Connector assembly

Abstract

The present application provides a connector assembly. Each socket connector central portion has two reinforcing spring pieces exposed to the end portion cavities. The plug connector end portion has two width protection portions which are opposite to the two reinforcing spring pieces in the direction of the pitch when the socket connector and the plug connector are in the fitted state. When the plug connector relatively moves in the direction of the pitch with respect to the socket connector when the socket connector and the plug connector are in the fitted state, the two width protection portions are respectively received by the two reinforcing spring pieces.

Description

background This invention relates to a connector assembly.

[0001] Patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-008055) discloses the following as in this application: Figure 12 and Figure 13 The connector 102 shown includes a socket 100 mounted on a first circuit board and a headstock 101 mounted on a second circuit board. The socket 100 includes a socket housing 103. The socket housing 103 includes a mating groove 104 that engages with the headstock 101. The mating groove 104 includes two longitudinal ends 104A and a central portion 104B. The width of the two ends 104A is greater than that of the central portion 104B.

[0002] The headstock 101 includes a headstock housing 105. The headstock housing 105 includes two longitudinal ends 105A and a central portion 105B in the longitudinal direction of the headstock housing 105. The width of the two ends 105A is greater than that of the central portion 105B.

[0003] The two ends 105A of the headstock 101 are respectively inserted into the two ends 104A of the fitting groove 104. This achieves the positioning of the headstock 101 relative to the socket 100. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, when the head seat 101 and the socket 100 are engaged, and a longitudinal external force is applied to the head seat 101, it is impossible to avoid the socket housing 103 of the socket 100 and the head seat housing 105 of the head seat 101 cracking.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a technology that prevents the plug connector and the socket connector from cracking when a longitudinal external force is applied to the plug connector in the mating state of the plug connector and the socket connector.

[0006] This invention relates to a connector assembly comprising: a receptacle connector mountable on a connector mounting surface of a first substrate; and a plug connector mountable on a connector mounting surface of a second substrate, wherein the receptacle connector has cavities configured to receive the plug connector, the cavities extending in a single row along a spacing direction, wherein the cavities include: a central cavity located at the center of the spacing direction; and end cavities adjacent to the central cavity in the spacing direction and having a width greater than the central cavity, wherein the receptacle connector includes: two central portions of the receptacle connectors separating the central cavity in a width direction orthogonal to the spacing direction; and receptacle connector end portions separating the end cavities, wherein... At least one of the two socket connectors includes a socket-side metal member exposed toward the end cavity, wherein the plug connector includes: a plug connector central portion insertable into the central cavity; and a plug connector end portion insertable into the end cavity, wherein the plug connector end portion includes a plug-side metal member that can face the socket-side metal member in the spacing direction when the socket connector and the plug connector are in the mating state, and the plug-side metal member is received by the socket-side metal member when the socket connector and the plug connector are in the mating state and the plug connector moves relative to the socket connector along the spacing direction.

[0007] According to the present invention, when a longitudinal external force is applied to the plug connector in the mating state of the plug connector and the socket connector, cracking of the plug connector and the socket connector can be prevented.

[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood through the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the connector assembly before mating (first embodiment).

[0010] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the connector assembly after mating (first embodiment).

[0011] Figure 3 An exploded perspective view is provided to reveal the socket connector (first embodiment).

[0012] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the socket retainer (first embodiment).

[0013] Figure 5 The schematic plan view shows the socket connector (first embodiment).

[0014] Figure 6This is a perspective view showing the plug connector (first embodiment).

[0015] Figure 7 An exploded perspective view is provided to reveal the plug connector (first embodiment).

[0016] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the plug clamping member (first embodiment).

[0017] Figure 9 This is a perspective view showing the positional relationship of the clamping members in the mated state of the connector assembly (first embodiment).

[0018] Figure 10 The diagram illustrates the connector assembly in its mated state (first embodiment).

[0019] Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing the socket retainer (second embodiment).

[0020] Figure 12 To simplify the diagram, the patent document 1 is shown. Figure 4 .

[0021] Figure 13 To simplify the diagram, the figure shown is from patent document 1. Figure 8 . Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present application will now be described through embodiments. However, the invention as claimed is not limited to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, all configurations described in the embodiments are not necessarily necessary means to solve the problem. For clarity, the following description and drawings have been partially omitted or appropriately simplified. In the drawings, the same components are given the same component symbols, and repeated descriptions have been omitted as necessary.

[0023] In the following embodiments, for ease of explanation, the description may be divided into multiple parts or embodiments where necessary. Unless otherwise expressly stated, these are not independent of each other, but can be associated with each other as modifications, applications, detailed descriptions, or supplements. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, when numerical values ​​such as numbers, quantities, quantities, or ranges of components are mentioned, unless explicitly specified or in principle explicitly limited to a specific quantity, these quantities are not limited to the specified values ​​and may include values ​​greater than or less than the stated quantities.

[0024] Furthermore, in the following embodiments, each component (including operational steps, etc.) is not necessarily required unless explicitly stated or clearly considered essential in principle. Similarly, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of parts, unless explicitly stated or clearly determined in principle, such descriptions should be understood to include substantially similar or approximate structures. The same applies to numerical references such as numbers, values, quantities, or ranges.

[0025] (First embodiment) The following will refer to Figures 1 to 10 The first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0026] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The connector assembly 3 is disclosed, which is mechanically and electrically connected to a socket-side substrate 1 and a plug-side substrate 2 that are parallel to each other. The socket-side substrate 1 is a specific example of a first substrate. The plug-side substrate 2 is a specific example of a second substrate. The connector assembly 3 includes a socket connector 4 soldered to a connector mounting surface 1A of the socket-side substrate 1, and a plug connector 5 soldered to a connector mounting surface 2A of the plug-side substrate 2.

[0027] (Socket Connector 4) Figure 3 To reveal the socket connector 4 in the exploded perspective view. Figure 3 As shown, the socket connector 4 includes: a plurality of socket contacts 6, a socket housing 7 for holding the plurality of socket contacts 6, and two socket retainers 8.

[0028] The plurality of socket contacts 6 and two socket retainers 8 are made of metal and are typically formed from a single sheet of metal by stamping, bending, stretching, cutting, etc. The socket housing 7 is made of insulating resin and is typically formed by injection molding.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, a plurality of socket contacts 6 are arranged in a single row in a direction parallel to the connector mounting surface 1A of the socket side substrate 1.

[0030] Here, refer to Figure 1 The "vertical direction", "spacing direction", and "width direction" are defined. The vertical direction, spacing direction, and width direction are mutually orthogonal.

[0031] like Figure 1As shown, the vertical direction refers to the direction in which the plug connector 5 is inserted into and removed from the socket connector 4. Therefore, the vertical direction coincides with the height direction of both the socket connector 4 and the plug connector 5. The vertical direction includes an upward direction (removal direction) and a downward direction (fitting direction). The upward direction is the direction in which the plug connector 5 is removed from the socket connector 4. The downward direction is the direction in which the plug connector 5 is fitted into the socket connector 4. The terms "upward" and "downward" are used for ease of explanation only and do not limit the orientation of the connector assembly 3 during use.

[0032] The spacing direction refers to the direction in which the plurality of socket contacts 6 are arranged. The spacing direction includes the inner side and the outer side. The inner side of the spacing direction is the direction close to the center of the spacing direction of the socket connector 4. The outer side of the spacing direction is the direction away from the center of the spacing direction of the socket connector 4.

[0033] The width direction is orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the spacing direction. The width direction includes the inner side and the outer side. The inner side of the width direction is the direction closest to the center of the width direction of the socket connector 4. The outer side of the width direction is the direction furthest from the center of the width direction of the socket connector 4.

[0034] As described above, a plurality of socket contacts 6 are arranged in a single row in a direction parallel to the connector mounting surface 1A of the socket side substrate 1. Specifically, two socket contacts 6 that are adjacent to each other in the spacing direction are arranged facing opposite directions. Thus, the plurality of socket contacts 6 are staggered in plan view. When viewed along the spacing direction, two socket contacts 6 that are adjacent to each other in the spacing direction overlap each other.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown, the socket housing 7 is formed to extend along the spacing direction. The socket housing 7 includes: a contact holding portion 7A for holding a plurality of socket contacts 6, and two clamping member holding portions 7B for holding two socket clamping members 8 respectively. The contact holding portion 7A includes two contact holding portions 7C facing each other in the width direction. The two clamping member holding portions 7B are provided in a manner that clamps the contact holding portion 7A in the spacing direction.

[0036] A cavity 9 for receiving the plug connector 5 is formed in the socket housing 7. The cavities 9 extend in a single row along the pitch direction. The cavities 9 include a central cavity 9C located at the center in the pitch direction, and two end cavities 9B adjacent to the central cavity 9C in the pitch direction and with a width greater than the central cavity 9C. Here, "the width of each end cavity 9B is greater than the central cavity 9C" means that the dimension of the end cavity 9B in the width direction is greater than the dimension of the central cavity 9C in the width direction. Two contact retaining portions 7C are provided to clamp the central cavity 9C in the width direction. Two clamping retaining portions 7B are formed as U-shapes opening inward in the pitch direction and are provided to surround the opposing end cavities 9B. Each clamping retaining portion 7B includes: a pitch wall portion 10 separating the end cavities 9B in the pitch direction, and two width wall portions 11 separating the end cavities 9B in the width direction. A wide wall portion 11, a spaced wall portion 10, and another wide wall portion 11 are sequentially connected to form a U-shape that opens toward the central cavity 9C.

[0037] A plurality of contact retaining grooves 12 are formed in the contact retaining portion 7A to hold one of the respective plurality of socket contacts 6 by a crimping method. In a plan view, the plurality of contact retaining grooves 12 are staggered with the central cavity 9C inserted therein. Thus, when the plurality of socket contacts 6 are held in the plurality of contact retaining grooves 12, the plurality of socket contacts 6 are staggered. In this state, each socket contact 6 is at least partially exposed to the central cavity 9C.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the socket retainer 8. Figure 4 For ease of explanation, one of the two socket clamping members 8 is shown after being cut along a surface parallel to the spacing direction. Hereinafter, since the two socket clamping members 8 have the same shape, only one socket clamping member 8 will be described, and the description of the other will be omitted.

[0039] The socket clamping member 8 is mainly used to fix the socket housing 7 to the connector mounting surface 1A of the socket side base plate 1. Each socket clamping member 8 includes a clamping member body 20 and an internal functional part 21.

[0040] The main body 20 of the pressing member includes: a spacing mounting portion 22 disposed on the spacing wall portion 10, and two width mounting portions 23 disposed on two opposing width walls 11. The two width mounting portions 23 are connected to each other via the spacing mounting portion 22.

[0041] The spacing mounting portion 22 includes: an outer wall 22A disposed on the outer side of the spacing wall portion 10 in the spacing direction; a welding portion 22B protruding downward from the outer wall 22A and solderable to the connector mounting surface 1A of the socket side substrate 1; a guide portion 22C extending from the upper end of the outer wall 22A toward the inner side in the spacing direction and inclined downward; and an inner wall 22D protruding downward from the distal end of the guide portion 22C. A bulge 22E protruding inward in the spacing direction is formed on the inner wall 22D.

[0042] Each width mounting portion 23 includes: an outer wall 23A disposed on the outer side of the width wall portion 11 in the width direction; a guide portion 23B extending from the upper end of the outer wall 23A toward the inner side in the width direction and inclined downward; and a locking spring piece 23C protruding downward from the distal end of the guide portion 23B. The locking spring piece 23C is bent in a manner that protrudes inward in the width direction.

[0043] The internal functional part 21 includes: a connecting portion 25 extending inward in the spacing direction from the lower end of the inner wall 22D; two contact spring pieces 26 extending outward and upward in the width direction from the connecting portion 25, respectively; and two reinforcing spring pieces 27 extending outward and upward in the width direction from the connecting portion 25, respectively, and further outward in the width direction. The two contact spring pieces 26 are disposed further outward in the spacing direction than the two reinforcing spring pieces 27. The reinforcing spring pieces 27 are a specific example of a metal component on the socket side.

[0044] Figure 1 The enlarged view reveals the aforementioned reinforcing spring sheet 27. (As shown...) Figure 1 As shown, with the two socket retaining members 8 installed on the socket housing 7, the two reinforcing spring pieces 27 of each socket retaining member 8 are respectively disposed at the outer end of the two contact member holding portions 7C in the spacing direction, and as indicated by arrow A, they protrude inward toward the central cavity 9C in the width direction, and as indicated by arrow B, they protrude outward toward the end cavity 9B in the spacing direction.

[0045] Now refer to Figure 5 . Figure 5 For illustrative purposes, the socket connector 4 is shown in the floor plan. (As shown...) Figure 5 As shown, the socket connector 4 includes: two central socket connector portions 4A that separate a central cavity 9C in the width direction, and two socket connector ends 4B that separate two end cavities 9B respectively. Figure 5In the diagram, the central portions 4A and the ends 4B of the two socket connectors are indicated by thick lines. Each central portion 4A of the socket connector mainly consists of a contact retaining portion 7C and a plurality of socket contacts 6. Each end 4B of the socket connector mainly consists of a retaining portion 7B and a socket retaining member 8. The two reinforcing spring tabs 27 of each socket retaining member 8 belong to the central portions 4A of the two socket connectors respectively and are arranged to protrude towards the end cavity 9B.

[0046] (Plug connector 5) Next, refer to Figures 6 to 8 Description of plug connector 5. Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing the plug connector 5. Figure 7 To explode the perspective view, the plug connector 5 is shown. Note that in the engaged state of the plug connector 5 and socket connector 4, only the state of the plug connector 5 relative to the socket connector 4 is defined. Therefore, the following description of the plug connector 5 will follow the reference... Figure 1 The defined direction. For example, in Figure 6 In Chinese, the meanings of "upward" and "downward" may be reversed.

[0047] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the plug connector 5 includes: a plurality of plug contacts 30, a plug housing 31 for holding the plurality of plug contacts 30, and two plug clamping members 32.

[0048] The plurality of plug contacts 30 and two plug holders 32 are made of metal and are typically formed from a single sheet of metal by means of stamping, bending, stretching, cutting, etc. The plug housing 31 is made of insulating resin and is typically formed by injection molding.

[0049] like Figure 7 As shown, a plurality of plug contacts 30 are arranged in a single row in a direction parallel to the connector mounting surface 2A of the plug-side substrate 2. Specifically, two plug contacts 30 that are adjacent to each other in the spacing direction are arranged facing opposite directions. Thus, the plurality of plug contacts 30 are staggered in the plan view. When viewed along the spacing direction, two plug contacts 30 that are adjacent to each other in the spacing direction overlap each other.

[0050] like Figure 7As shown, the plug housing 31 is formed to extend along the spacing direction. The plug housing 31 is formed to be inserted into the cavity 9 of the socket housing 7. That is, the plug housing 31 has a shape complementary to the cavity 9 of the socket housing 7. Thus, the plug housing 31 extends in a single row along the spacing direction. The plug housing 31 includes: a contact holding portion 31A located at the center in the spacing direction, and two clamping member holding portions 31B adjacent to the contact holding portion 31A in the spacing direction and with a width greater than that of the contact holding portion 31A. The two clamping member holding portions 31B are provided in such a way that they clamp the contact holding portion 31A in the spacing direction. The contact holding portion 31A holds a plurality of plug contacts 30. The two clamping member holding portions 31B each hold two plug clamping members 32.

[0051] A plurality of contact retaining grooves 33 are formed in the contact retaining portion 31A to retain one of the respective plurality of plug contacts 30 by means of crimping.

[0052] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the plug clamping member 32. Hereinafter, since the two plug clamping members 32 have the same shape, only one plug clamping member 32 will be described, and the description of the other will be omitted.

[0053] The plug holder 32 is mainly used to fix the plug housing 31 to the connector mounting surface 2A of the plug side substrate 2.

[0054] The plug clamping member 32 includes: an upper protective portion 32A that covers the clamping member holding portion 31B in the vertical direction, two width protective portions 32B that cover the clamping member holding portion 31B in the width direction, and a spacing protective portion 32C that covers the clamping member holding portion 31B in the spacing direction. Each width protective portion 32B is a specific example of a plug-side metal member.

[0055] The upper protective portion 32A, the two width protective portions 32B, and the spacing protective portion 32C are connected to each other. That is, the two width protective portions 32B extend upward from each end of the upper protective portion 32A in the width direction. The spacing protective portion 32C extends upward from one end of the upper protective portion 32A in the spacing direction.

[0056] A locking recess 35 is formed in each width protection portion 32B. A soldering portion 36, which can be soldered to the connector mounting surface 2A of the plug-side substrate 2, is formed to extend outward from each width protection portion 32B along the width direction. A locking recess 37 is formed in the spacing protection portion 32C.

[0057] Figure 6 The enlarged view reveals the width protection portion 32B of the plug clamping member 32. (See enlarged view.) Figure 6As shown, with the two plug clamping members 32 mounted on the plug housing 31, the two width protection portions 32B of each plug clamping member 32 are located on the outer side of the clamping member holding portion 31B in the width direction of the plug housing 31, and protrude inward in the spacing direction as indicated by arrow C. Specifically, each width protection portion 32B has a spacing limiting surface 38 facing inward in the width direction. Figure 6 In the middle, the spacing limit surface 38 is emphasized with a shading line.

[0058] Next, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 This describes the operation of connector assembly 3. Figure 9 The perspective view illustrates the positional relationship between the socket holder 8 and the plug holder 32 in the mated state of the connector assembly 3. Figure 10 The diagram illustrates the connector assembly 3 in its mated state.

[0059] First, such as Figure 1 As shown, the socket connector 4 is soldered and installed on the connector mounting surface 1A of the socket side substrate 1, and the plug connector 5 is soldered and installed on the connector mounting surface 2A of the plug side substrate 2.

[0060] Next, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the plug connector 5 is lowered relative to the socket connector 4, and the plug connector 5 is inserted into the cavity 9 of the socket connector 4. Thus, the plug connector 5 and the socket connector 4 are engaged. In the engaged state of the connector assembly 3, the plurality of socket contacts 6 of the socket connector 4 and the plurality of plug contacts 30 of the plug connector 5 are in electrical contact with each other.

[0061] When the plug connector 5 is inserted into the cavity 9 of the socket connector 4, it provides tactile feedback to the user to indicate that the plug connector 5 has been engaged with the socket connector 4.

[0062] Specifically, when the plug connector 5 is inserted into the cavity 9 of the socket connector 4, Figure 4 The two locking spring pieces 23C of each socket retainer 8 of the socket connector 4 shown are embedded. Figure 8 When the two locking recesses 35 of each plug retainer 32 of the plug connector 5 are engaged, the pressing force required for the plug connector 5 to be inserted into the cavity 9 of the socket connector 4 will decrease sharply. Similarly, when the plug connector 5 is inserted into the cavity 9 of the socket connector 4, at... Figure 4 The bulges 22E of each socket retainer 8 of the socket connector 4 shown are embedded. Figure 8When the locking recesses 37 of each plug retainer 32 of the plug connector 5 are engaged, the pressure required to insert the plug connector 5 into the cavity 9 of the socket connector 4 decreases sharply. This sharp decrease in pressure provides tactile feedback to the user, indicating that the plug connector 5 has been engaged with the socket connector 4.

[0063] The tactile feedback indicated by the engagement of the plug connector 5 with the socket connector 4 provides an effect that increases the removal force required to remove the plug connector 5 from the socket connector 4.

[0064] In the engaged state of connector assembly 3, such as Figure 4 The two contact springs 26 of each socket retaining member 8 of the socket connector 4 shown are respectively engaged with the socket retaining member 8 by the spring restoring force. Figure 8 The two width protection portions 32B of each plug clamp 32 of the plug connector 5 shown are in elastic contact. Thus, the two socket clamps 8 of the socket connector 4 are electrically connected to the two plug clamps 32 of the plug connector 5, respectively. In other words, the two socket clamps 8 of the socket connector 4 and the two plug clamps 32 of the plug connector 5 can typically function as power supply contacts through their electrical connection with each other.

[0065] Figure 9 This is a perspective view showing the positional relationship of the various clamping members in the mating state of connector assembly 3. For example... Figure 9 As shown, in the engaged state of connector assembly 3, the spacing limiting surfaces 38 of the two width protection portions 32B of each plug clamping member 32 of plug connector 5 face the two reinforcing spring pieces 27 of each socket clamping member 8 of socket connector 4 in the spacing direction. Hereinafter, reference will be made to... Figure 10 This relative relationship is illustrated with a diagram.

[0066] Figure 10 For illustrative purposes, the floor plan is shown below. Figure 5 Similarly, connector assembly 3 is shown in its mating state. (e.g.) Figure 10 As shown, the plug connector 5 includes: a central plug connector portion 5A that can be inserted into the central cavity 9C, and two plug connector ends 5B that can be inserted into the two end cavities 9B respectively. Figure 10In the diagram, the central portion 5A of the plug connector and the two plug connector ends 5B are indicated by thick lines. The central portion 5A of the plug connector is mainly composed of the contact retaining portion 31A of the plug housing 31 and a plurality of plug contacts 30. Each plug connector end 5B is mainly composed of the clamping retaining portion 31B of the plug housing 31 and a plug clamping member 32. The two plug connector ends 5B are positioned adjacent to the central portion 5A of the plug connector in the spacing direction. The two plug connector ends 5B are positioned in the spacing direction to clamp the central portion 5A of the plug connector. The two plug connector ends 5B are configured to have a width greater than that of the central portion 5A of the plug connector. Each plug connector end 5B has two width protection portions 32B that can face the two reinforcing spring pieces 27 in the spacing direction when the connector assembly 3 is in the engaged state.

[0067] When the plug connector 5 is relative to the socket connector 4 along Figure 10 As arrow D moves relative to each other in the spacing direction, the plug connector 5 is received by the socket connector 4 at different positions in the spacing direction.

[0068] Specifically, at Figure 10 As shown on the left, when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 along the pitch direction as indicated by arrow D, the left plug connector end 5B of the plug connector 5 is received by the left socket connector end 4B of the socket connector 4. More specifically, the pitch protection portion 32C of the left plug holder 32 of the plug connector 5 is received by the inner wall 22D of the left socket holder 8 of the socket connector 4.

[0069] In addition, Figure 10 As shown on the right side, when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 along the spacing direction as indicated by arrow D, the right plug connector end 5B of the plug connector 5 is received by the two central portions 4A of the socket connector 4. More specifically, the two width protection portions 32B of the right plug clamping member 32 of the plug connector 5 are respectively received by the two reinforcing spring pieces 27 of the right socket clamping member 8 of the socket connector 4.

[0070] Therefore, when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 along the pitch direction, in addition to being... Figure 10 In addition to the left socket connector 4 shown on the left side, the plug connector 5 is also received by the left socket connector end 4B. Figure 10 The two socket connectors 4 shown on the right side are received at their central portions 4A. Therefore, the plug connector 5 is not... Figure 10 Compared to the case where the two socket connectors 4 are supported by the central part 4A of the socket connector 4 shown on the right, when an external force is applied to the plug connector 5 in the direction indicated by arrow D, the plug housing 31 of the plug connector 5 can be prevented from buckling and deforming.

[0071] In this embodiment, as described above, when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 along the pitch direction, except for being... Figure 10 In addition to the left socket connector 4 shown on the left side, the plug connector 5 is also received by the left socket connector end 4B. Figure 10 The two socket connectors 4 shown on the right side are received at their central portions 4A. However, when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 along the pitch direction, the portion 4A that is received can be omitted. Figure 10 The left side of the connector shows the receiving end 4B of the left socket connector. Even in this case, the buckling deformation of the plug housing 31 of the plug connector 5 can be prevented in the same way.

[0072] In this embodiment, as described above, when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 along the pitch direction, the two metal width protection portions 32B of the right-side plug clamping member 32 of the plug connector 5 are supported by the two metal reinforcing spring pieces 27 of the right-side socket clamping member 8 of the socket connector 4. In short, when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 along the pitch direction, as... Figure 10 As shown on the right, the plug connector 5 is received by the socket connector 4 through metal-to-metal contact between the plug connector 5 and the socket connector 4. Thus, compared to the case where the right-side retaining part 31B of the plug connector 5 is received by the two contact retaining parts 7C of the socket connector 4 when the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 in the pitch direction, cracking of the socket connector 4 and the plug connector 5 can be effectively prevented.

[0073] (Second Embodiment) Next, refer to Figure 11 The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment described above will be mainly described, and repeated parts will be omitted.

[0074] In this embodiment, the shape of the socket retainer 8 is different from that in the first embodiment. That is, as shown in the first embodiment... Figure 4 As shown, in the first embodiment, two reinforcing spring sheets 27 are supported by the connecting portion 25.

[0075] In contrast, in this embodiment, such as Figure 11 As shown, the two reinforcing spring pieces 27 are supported by the outer walls 23A of the two width mounting portions 23. Specifically, each reinforcing spring piece 27 is formed in an L-shape, protruding from the inner side of the corresponding outer wall 23A in both the spacing direction and the width direction. In this case, there is no limitation on how the two reinforcing spring pieces 27 are constructed in the socket holding member 8.

[0076] The first and second embodiments of the present invention have been described above. The first and second embodiments have the following features.

[0077] The connector assembly 3 includes a socket connector 4 mountable on a connector mounting surface 1A of a socket-side substrate 1 (first substrate), and a plug connector 5 mountable on a connector mounting surface 2A of a plug-side substrate 2 (second substrate). A cavity 9, configured to receive the plug connector 5 and extending in a single row along the pitch direction, is formed in the socket connector 4. The cavity 9 includes a central cavity 9C located at the center in the pitch direction, and two end cavities 9B adjacent to the central cavity 9C in the pitch direction and having a width greater than the central cavity 9C. The socket connector 4 includes two central socket connector portions 4A separating the central cavity 9C in a width direction orthogonal to the pitch direction, and two end socket connector portions 4B separating the two end cavities 9B. Each central socket connector portion 4A has two reinforcing spring tabs 27 (socket-side metal members) exposed toward one end cavity 9B, and two reinforcing spring tabs 27 exposed toward the other end cavity 9B. The plug connector 5 includes a central plug connector portion 5A that can be inserted into a central cavity 9C, and two plug connector ends 5B that can be inserted into two end cavities 9B respectively. One plug connector end 5B has two width protection portions 32B (plug-side metal members) that face two reinforcing spring pieces 27 respectively in the pitch direction when the socket connector 4 and the plug connector 5 are engaged. The other plug connector end 5B has a similar structure. When the socket connector 4 and the plug connector 5 are engaged, and the plug connector 5 moves relative to the socket connector 4 in the pitch direction, the two width protection portions 32B are supported by the two reinforcing spring pieces 27 respectively. According to the above structure, when the socket connector 4 and the plug connector 5 are engaged, and an external force is applied to the plug connector 5 in the pitch direction, the plug connector 5 and the socket connector 4 can be prevented from breaking.

[0078] In Patent Document 1, the primary purpose of the wide portion is to provide positioning for the plug. Therefore, Patent Document 1 does not provide a motivation to absorb external forces acting on the plug along the spacing direction through metal-to-metal contact. Furthermore, even if the structure in Patent Document 1 were modified to absorb external forces acting on the plug along the spacing direction through metal-to-metal contact, the increased number of components would still reduce the positioning accuracy in Patent Document 1. In this sense, Patent Document 1 cannot be modified to absorb external forces acting on the plug along the spacing direction through metal-to-metal contact.

[0079] Although the present invention has been described with reference to several embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present invention can be made within the understanding of those skilled in the art.

[0080] For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the two reinforcing spring sheets 27 are configured as part of the socket clamping member 8. This allows the socket connector 4 to be implemented with a small number of components, thereby helping to reduce the cost of the socket connector 4. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the two reinforcing spring sheets 27 can be configured as components separate from the socket clamping member 8. Similarly, the two width protection portions 32B are configured as part of the plug clamping member 32. This allows the plug connector 5 to be implemented with a small number of components, thereby helping to reduce the cost of the plug connector 5. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the two width protection portions 32B can be configured as components separate from the plug clamping member 32.

[0081] In the first and second embodiments described above, one of the two reinforcing springs 27 of each socket retainer 8 can be omitted. Similarly, one of the two width protection portions 32B of each plug retainer 32 can be omitted. Even in this case, when the socket connector 4 and the plug connector 5 are in a mating state and an external force acts on the plug connector 5 in the pitch direction, the external force is still borne through metal-to-metal contact.

[0082] The first and second embodiments can be combined by those skilled in the art as needed.

[0083] As can be seen from the above description of the present invention, embodiments of the present invention can obviously be modified in many ways. Such modifications should not be considered as departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications that will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, characterized in that... include: A socket connector that can be mounted on the connector mounting surface of the first substrate; as well as A plug connector that can be mounted on the connector mounting surface of a second substrate. The socket connector has a cavity configured to receive the plug connector, the cavity extending in a single row along the spacing direction. The cavity includes: A central cavity, located at the center of the spacing direction; and An end cavity, which is adjacent to the central cavity in the spacing direction and has a width greater than that of the central cavity. The socket connector includes: The central portions of the two socket connectors, which divide the central cavity in a width direction orthogonal to the pitch direction; and The socket connector end, which separates the end cavity, At least one of the two socket connectors includes a socket-side metal member exposed toward the end cavity in the central portion. The plug connector includes: The plug connector has a central portion that can be inserted into the central cavity; and The plug connector end can be inserted into the end cavity. The plug connector end includes a plug-side metal member that, when the socket connector and the plug connector are engaged, can face the socket-side metal member in the spacing direction. When the socket connector and the plug connector are in the mating state and the plug connector moves relative to the socket connector along the spacing direction, the plug-side metal member is received by the socket-side metal member.

2. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The socket connector further includes a socket-side clamping member, and, The socket-side metal component is configured as part of the socket-side retaining member.

3. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The socket-side clamping member includes a solder portion that can be soldered to the connector mounting surface of the first substrate.

4. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The plug connector further includes a plug-side retainer, and, The plug-side metal member is configured as part of the plug-side retainer.

5. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The plug-side clamping member includes a solder portion that can be soldered to the connector mounting surface of the second substrate.

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