension portion 44, thereby making the terminal width smaller than that of the other portions in the second extension portion 44. In the second mounting portion 44A, a second recessed portion 44A-2 serving as an opening is formed on the Y2 side of the above-mentioned rear end portion through the second narrow portion 44A-1. That is, the second recessed portion 44A-2 is shaped such that the side edge on the Y2 side of the above-mentioned rear end portion of the second mounting portion 44A is cut into an angle, and is open toward the Y2 side.

[0084] In this embodiment, the space between the first narrow portion 33A-1 and the second narrow portion 44A-1 in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words, the space formed between the first recess 33A-2 and the second recess 44A-2 is formed as an insertion-allowing space 20A. The above-mentioned insertion-allowing space 20A allows the mold pin (not shown) provided in the molding mold to be inserted in the upper and lower directions when the terminal 20 is retained in the housing 10 by insert molding.

[0085] In one terminal 20, the dimension of the interval between the first narrow width portion 33A-1 and the second narrow width portion 44A-1 in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words, the dimension of the insertion allowable space 20A ( Figure 5 (C) is indicated as "P1") in the terminal arrangement direction, which is larger than the distance between the first front longitudinal portion 32B and the second longitudinal portion 42B located directly behind the front wall 12, and is larger than the distance between the first front extension portion 33 (excluding the first narrow width portion 33A-1) and the second extension portion 44 (excluding the second narrow width portion 44A-1). Figure 5 In (C), the dimension P1 of the insertion-allowing space 20A in the terminal arrangement direction is shown to be greater than the portion of each of the first front extension 33 and the second extension 44 located further rearward than the front surface of the front wall 12 of the housing 10 ( Figure 5 The dotted line portion in (C) is in a state where the interval P2 between each other is large.

[0086] The movable member 50 is provided at a position higher than the housing 10 and the terminal 20, and can be rotated in a manner similar to that of the movable member 50 about the axis of the rotating shaft 53 described later. Figure 1 The closed position and the posture parallel to the circuit substrate (not shown) shown in (A) and (B) Figure 2 The movable member 50 is rotated between the open position and the vertically upright position shown in (A) and (B). When the movable member 50 is in the closed position, the flat conductor C is prevented from being pulled out. When the movable member 50 is in the open position, the flat conductor C is allowed to be pulled out.

[0087] As shown in the same posture as when the movable member 50 is in the open position Figure 3 As shown, the movable member 50 includes: a plate-shaped main body 51, the main body 51 extending in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) as the longitudinal direction; end plates 52, the end plates 52 are provided at both ends of the main body 51 in the terminal arrangement direction; a rotation shaft 53, the rotation shaft 53 is provided on the lower end side of the end plate 52; and a locking portion 54, the locking portion 54 protruding from the end plate 52 in the forward direction (X1 direction) (refer to Figure 2 (B)).

[0088] The movable member 50 is located in the substantially same range of the housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction and is positioned in the front-rear direction so as to cover substantially the entire area of ​​the receiving portion 14 when in the closed position (see FIG. Figure 1 (A), (B) and Figure 5 (A)), which is located on the rear end side of the housing 10 when in the open position (refer to Figure 2 (A), (B)).

[0089] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 5B , a groove-shaped main body groove portion 51A is formed on the front surface (the surface on the X1 side) of the main body portion 51 when the movable member 50 is in the open position. The groove-shaped main body groove portion 51A extends in the vertical direction at a position corresponding to the terminal 20 in the terminal arrangement direction. Thus, since the main body groove portion 51A is formed in the main body portion 51, interference between the main body portion 51 and the second abutting arm portion 41 of the second arm member 40 of the terminal 20 can be avoided when the main body portion 51 is in the closed position.

[0090] like Figure 2 As shown in (B), the end plate portion 52 is formed with a slit-shaped end groove portion 52A. The end groove portion 52A extends downward from the upper end position and penetrates in the front-to-back direction at a position corresponding to the side groove portion 11C of the housing 10 and the limiting arm portion 63 described later of the metal fitting 60 in the terminal arrangement direction. When the movable member 50 is in the closed position, the end groove portion 52A is located within the range of the side groove portion 11C of the housing 10 in the front-to-back direction and accommodates the bent arm portion 63B-2 described later of the metal fitting 60 (see Figure 7 (C)). In addition, if Figure 2 (B) and Figure 3 As shown, on the end plate portion 52, at a position corresponding to the guide portion 11A of the housing 10 in the front-back direction and the terminal arrangement direction, the lower end of the end plate portion 52 is recessed further than the lower end of the main body portion 51, thereby forming an end recess 52B. Figure 1 (A), (B) and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 5B , the end recess 52B receives the guide portion 11A, thereby avoiding interference between the movable member 50 and the guide portion 11A.

[0091] like Figure 3 As shown, the rotation shaft portion 53 is connected to the lower end of the end plate portion 52 at a position further outward than the end recess 52B in the terminal arrangement direction, and extends within a range including the end groove portion 52A. Figure 7 (A) to Figure 7 As shown in (C), the cross-section of the rotation shaft portion 53 at right angles to the terminal arrangement direction is generally quadrilateral, but the surface extending from the rear surface to the lower surface when the movable member 50 is in the closed position is a continuous convex curved surface. This convex curved surface is curved with approximately the same curvature as the support surface 11D-1 of the housing 10, and forms a supported surface 53A that is rotatably supported by the support surface 11D-1 during the rotation of the movable member 50.

[0092] like Figure 2 As shown in (B), the locking portion 54 is located above the end recess 52B and slightly inside the terminal arrangement direction when the end plate portion 52 is in the open position, and protrudes from the front surface (lower surface at the closed position) of the end plate portion 52 (see also Figure 6 (A)). The locking portion 54 is located on both sides of the arrangement range of the terminal 20 in the terminal arrangement direction, specifically, is positioned corresponding to the side edge of the flat conductor C. Figure 6 As shown in (A), when the movable member 50 is in the closed position, the lower surface of the locking portion 54 is formed as an inclined surface 54A that tilts downward toward the front, and the front surface of the locking portion 54 is formed as a locking surface 54B, which is a flat surface that is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 5A , after the flat conductor C is inserted and the movable member 50 is brought to the closed position, the locking portion 54 enters the notch C1 of the flat conductor C from above. As a result, the locking portion 54 is positioned to engage with the locked portion C2A behind the locked portion C2A via the locking surface 54B, thereby preventing the flat conductor C from being removed.

[0093] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in (C), the metal fitting 60 is made by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction. The two metal fittings 60 provided on the connector 1, namely the metal fitting 60 on the Y1 side and the metal fitting 60 on the Y2 side, are symmetrical to each other in the terminal arrangement direction. The metal fitting 60 on the Y2 side will be described below, and the description of the metal fitting 60 on the Y1 side will be omitted. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in (C), it has: a fixing portion 61, which extends relative to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate (not shown); a reinforcing portion 62, which is retained in the housing 10 by insert molding; and a limiting arm portion 63, which supports the rotating shaft portion 53 of the movable member 50 and limits the movement of the rotating shaft portion 53 upward and forward.

[0094] The plate surface (the surface perpendicular to the plate thickness direction) of the fixing portion 61 is formed into a flat plate parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown), and is generally L-shaped when viewed from above. The fixing portion 61 includes: a rear fixing portion 61A extending in the terminal arrangement direction; and a front fixing portion 61B extending forward from the rear fixing portion 61A at an inner position in the terminal arrangement direction. Figure 1 As shown in (A) and (B) of FIG1 , the rear fixing portion 61A is located further rearward than the side wall 11 of the housing 10. The front fixing portion 61B extends forward along the lower surface of the side wall 11, further inward than the side groove 11C in the terminal arrangement direction. The fixing portion 61 is in surface contact with a corresponding portion of the mounting surface of the circuit board at its lower surface and is fixed to the mounting surface by soldering.

[0095] The reinforcing portion 62 includes a longitudinal plate portion 62A and a transverse plate portion 62B. The longitudinal plate portion 62A is bent at the inner side edge of the front end portion of the front fixing portion 61B in the terminal arrangement direction and extends upward, and the transverse plate portion 62B is bent at the upper edge of the longitudinal plate portion 62A and extends inward in the terminal arrangement direction. The reinforcing portion 62 is located within the range of the guide portion 11A of the side wall 11 in the front-to-back direction. The longitudinal plate portion 62A is buried inside the inner portion of the side wall 11 that is further inward than the side groove portion 11C to reinforce the inner portion. The transverse plate portion 62B is buried inside the guide portion 11A to reinforce the guide portion 11A.

[0096] The limiting arm portion 63 has a longitudinal arm portion 63A and a transverse arm portion 63B. The longitudinal arm portion 63A is bent at the front edge of the rear fixing portion 61A at an outer position in the terminal arrangement direction of the rear fixing portion 61A and extends upward, and the transverse arm portion 63B is bent at the upper edge of the longitudinal arm portion 63A and extends toward the front. The limiting arm portion 63 is positioned corresponding to the side groove portion 11C of the housing 10 and the rotating shaft portion 53 of the movable member 50 in the terminal arrangement direction. The longitudinal arm portion 63A is located at a position further rearward than the side groove portion 11C. The transverse arm portion 63B extends toward the front directly above the side groove portion 11C, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 5A , the movable member 50 is positioned by passing through the end groove portion 52A of the movable member 50 in the open position.

[0097] like Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown in (C), the horizontal arm portion 63B bends downward at the middle position in the front-to-back direction, and then further bends obliquely upward and forward. As a result, the rear half forms a straight arm portion 63B-1 extending straightly in the front-to-back direction, and the front half forms a roughly V-shaped curved arm portion 63B-2 when viewed along the terminal arrangement direction. Figure 7 As shown in (C), the front end side portion of the linear arm portion 63B-1 is formed as an upper limiting portion 63B-1A, which abuts the rotation shaft portion 53 from above and limits excessive upward movement of the rotation shaft portion 53. In addition, the portion of the curved arm portion 63B-2 extending in the vertical direction is formed as a front limiting portion 63B-2A, which is positioned in a manner that allows it to abut the rotation shaft portion 53 from the front and limits excessive forward movement of the rotation shaft portion 53. The upper limiting portion 63B-1A and the front limiting portion 63B-2A can always limit excessive upward and forward movement of the rotation shaft portion 53 when the movable member 50 is in any rotation position, thereby effectively preventing the movable member 50 from accidentally falling off from the housing 10.

[0098] The connector 1 of this embodiment is manufactured in the following method. First, the second transverse portion 42A of the second arm member 40 is arranged in a molding die (not shown) in a state where it overlaps with the first front transverse portion 32A of the first arm member 30 from above, and the metal fitting 60 is also arranged in the molding die. The molding die can be divided into a plurality of parts, and in at least one of the upper mold arranged from above and the lower mold arranged from below, a mold pin is provided extending in the up-down direction, and the mold pin is used to mold the shell after the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 are positioned. The mold pin is inserted in the up-down direction into the insertion-allowing space 20A (refer to Figure 5At this time, the pin is inserted into the insertion-allowing space 20A so as to be located in the front half.

[0099] In this embodiment, since the mold pins of the molding die can enter the aforementioned insertion-permitting space 20A, even if the first and second arm members 30, 40 adjacent in the terminal arrangement direction are arranged with the spacing therebetween narrowed, the mold pins do not need to be made thin. Consequently, mold pins having sufficient strength can be provided during insert molding of the terminal 20 and the housing 10. Consequently, the terminals can be densely arranged while maintaining accurate positions without narrowing the width of the entire terminal area or increasing the terminal arrangement pitch.

[0100] Next, molten resin is injected into the mold and solidified to mold the housing 10. As a result, the first arm member 30, the second arm member 40, and the metal fitting 60 are held in the housing 10 by insert molding (integral molding).

[0101] Next, the movable member 50 is mounted on the housing 10 from the front. Figure 7 (A) to Figure 7 (C) The method of installing the movable member 50 is described. First, Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1A , the movable member 50 in the closed position is positioned on the housing 10, further forward than the metal fitting 60. Next, while maintaining the closed position, the movable member 50 is moved rearward. At this time, the rotational shaft 53 abuts from the front against the front end of the bent arm portion 63B-2 of the metal fitting 60, i.e., the portion that tilts diagonally upward and forward. This elastically displaces the bent arm portion 63B-2, and thus the transverse arm portion 63B, upward, thereby allowing the movable member 50 to move further rearward.

[0102] When the movable member 50 is mounted, the fixing portion 61 of the metal fitting 60 is not fixed to the mounting surface of the circuit board. Therefore, the metal fitting 60 can be elastically deformed with the entire length of the portion extending from the front end of the limiting arm portion 63 to the front end of the front fixing portion 61B being the arm length. That is, during the mounting process of the movable member 50, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown in (B), the transverse arm portion 63B, the longitudinal arm portion 63A and the fixed portion 61 are elastically displaced. In this embodiment, the arm length can be greatly ensured, and accordingly, the transverse arm portion 63B is easily displaced upward, resulting in that the installation of the movable member 50 becomes easy.

[0103] If the rotating shaft portion 53 of the movable member 50 reaches a position further rearward than the bending arm portion 63B-2, the horizontal arm portion 63B, the longitudinal arm portion 63A and the fixed portion 61 will reduce the elastic displacement. As a result, the horizontal arm portion 63B moves downward, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown in (C), the upper limiting portion 63B-1A of the linear arm portion 63B-1 abuts the rotation shaft portion 53 from above, and the front limiting portion 63B-2A of the curved arm portion 63B-2 is positioned so as to abut the rotation shaft portion 53 from the front. In this way, the movable member 50 is attached to the housing 10, and the connector 1 is completed.

[0104] Then, based on Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 6 (A) and (B) illustrate the connection operation between the connector 1 and the flat conductor C. First, the first front mounting portion 33A and the first rear mounting portion 35A of the first arm member 30 of the terminal 20 and the second mounting portion 44A of the second arm member 40 are soldered to corresponding circuit portions of the circuit board, and the fixing portion 61 of the metal fitting 60 is soldered to corresponding portions of the circuit board to secure the terminals.

[0105] By soldering the metal fitting 60 to the circuit board, the only elastically deformable portion of the metal fitting 60 is the restricting arm 63. Consequently, the length of the elastically deformable arm of the metal fitting 60 is shortened compared to when the movable member 50 is assembled during connector 1 manufacturing, making elastic deformation of the restricting arm 63 less likely. As a result, after the connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board, the movable member 50 can be more reliably prevented from falling out of the housing 10.

[0106] Then, if Figure 1 As shown, when the movable member 50 is brought to the closed position, the flat conductor C is positioned behind the connector 1 so as to extend in the front-rear direction along the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown).

[0107] Next, the flat conductor C is inserted forward into the receiving portion 14 of the connector 1. The upper guide surface 11A-1, the side guide surface 11B, and the lower guide surface 13A of the housing 10 guide the flat conductor C into the receiving portion 14. During the insertion of the connector 1, when the tip of the flat conductor C contacts the inclined surface 54A of the locking portion 54 of the movable member 50, a forward force (force component) and an upward force (force component) act on the inclined surface 54A. As a result, the upward force lifts the locking portion 54, and thus the movable member 50, by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the flat conductor C, allowing further insertion of the flat conductor C. At this point, the upper restricting portion 63B-1A of the metal fitting 60 receives an upward force from the rotating shaft portion 53 of the movable member 50, and the cross arm portion 63B elastically displaces upward, thereby allowing the movable member 50 to move upward.

[0108] In addition, immediately after the front end of the flat conductor C begins to lift the locking portion 54, the front end of the flat conductor C contacts the plate surface (inclined surface) of the rear end inclined portion 41B of the second contact arm portion 41 of the second arm member 40, causing the second contact arm portion 41 to elastically displace upward and enter between the second contact portion 41A and the first contact portion 31B-1 of the first arm member 30 (see FIG. Figure 6 (B)).

[0109] When the front end of the flat conductor C contacts the rear surface of the front wall 12, the ear portion C2 of the flat conductor passes through the position of the locking portion 54 of the movable member 50, and the notch portion C1 reaches the position of the locking portion 54. As a result, Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 5A , the movable member 50 returns to the closed position, the locking portion 54 enters the notch C1 from above, and the locking surface 54B of the locking portion 54 is positioned so that it can engage with the locked portion C2A of the flat conductor C from behind. This allows the locking portion 54 to engage with the locked portion C2A, thereby preventing the flat conductor C from accidentally falling backward.

[0110] When the front end of the flat conductor C contacts the rear surface of the front wall 12 and the insertion of the flat conductor C is completed, Figure 6 As shown in (B), the elastically deformed state of the second abutting arm 41 is maintained, and the second abutting portion 41A presses the flat conductor C from above. That is, the flat conductor C is clamped in the vertical direction by the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A. The flat conductor C is subjected to a pressing force from above by the second abutting portion 41A. As a result, the circuit portion exposed on the lower surface of the flat conductor C is pressed from above against the first abutting portion 31B-1, making contact with it with contact pressure and electrically conducting. At this time, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the first contact portion 31B- 1 receives a force from above the circuit portion, and the contact strip portion 31B is elastically displaced slightly downward.

[0111] In this embodiment, the flat conductor C enters between the first contact portion 31B-1 and the second contact portion 41A, causing the second contact arm portion 41 to elastically displace upward. A force in the elastically displaced direction, that is, an upward force that separates the second transverse portion 42A from the first front transverse portion 32A, acts on the second transverse portion 42A of the second arm member 40. However, if Figure 6 As shown in (B), since the second cross section 42A of the second arm member 40 is supported on the front wall 12 at its upper surface, it is possible to resist the upward force acting on the second cross section 42A, thereby preventing the first front cross section 32A from separating from the second cross section 42A.

[0112] In addition, in this embodiment, since the second contact arm portion 41 of the second arm member 40 is elastically displaced upward, a force having a forward component acts on the connecting portion 43. Figure 6 As shown in (B), since the front surface of the connecting portion 43 of the second arm member 40 is supported by the rear surface of the supporting protrusion 12A of the front wall 12, it is possible to resist the above-mentioned force acting on the connecting portion 43, thereby also preventing the first front transverse portion 32A from separating from the second transverse portion 42A.

[0113] In this manner, in this embodiment, since the first front lateral portion 32A and the second lateral portion 42A are effectively prevented from separating, a sufficiently large contact pressure on the flat conductor C for clamping the flat conductor C between the first abutting portion 31B- 1 and the second abutting portion 41A can be more reliably ensured.

[0114] When removing the flat conductor C from the connector 1, the movable member 50 is rotated and brought to the open position. As a result, the locking portion 54 of the movable member 50 is moved outside the notch C1 of the flat conductor C, releasing the locking portion 54 from the locked portion C2A of the flat conductor C. This allows the flat conductor C to be pulled rearward and easily removed from the connector 1.

[0115] The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In the above embodiment, the first front extension 33 and the first rear extension 35 of the first arm member 30 and the second extension 44 of the second arm member 40 are located below the lower surface of the housing 10. However, Figure 8 As shown in (A) and (B) of FIG. 1 , the above-mentioned portion may be arranged to be located at the same height as the lower surface of the housing in the vertical direction.

[0116] exist Figure 8 In (A) and (B), the housing, the first arm member, the second arm member, and the movable member are denoted by adding "100" to the reference numerals in the aforementioned embodiment. In this modified example, the lower surfaces of the first front extension portion (not shown) of the first arm member 130, the first rear extension portion 135, and the second extension portion 144 of the second arm member 140 are located at the same height as the lower surface of the housing 110 in the vertical direction. In addition, the front wall 112 of the housing 110 does not form the lower protrusion 12B (see FIG. 1 ) in the aforementioned embodiment. Figure 5 The (A) and (B) parts of Figure 8As shown in (A) and (B) of FIG1 , a front end protrusion 112B-1, which corresponds to the front end protrusion 12B-1 in the aforementioned embodiment, is formed to protrude from the front surface of the lower portion of the front wall 112. This front end protrusion 112B-1 corresponds to the front end protrusion 12B-1 in the aforementioned embodiment and is formed in the rear half of the insertion space 120A formed between the first recess (not shown) of the first front mounting portion and the second recess 144A-2 of the second mounting portion 144A.

[0117] In addition, in the aforementioned embodiment, the insertion allowing space 20A is formed by the first recess 33A-2 and the second recess 44A-2 as the opening portion, and the first recess 33A-2 and the second recess 44A-2 are formed by cutting the mutually opposing side edges (edges extending in the front-back direction) of the first front mounting portion 33A and the second implementation portion 44A into the same shape and symmetrically in the terminal arrangement direction (refer to Figure 4 (A) Figure 5 (C)), but the position, shape and size of the opening are not limited thereto.

[0118] For example, Figure 9 As in the modified example shown in (A), an opening may be formed between the first recess 233A-2 and the second recess 244A-2 having different shapes. Figure 9 In (A), for the housing, the first arm member and the second arm member, the parts corresponding to the parts in the aforementioned embodiment are indicated by adding "200" to the figure numbers in the aforementioned embodiment. The description of the parts having the same shape as the aforementioned embodiment is omitted. In this modification, the first recess 233A-2 of the first front mounting portion 233A and the second recess 244A-2 of the second mounting portion 244A are the same as the aforementioned embodiment in that they are formed by cutting out the side edges opposite to each other at the same position in the front-to-back direction, but are different from the aforementioned embodiment in that the second recess 244A-2 is cut larger than the first recess 233A-2 in the terminal arrangement direction, and the first recess 233A-2 and the second recess 244A-2 are asymmetrical.

[0119] In addition, if Figure 9 As in the modified example shown in (B), the insertion allowing space 320A may be formed by forming a narrow width portion only on one of the first front mounting portion 333A and the second mounting portion 344A. Figure 9In (B), the housing, first arm member, and second arm member, corresponding to the respective parts in the aforementioned embodiment, are denoted by adding "300" to the reference numerals in the aforementioned embodiment. Descriptions of parts having the same shape as the aforementioned embodiment are omitted. In this modified example, the Y1-side edge of the first front mounting portion 333A in the first front extension 333 is positioned closer to the Y2 side than the Y1-side edge of the portion other than the first front mounting portion 333A, thereby forming a first front narrowed portion 333A-1. On the other hand, no narrowed portion is formed on the second mounting portion 344A.

[0120] In addition, Figure 9 In modification (B), the terminal width of first front mounting portion 333A is narrowed across the entire front-to-back region, forming a narrowed portion as a whole. Consequently, insertion-permitting space 320A formed between first front mounting portion 333A and second mounting portion 344A extends across the entire front-to-back region of first front mounting portion 333A and second mounting portion 344A.

[0121] In the aforementioned embodiment, only one type of terminal, namely the terminal 20 serving as the power terminal, is provided on the connector. However, as a modification, other types of terminals having a shape different from that of the terminal may be provided on the connector together with the terminal. Figure 10 As shown, it can also be set as other types of terminals, such as signal terminals. Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector in such a modified example with the movable member omitted. Figure 10 In the modified example shown, in the connector 1 of the aforementioned embodiment, a plurality of signal terminals are provided on both sides of the arrangement range of the terminals 20. Figure 10 In the embodiment, the parts corresponding to the parts in the above embodiment are denoted by adding the reference numerals in the above embodiment with "400" added thereto. The description of the parts having the same shape as the above embodiment is omitted.

[0122] The signal terminal 470 in this modified example is made by punching a flat metal plate member along the plate thickness direction. The signal terminal 470 is held on the front wall 412 of the housing 410 by insert molding, with its plate thickness direction consistent with the terminal arrangement direction. The signal terminal 470 clamps the flat conductor by two elastically deformable abutment arms 471 extending rearward from the front wall 412 and is electrically connected to the flat conductor. Here, the holding method of the signal terminal 470 is not limited to holding by insert molding, and can also be, for example, press-fit holding. In the case of press-fit holding, the signal terminal 470 is, for example, pressed into a terminal holding groove formed on the front wall 412 of the housing 410.

[0123] In the aforementioned embodiment, all of the terminals 20 are used as power terminals. However, as an alternative, when multiple terminals of the same shape are provided, some of the terminals may be used for different purposes than others. For example, some of the multiple terminals may be used as power terminals, while others may be used as signal terminals.

[0124] Furthermore, in the aforementioned embodiment, the circuit portion of the flat conductor is exposed on the lower surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor and contacts the first abutment portion of the first arm member. However, alternatively, the circuit portion may be exposed on the upper surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor and contact the second abutment portion of the second arm member. Alternatively, the circuit portion may be formed in two layers in the vertical direction on the flat conductor, with the circuit portion exposed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the front end portion of the flat conductor. The first abutment portion of the first arm member contacts the circuit portion on the lower surface, while the second abutment portion of the second arm member contacts the circuit portion on the upper surface.

[0125] In the present embodiment, the terminal is composed of two components, namely a first arm component and a second arm component, but as an alternative, the terminal may be composed of one component. In this case, in the terminal, the extension portion positioned to protrude from the shell in the front-to-back direction is not divided but formed as one extension portion. At this time, in at least one of the mutually adjacent extension portions of the mutually adjacent terminals, similarly to the aforementioned embodiment, a narrow portion is formed at least at the end portion located on the shell side in the portion located outside the shell in the front-to-back direction, and an opening portion is formed thereby. In such a structure, the spacing between the narrow portion of any extension portion and the other extension portions adjacent to the narrow portion with the opening portion sandwiched therebetween is larger than the spacing between the retained portions of the mutually adjacent terminals.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for a flat conductor, the electrical connector for a flat conductor being mounted on a circuit board and electrically connected to a front end portion of a strip-shaped flat conductor extending in a front-rear direction. The flat conductor electrical connector comprises: a plurality of terminals, each of which is formed by bending a metal plate member in a thickness direction of the metal plate member; and a housing for holding the plurality of terminals arranged with the width direction being the terminal arrangement direction by insert molding. It is characterized by: The plurality of terminals have a held portion and an extending portion at at least one end portion in the front-to-back direction, the held portion being held in the housing, the extending portion extending from the housing and forming a mounting portion that is soldered and mounted to a circuit substrate, the held portions adjacent to each other and the extending portions adjacent to each other being arranged and positioned along the terminal arrangement direction in such a manner that they overlap in the front-to-back direction. The extension portion is formed as one or divided into a plurality of portions in the terminal arrangement direction, and the extension portion has a narrow width portion at at least an end portion located on the shell side of a portion located outside the shell in the front-to-back direction, wherein the terminal width of the narrow width portion in the terminal arrangement direction is narrower than the terminal width of the held portion, and an opening portion is formed by the narrow width portion. The interval between the narrow width portion of any extending portion and another extending portion adjacent to the narrow width portion across the opening is larger than the interval between the adjacent held portions. The opening portion of the terminal is formed as a recessed portion at a side edge of the extending portion.

2. The flat conductor electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The terminal includes a first terminal member and a second terminal member for clamping the flat conductor in the thickness direction of the flat conductor, the extension portion is formed by a first extension portion of the first terminal member and a second extension portion of the second terminal member, and the narrow width portion is formed on at least one of the first extension portion and the second extension portion.

3. The flat conductor electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: Openings are formed at side edges of the first extension portion and the second extension portion by recesses that face each other in the terminal arrangement direction.

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