Electric connector

Abstract

The utility model provides an electric connector, aiming at each part of a terminal of a metal piece which is integrally formed relative to a shell and is kept, the manufacturing cost of the electric connector can be inhibited through local plating processing based on weighting of plating thickness corresponding to the purpose of the electric connector. The electric connector provided by the utility model is provided with a shell and a metal piece, and a terminal of the metal piece is provided with a first wall part which is arranged to extend along a Z direction orthogonal to an installation surface of an installation part of the first wall part and forms a first wall surface containing a single contact capable of being contacted with an object terminal, and a second wall part which is arranged to extend along a Z direction orthogonal to the installation surface of the first wall part; and a second wall portion provided at an end portion on one side of the first wall portion in the Z direction, the second wall portion forming an exposed surface that is separated from the mounting surface and is not in contact with the housing, the terminal being in contact with a target terminal via a single contact point. A first thickness of a plated portion of the first wall surface of the first wall portion is greater than a second thickness of a plated portion of the exposed surface of the second wall portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to an electric connector, in particular to an electric connector installed relative to an electrically connected object such as a circuit substrate and a cable. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an electrical connector installed relative to an object to be electrically connected, such as a circuit board or a cable, there is known an electrical connector, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, which comprises a plurality of terminal portions integrally provided with a carrier and held by the shell by being integrally molded relative to the shell, and the terminal portions held by the shell are plated and then cut relative to the carrier to manufacture the terminal portions.

[0003] In the conventional electrical connector described in Patent Document 1, the exposed surface of the terminal that is not in contact with the housing is plated, thereby improving the electrical contact characteristics and solder adhesion characteristics. On the other hand, the contact surface of the terminal that is in contact with the housing is not plated, thereby reducing the possibility of solder and its flux penetrating into the gap between the contact surface of the housing and the terminal.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4287450 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-59884)

[0005] Here, in the above-mentioned conventional electrical connector, after the metal parts (terminals, reinforcing metal parts, etc.) are integrally molded with the housing and held by the housing, if the entire metal parts are plated, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the plating process etc. increases.

[0006] In particular, when expensive plating with relatively high conductivity or expensive plating with relatively high solder wettability is used as the plating used for the plating process, for each plated portion in the terminal of the metal part held by the shell, how to weight the thickness (plating thickness) according to the importance of the required conductivity, solder wettability, etc. to perform local plating and suppress manufacturing costs has become a required issue in recent years. Utility Model Content

[0007] Therefore, the utility model is completed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and the topics required in recent years, and its purpose is to provide an electrical connector that can suppress manufacturing costs by weighted local plating processing based on the plating thickness corresponding to its use for each part of the terminal of the metal part that is integrally molded and held relative to the shell.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the utility model is an electric connector installed relative to an object to be electrically connected, characterized in that the above-mentioned electric connector comprises: a shell, which has longitudinal, lateral and height directions that are orthogonal to each other; and a metal part, which is held in the shell, the above-mentioned metal part is integrally formed relative to the above-mentioned shell by insert molding, and is composed of a conductive thin plate-shaped base material held by the above-mentioned shell, and has a terminal whose surface is partially plated after the above-mentioned insert molding, and the above-mentioned terminal comprises: a mounting portion, which includes a mounting surface mounted on the mounted portion of the above-mentioned object to be mounted; a first wall portion, which is arranged to extend along a first direction orthogonal to the above-mentioned mounting surface, and forms A first wall surface including a single contact point capable of contacting an object terminal; and a second wall portion, which is arranged at an end portion on one side of the first direction in the first wall portion and forms an exposed surface separated from the mounting surface in the first direction and non-contacting with the housing, the terminal being configured to contact the object terminal through the single contact point, and after the insert molding, the first wall surface of the first wall portion and the exposed surface of the second wall portion are plated respectively, and a first thickness of the plated portion produced by the plating of the first wall surface is greater than a second thickness of the plated portion produced by the plating of the exposed surface of the second wall portion.

[0009] In addition, the utility model is an electric connector installed relative to an object to be electrically connected, characterized in that the above-mentioned electric connector comprises: a shell, which has longitudinal, lateral and height directions that are orthogonal to each other; and a metal part, which is held in the shell, the above-mentioned metal part is integrally formed relative to the above-mentioned shell by insert molding, is composed of a conductive thin plate-shaped base material held by the above-mentioned shell, and has a terminal whose surface is partially plated after the above-mentioned insert molding, and the above-mentioned terminal comprises: a mounting portion, which includes a mounting surface mounted on the mounted portion of the above-mentioned object to be mounted; a first wall portion, which is arranged to extend along a first direction orthogonal to the above-mentioned mounting surface, and forms A first wall surface including a single contact point capable of contacting an object terminal; and a second wall portion, which is arranged at an end portion on one side of the above-mentioned first direction in the first wall portion and forms an exposed surface separated from the above-mentioned mounting surface in the above-mentioned first direction and non-contacting with the above-mentioned shell, the above-mentioned terminal is configured to contact the above-mentioned object terminal through the above-mentioned single contact point, and after the above-mentioned insert molding, the above-mentioned mounting surface of the above-mentioned mounting portion and the above-mentioned exposed surface of the above-mentioned second wall portion are respectively plated, and the first thickness of the plated portion generated by the plating process on the above-mentioned mounting surface is greater than the second thickness of the plated portion generated by the plating process on the above-mentioned exposed surface.

[0010] According to the electrical connector of the present invention, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed by performing partial plating processing based on the weighting of the plating thickness according to the use for each part of the terminal of the metal member integrally molded and held with the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of the electric connector in the non-mated state according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 It is a side view of the electric connector in the non-mated state according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 Cross-sectional view along line III-III.

[0014] Figure 4A This is a partially enlarged perspective view of a terminal portion of the receptacle connector of the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the counterpart connector side (plug connector side).

[0015] Figure 4B This is a partially enlarged perspective view of a terminal portion of the receptacle connector of the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the mounted portion side.

[0016] Figure 4C This is a partially enlarged side view of a terminal portion of the receptacle connector of the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) of the receptacle connector.

[0017] Figure 5A This is a partially enlarged perspective view of a terminal portion of a plug connector of the electric connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the counterpart connector side (receptacle connector side).

[0018] Figure 5B This is a partially enlarged perspective view of a terminal portion of a plug connector of the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the mounted portion side.

[0019] Figure 5C This is a partially enlarged side view of a terminal portion of the plug connector of the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) of the plug connector.

[0020] Figure 6 The electrical connector of the second embodiment of the present invention is Figure 3 Same cross-section view.

[0021] Description of Reference Numerals

[0022] 1... the electric connector of the first embodiment of the present invention; 2... the object to be mounted; 2A... the first mounted portion; 2B... the second mounted portion; 4... the socket connector; 6... the plug connector; 8... the first housing; 10... the second housing; 12... the first metal member; 14... the second metal member; 16... the first terminal (terminal); 18... the second terminal (terminal); 20... the bottom wall of the first housing; 22... the protruding wall of the first housing; 24... the peripheral wall of the first housing; 26... the long side wall of the peripheral wall of the first housing; 28... the short side wall of the peripheral wall of the first housing; 30... the bottom wall of the second housing; 32... the protruding wall of the second housing; 34... the second 36...the short side wall of the second shell; 38...the first fitting recess of the first shell; 40...the second fitting recess of the second shell; 42...the first mounting portion and the first mounting wall portion (the mounting portion of the terminal) of the first terminal; 44...the first wall portion of the first terminal; 44a...the connecting portion; 46...the second wall portion of the first terminal; 46a...the connecting portion; 48...the third wall portion of the first terminal (the first wall portion of the terminal); 48a...the connecting portion; 50...the fourth wall portion of the first terminal and the elastic contact piece (the first wall portion of the terminal); 50a...the connecting portion; 50b...the bending portion; 50c...the bending portion; 52...the second mounting portion and the second mounting wall portion of the second terminal; Wall portion (mounting portion of terminal); 54...1st wall portion of second terminal (1st wall portion of terminal); 54a...connecting portion; 56...2nd wall portion of second terminal; 56a...connecting portion; 58...3rd wall portion of second terminal; 58a...connecting portion; 100...electrical connector of second embodiment of the present invention; 104...socket connector; 106...plug connector; 108...1st shell; 110...2nd shell; 112...1st metal member; 114...2nd metal member; 116...1st terminal (terminal); 118...2nd terminal (terminal); 132...peripheral wall of second shell; 138...1st fitting recess of first shell ; 140... the second fitting recess of the second housing; 142... the first mounting portion and the first mounting wall portion (the mounting portion of the terminal) of the first terminal; 150... the wall portion and the elastic contact piece of the first terminal; 152... the second mounting portion and the second mounting wall portion (the mounting portion of the terminal) of the second terminal; 154... the wall portion of the second terminal; 156... the wall portion of the second terminal; 158... the wall portion of the second terminal; A1... the internal space area; C1... the central axis extending in the Z direction in the socket connector; C2... the central axis extending in the Z direction in the plug connector; P1... the first contact point of the first terminal; P2... the second contact point of the second terminal; S1... the first mounting surface; S2... the second mounted surface; S3... the first mounting surface of the first mounting portion of the first terminal (the mounting surface of the mounting portion of the terminal); S4... the wall surface and the exposed surface of the second wall portion of the first terminal (the exposed surface of the second wall portion of the terminal); S5... the wall surface of the fourth wall portion of the first terminal (the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the terminal); S6... the second mounting surface of the second mounting portion of the second terminal (the mounting surface of the mounting portion of the terminal); S7... the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the second terminal (the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the terminal); S8... the first wall surface and the exposed surface of the second wall portion of the second terminal; S9... the second wall surface of the first wall portion of the second terminal; S10... the ... the second wall surface of the 2nd wall portion; S11 ... the first wall surface of the 3rd wall portion of the 2nd terminal; S12 ... the second wall surface of the 3rd wall portion of the 2nd terminal; T1 ... the thickness of the plated portion in the first mounting surface of the first mounting portion of the 1st terminal (the first thickness of the plated portion produced by plating the mounting surface of the mounting portion of the terminal, the third thickness of the plated portion produced by plating the mounting surface of the mounting portion of the terminal); T2 ... the thickness of the plated portion in the wall surface of the 2nd wall portion of the 1st terminal (the second thickness of the plated portion produced by plating the exposed surface of the 2nd wall portion of the terminal); T3 ... the thickness of the plated portion in the 3rd surface of the 4th wall portion of the 1st terminal The third thickness (the first thickness of the plated portion resulting from the plating process on the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the terminal, the third thickness of the plated portion resulting from the plating process on the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the terminal); T4...the thickness of the plated portion in the second mounting surface of the second mounting portion of the second terminal (the first thickness of the plated portion resulting from the plating process on the mounting surface of the mounting portion of the terminal, the third thickness of the plated portion resulting from the plating process on the mounting surface of the mounting portion of the terminal); T5...the thickness of the plated portion in the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the second terminal (the first thickness of the plated portion resulting from the plating process on the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the terminal, The third thickness of the plated portion produced by plating the first wall surface of the first wall portion of the terminal); T6...the thickness of the plated portion in the first wall surface (exposed surface) of the second wall portion of the second terminal (the second thickness of the plated portion produced by plating the exposed surface of the second wall portion of the terminal); T7...the thickness of the plated portion in the second wall surface of the first wall portion of the second terminal, the second wall surface of the second wall portion, and the second wall surface of the third wall portion; T8...the thickness of the plated portion in the first wall surface of the third wall portion of the second terminal; Z1...mating direction (the first direction orthogonal to the mounting surface); Z2...mating release direction (the first direction orthogonal to the mounting surface). . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, electrical connectors according to several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] First, according to Figure 1 to Figure 6 , an electric connector 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0025] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A perspective view and a side view are respectively shown in a non-mated state of the electric connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the electrical connector 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention is a structure for being installed on a so-called electrically connected object 2 such as a circuit substrate of an electronic device such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a digital camera, a notebook computer, or an electrical connecting portion of a flexible flat cable.

[0027] The electric connector 1 includes a pair of receptacle connector 4 and plug connector 6 which are provided so as to be engageable and releasable with each other.

[0028] The connectors 4 and 6 are mounted on the mounted surfaces S1 and S2 (first mounted surface S1 and second mounted surface S2) of different mounted portions 2A and 2B (first mounted portion 2A and second mounted portion 2B) of the corresponding mounted object 2.

[0029] In this specification and the accompanying drawings, in the electrical connector 1, Figure 1 The X-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as "X direction") of the right-hand XYZ coordinate axis composed of three mutually orthogonal X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis shown (the same applies to other drawings) is defined as the lateral direction or short-side direction of each connector 4, 6. The X direction corresponds to the normal direction of the YZ plane orthogonal to the XY plane as each mounting surface S1, S2.

[0030] The Y-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as "Y-direction") in the XYZ coordinate axis is defined as the longitudinal direction or long side direction of each connector 4, 6. This Y-direction also corresponds to the normal direction of the XZ plane orthogonal to the XY plane as each mounting surface S1, S2.

[0031] Furthermore, the Z-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as "Z-direction") in the XYZ coordinate axis is defined as the height direction or the mating direction or the mating release direction of each connector 4, 6 relative to each mounting surface S1, S2. This Z-direction is also equivalent to the normal direction orthogonal to the XY plane as each mounting surface S1, S2.

[0032] In particular, the direction in which the connectors 4 and 6 approach each other in the Z direction (the direction of movement toward the proximal side) and the direction in which they are fitted (fitting direction) are referred to as the "Z1 direction". On the other hand, the direction in which the connectors 4 and 6 move away from each other in the Z direction (the direction of movement toward the distal side) and the direction in which they are released from fitting (fitting release direction) are referred to as the "Z2 direction".

[0033] then, Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 Cross-sectional view along line III-III.

[0034] like Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, the receptacle connector 4 and the plug connector 6 each include a substantially flat rectangular resin housing 8 , 10 (first housing 8 , second housing 10 ) and metal fittings 12 , 14 (first metal fitting 12 , second metal fitting 14 ) held by the housings 8 , 10 .

[0035] In addition, if Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, the metal parts 12, 14 of each connector 4, 6 are integrally formed relative to each housing 8, 10 by insert molding, and are composed of a conductive thin plate-shaped base material held by the housing 8, 10, and respectively have terminals 16, 18 (first terminal 16 (socket terminal 16), second terminal 18 (plug terminal 18).

[0036] Furthermore, after the entire metal parts 12 and 14 are integrally molded with the housing 8 by insert molding, the surfaces of the terminals 16 and 18 are partially plated.

[0037] In addition, the details of the portions of the terminals 16 and 18 that are partially plated in the metal fittings 12 and 14 of the receptacle connector 4 and the plug connector 6 will be described later.

[0038] Next, according to Figure 1 to Figure 3 , details of the housings 8 and 10 of the receptacle connector 4 and the plug connector 6 will be described.

[0039] like Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, each housing 8 , 10 has a longitudinal direction (Y direction, long side direction), a lateral direction (X direction, short side direction), and a height direction (Z direction) that are orthogonal to each other.

[0040] In addition, if Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, the first housing 8 of the receptacle connector 4 includes a bottom wall 20 disposed on a first mounted surface S1 of a first mounted portion 2A of an object 2 to be electrically connected, such as a circuit board of an electronic device or an electrical connection portion of a flexible flat cable.

[0041] Furthermore, the first housing 8 includes a protruding wall 22 that protrudes from a central portion of the bottom wall 20 in the X direction in the Z direction (mating direction Z1 ) along a central axis C1 of the receptacle connector 4 extending in the Z direction.

[0042] Furthermore, the first housing 8 includes a peripheral wall 24 which is spaced apart from the outer side of the protruding wall 22 in the X direction and the Y direction and is provided in an outer frame shape over the entire circumference of the first housing 8. The peripheral wall 24 includes a long side wall 26 extending in the Y direction (long side direction) of the first housing 8 and a short side wall 28 extending in the X direction (short side direction) of the first housing 8.

[0043] Each of the long side wall 26 and the short side wall 28 of the peripheral wall 24 is also formed so as to protrude from the bottom wall 20 in the Z direction (fitting direction Z1 ).

[0044] Furthermore, the terminals 16 of the first metal member 12 are integrally molded with the walls 20 , 22 , 24 , 26 , 28 of the first housing 8 by insert molding, and are thereby integrally assembled with respect to the first housing 8 .

[0045] Likewise, if Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, the second housing 10 of the plug connector 6 includes a bottom wall 30 disposed on a second mounted surface S2 of a second mounted portion 2B of an object 2 to be electrically connected, such as a circuit board of an electronic device or an electrical connection portion of a flexible flat cable.

[0046] The second housing 10 also includes a protruding wall 32 that protrudes from the bottom wall 30 in the Z direction (mating direction Z1) along the central axis C2 of the plug connector 6 extending in the Z direction. The protruding wall 32 is also formed to extend in the Y direction (longitudinal direction) of the second housing 10.

[0047] Furthermore, the second housing 10 includes a long side wall 34 which is provided on the base end side (the mating release direction Z2 side) of the protruding wall 32 and outside in the X direction (short side direction) and extends in the Y direction (long side direction) of the second housing 10 .

[0048] The second housing 10 also includes short side walls 36 provided at ends in the Y direction (long side direction) with respect to the protruding wall 32 and the long side walls 24 and extending in the X direction (short side direction) of the second housing 10 .

[0049] Here, the terminals 18 of the second metal member 14 are integrally molded with the walls 30 , 32 , 34 , and 36 of the second housing 10 by insert molding, and are thereby integrally assembled with respect to the second housing 10 .

[0050] Then, if Figure 1 to Figure 3As shown, a first mating recess 38 is provided in an internal space area A1 on the inner side of the peripheral wall 24 in the first shell 8 of the socket connector 4 in the X direction and the Y direction and relative to the mating direction Z1 of the protrusion 22. The first mating recess 38 can accommodate the protrusion 32 and the second terminal 18 of the second shell 10 of the plug connector 6 when the plug connector 6 is mated with the socket connector 4.

[0051] In addition, if Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, a second mating recess 40 is provided at the end of the protrusion 32 in the second shell 10 of the plug connector 6 in the mating direction Z1. The second mating recess 40 can receive the protrusion 22 of the first shell 8 of the socket connector 6 when the plug connector 6 is mated with the socket connector 4.

[0052] In addition, in the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment, a method is described in which the length of the long side wall 26 of the protrusion 22 and the peripheral wall 24 of the first shell 8 in the Y direction (long side direction) is greater than the length of the short side wall 28 in the X direction (short side direction), and the length of the long side wall 34 of the second shell 10 in the Y direction (long side direction) is greater than the length of the short side wall 36 in the X direction (short side direction), but the method is not limited to this method, and the length of each long side wall 26, 34 in the Y direction (long side direction) and the length of each short side wall 28, 34 in the X direction (short side direction) may also be the same.

[0053] Next, according to Figure 1 to Figure 5C Next, details of the portions of the terminals 16 and 18 that are partially plated in the metal fittings 12 and 14 of the receptacle connector 4 and the plug connector 6 of the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0054] Figure 4A to Figure 4C They are respectively a partially enlarged stereoscopic view of the first terminal 16 portion of the socket connector 4 of the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment, observed from its object connector side (plug connector 6 side), a partially enlarged stereoscopic view observed from the first mounted portion 2A side of its mounted object 2, and a partially enlarged side view observed from the Y direction (longitudinal, long side direction) of the socket connector 4.

[0055] First, if Figure 3 and Figure 4A to Figure 4C As shown, the first terminal 16 of the receptacle connector 4 includes a first mounting wall portion 42 which is a first mounting portion mounted on the first mounted portion 2A of the mounted object 2 .

[0056] The first terminal 16 generally includes four walls 44 , 46 , 48 , and 50 (a first wall 44 , a second wall 46 , a third wall 48 , and a fourth wall 50 ) extending from the first mounting wall 42 toward the central axis C1 of the receptacle connector 4 .

[0057] The first mounting portion 42 of the first terminal 16 includes a first mounting surface S3 provided on one side (Z direction) of the thickness direction (Z direction) of the thin plate-shaped base material. Figure 3 and Figure 4A to Figure 4C The first mounting portion 42 is located on the Z2 direction side and the first mounted portion 2A side as shown, and faces the first mounted surface S1 of the first mounted portion 2A.

[0058] Then, if Figure 3 and Figure 4A to Figure 4C As shown, the first wall portion 44 of the first terminal 16 bends in the Z1 direction from a connection portion 44 a at one end in the X1 direction of the first mounting wall portion 42 , extends in the Z1 direction by a predetermined distance, and is held by the long side wall 26 of the peripheral wall 24 of the first housing 10 .

[0059] In addition, if Figure 3 and Figure 4A to Figure 4C As shown, the second wall portion 46 of the first terminal 16 bends in the X1 direction from a connecting portion 46 a at one end in the Z1 direction of the first wall portion 44 , and then extends in the X1 direction by a predetermined distance.

[0060] Here, in the second wall portion 46 , a part of the wall surface S4 on the Z1 direction side forms an exposed surface S4 that is not in contact with the first housing 8 .

[0061] And, if Figure 3 and Figure 4A to Figure 4C As shown, the third wall portion 48 of the first terminal 16 bends in the Z1 direction from a connection portion 48 a at one end in the X1 direction of the second wall portion 46 , and then extends in the Z1 direction by a predetermined distance.

[0062] In addition, if Figure 3 and Figure 4A to Figure 4C As shown, the fourth wall portion 50 of the first terminal 16 extends from the connection portion 50a at one end in the Z1 direction of the third wall portion 48 to the bent portion 50b in the Z1 direction. Thereafter, the fourth wall portion 50 extends from the bent portion 50b to the curved portion 50c in the X1 direction and the Z1 direction, and then extends from the curved portion 50c to the X2 direction and the Z1 direction by a predetermined distance.

[0063] Here, the bent portion 50c of the fourth wall portion 50 of the first terminal 16 forms a wall surface S5 including a single first contact point P1 that can elastically contact the mating terminal (second terminal) 18, and also functions as an elastic contact piece.

[0064] Here, the first mounting surface S3 of the first mounting wall portion 42 of the first terminal 16 , the exposed surface S4 of the second wall portion 46 , and the wall surface S5 of the fourth wall portion 50 are plated after insert molding.

[0065] In addition, the thickness T1 of the plated portion plated on the first mounting surface S3 is set to be greater than the thickness T2 of the plated portion plated on the exposed surface S4 of the second wall portion 46 and less than the thickness T3 of the plated portion plated on the wall surface S5 of the fourth wall portion 50 (T3>T1>T2).

[0066] In addition, the thicknesses T1 and T3 are preferably set to 0.05 [μm] or more, and the thickness T2 is preferably set to 0.03 [μm] or less.

[0067] Then, if Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C As shown, the second terminal 18 of the plug connector 4 includes a second mounting wall portion 52 which is a second mounting portion mounted on the second mounted portion 2B of the mounted object 2 .

[0068] Furthermore, the second terminal 18 generally includes four wall portions 54 , 56 , and 58 (a first wall portion 54 , a second wall portion 56 , and a third wall portion 58 ) extending from the second mounting wall portion 52 toward the central axis C2 side of the plug connector 4 .

[0069] Furthermore, the second mounting portion 52 of the second terminal 18 includes a second mounting surface S3 provided on one side (Z direction) of the thickness direction (Z direction) of the thin plate-shaped base material. Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C The Z2 direction side of the second mounting portion 52 shown in the figure, the second mounted portion 2B side), and faces the second mounted surface S2 of the second mounted portion 2B.

[0070] Then, if Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C As shown, the first wall portion 54 of the second terminal 18 bends in the Z1 direction from a connection portion 54 a at one end in the X2 direction of the second mounting wall portion 52 , and then extends in the Z1 direction by a predetermined distance.

[0071] Here, for the first wall portion 54 of the second terminal 18, a wall surface S7 including a single second contact P2 is formed, and the above-mentioned single second contact P2 contacts with a single contact P1 in the wall surface S5 of the elastic contact piece 50 of the target terminal (first terminal) 16 when the socket connector 4 and the plug connector 6 are engaged with each other.

[0072] In addition, if Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C As shown, the second wall portion 56 of the second terminal 18 is bent in the X2 direction from a connecting portion 56 a at one end in the Z1 direction of the first wall portion 54 , and then extends in the X2 direction by a predetermined distance.

[0073] Here, in the second wall portion 56 of the second terminal 18 , a part of the wall surface S8 on the Z1 direction side forms an exposed surface S8 that is not in contact with the second housing 10 .

[0074] And, if Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C As shown, the third wall portion 58 of the second terminal 18 is bent in the Z2 direction from a connection portion 58 a at one end of the second wall portion 56 in the X2 direction, and then extends in the Z2 direction by a predetermined distance.

[0075] That is, Figure 3 and Figure 5C As shown, in the second terminal 18, after the first wall portion 54 is bent and extended in the Z2 direction from the connecting portion 54a connected to the second mounting wall portion 52 for a predetermined distance, the second wall portion 56 is extended in the X2 direction from the connecting portion 56a connected to the first wall portion 54, and then the third wall portion 58 is bent in the Z2 direction from the connecting portion 58a connected to the second wall portion 56, and the shape thus formed is roughly a shape that is wound from the outside to the inside relative to the central axis C2 of the plug connector 6 (the so-called outward-rolled shape).

[0076] Here, the second mounting surface S6 of the second mounting wall portion 52 of the second terminal 18, the wall surface S7 of the first wall portion 54 including the second contact point P2, and the exposed surface S8 of the second wall portion 56 are plated after insert molding.

[0077] In addition, the thickness T4 of the plated portion plated on the second mounting surface S6 is set to be smaller than the thickness T5 of the plated portion plated on the wall surface S7 of the first wall portion 54, and larger than the thickness T6 of the plated portion plated on the exposed surface S8 of the second wall portion 56 (T5>T4>T6).

[0078] In addition, the thicknesses T4 and T5 are preferably set to 0.05 [μm] or more, and the thickness T6 is preferably set to 0.03 [μm] or less.

[0079] Then, if Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C As shown, the first wall portion 54 of the second terminal 18 also has a second wall surface S9, which is arranged on the opposite side (X1 direction side) of the second direction (X2 direction) orthogonal to the first direction (mating direction Z1) relative to the wall surface S7 (first wall surface S7), and includes a contact surface S9 that contacts a portion of the protruding wall 32 of the second shell 10.

[0080] In addition, if Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C As shown, the second wall portion 56 of the second terminal 16 also has a second wall surface S10, which is arranged on the opposite side of the Z direction (Z2 direction side) relative to the first wall surface (exposed surface) S8, and includes a contact surface S10 that contacts a portion of the protruding wall 32 of the second shell 10.

[0081] And, if Figure 3 and Figure 5A to Figure 5C As shown, the third wall portion 58 of the second terminal 16 has a second wall surface S12, which is arranged on the opposite side of the X direction (X2 direction side) relative to the first wall surface S11 on the X1 direction side, and includes a contact surface S12 that contacts a portion of the protruding wall 32 of the second shell 10.

[0082] Thus, a portion of the protruding wall 32 of the second housing 10 is surrounded by the contact surface S9 of the first wall portion 54 of the second terminal 16 , the contact surface S10 of the second wall portion 56 , and the contact surface 12 of the third wall portion 58 , respectively, and the second terminal 18 of the second metal member 14 is held by the second housing 10 .

[0083] Here, in each of the second wall surface S9 of the first wall portion 54 of the second terminal 18 contacting a portion of the protruding wall 32 of the second shell 10, the second wall surface S10 of the second wall portion 56, and the second wall surface S12 of the third wall portion 58, the thickness T7 of the plated portion plated after insert molding is set to 0 (T7=0).

[0084] Furthermore, the first wall surface S11 of the third wall portion 58 of the second terminal 16 is plated after insert molding. The thickness T8 of the plated portion of the first wall surface S11 of the third wall portion 58 of the second terminal 16 is set to be less than or equal to the thickness T7 of the wall surface S5 of the first wall portion 54 and greater than the thickness T6 of the exposed surface S8 of the second wall portion 56 (T7≥T8>T6). Alternatively, the thickness T8 is set to be greater than or equal to the thickness T7 of the wall surface S5 of the first wall portion 54 and greater than the thickness T6 of the exposed surface S8 of the second wall portion 56 (T8≥T7>T6).

[0085] In addition, the thickness T8 is preferably set to 0.03 [μm] or less.

[0086] In addition, as the material of the plating used in the local plating process of each terminal 16, 18 of the electric connector 1 of the present embodiment described above, it is particularly preferable to use a material with relatively high conductivity and solder wettability. Specifically, it is preferable to use a precious metal such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt) or palladium (Pd), and it is preferable to perform a local plating process based on so-called "gold plating" using at least gold (Au).

[0087] In addition, gold used as a material for the plating is not limited to pure gold (100% Au), and may be a material having Au as a main component and containing other metals to a certain extent.

[0088] The thicknesses T1 to T8 of the plated portions of the wall portions of the terminals 16 and 18 can be measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) or scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which are known techniques.

[0089] In addition, the portions of the terminals 16 and 18 that are in close contact with the resin of the housings 8 and 10 are made of base metal (copper alloy), but nickel (Ni) may be applied as base plating.

[0090] Furthermore, a method of partially plating the metal parts 12 and 14 held by the housings 8 and 10 after being integrally molded with the housings 8 and 10 by insert molding is known as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-213248.

[0091] To explain briefly, the thin plate-shaped base material of each terminal 16, 18 integrally formed with each housing 8, 10 by insert molding is wound around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical support drum containing a plating liquid. Then, when the support drum rotates, the thin plate-shaped base material of each terminal 16, 18 is conveyed, and the plating liquid is sprayed from the plating holes on the outer peripheral surface of the support drum toward the predetermined plating areas of each terminal 16, 18 facing the support drum, thereby plating the predetermined plating areas of each terminal 16, 18.

[0092] Next, refer to Figure 1 to Figure 5C The effects of the electric connector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0093] According to the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment described above, the metal members 12 and 14 are integrally molded with the housings 8 and 10 by insert molding, and after being integrally held by the housings 8 and 10 , the surfaces of the metal members 12 and 14 are partially plated.

[0094] This can improve manufacturing efficiency compared to a process of pre-plating the metal members and then press-fitting the plated metal members 12 and 14 into the housings 8 and 10 when manufacturing the electric connector 1 .

[0095] Furthermore, since only a portion of the surface of each metal member 12 , 14 that requires plating is locally plated, it is not necessary to plate the entire surface of each metal member 12 , 14 , and thus the manufacturing cost associated with plating and the like can be reduced.

[0096] In particular, even when expensive plating with relatively high conductivity or expensive plating with relatively high solder wettability is used as the plating used for the plating process, the manufacturing cost can be effectively suppressed because the portion to be plated is limited to a portion of the surface of the metal member.

[0097] Furthermore, when the surface of each metal part 12, 14 is partially plated, the wall surface S5, S7 including the single contact point P1, P2 that can contact the corresponding terminal 16, 18 in the wall portion 50, 54 of each terminal 16, 18 is plated, and the exposed surface S4, S8 in the wall portion 46, 56 of each terminal 16, 18 that is non-contact with each housing 8, 10 is plated.

[0098] At this time, the thicknesses T3 and T5 of the plated portions resulting from the plating of the wall surfaces S5 and S7 of the wall portions 50 and 54 of each terminal 16 and 18 including the single contact points P1 and P2 that can contact the target terminals 16 and 18 are set to be larger than the thicknesses T2 and T6 of the plated portions resulting from the plating of the exposed surfaces S4 and S8 of the wall portions 46 and 56 of each terminal 16 and 18 (T3>T2, T5>T6).

[0099] This can suppress the resistance of the wall surfaces S5 and S7 of the wall portions 50 and 56 of the respective terminals 16 and 18 including the single contact points P1 and P2 that come into contact with the counterpart terminals 16 and 18, thereby improving the conductivity.

[0100] On the other hand, the plating thickness (thickness T2, T6) in the exposed surfaces S4, S8 of the second wall portions 46, 56 of each terminal 16, 18 which are non-contact with respect to each housing 8, 10 and less likely to contribute to conductivity to the target terminal 16, 18 than the wall portions 50, 54 of each terminal 16, 18 can be suppressed, thereby suppressing the manufacturing costs associated with plating processing, etc.

[0101] As a result of the above, by performing weighted local plating processing based on the plating thickness corresponding to their uses on the portions of the terminals 16, 18 of the metal parts 12, 14 that are integrally molded and retained relative to the housings 8, 10, the electrical characteristics of the electrical connector 1 can be improved and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0102] In addition, according to the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment, the thicknesses T1 and T4 of the plated portions resulting from the plating process on the mounting surfaces S3 and S6 of the mounting portions 42 and 52 of each terminal 16 and 18 are set to be smaller than the thicknesses T3 and T5 of the plated portions in the wall surfaces S5 and S7 of the wall portions 50 and 54 of each terminal 16 and 18, and are set to be larger than the thicknesses T2 and T6 of the plated portions in the exposed surfaces S4 and S8 of the wall portions 46 and 56 of each terminal 16 and 18 (T3>T1>T2, T5>T4>T6).

[0103] This makes it possible to improve the solder wettability of the plated portions of the mounting surfaces S3 and S6 of the mounting portions 42 and 52 of the terminals 16 and 18 having the thicknesses T1 and T4 .

[0104] Therefore, the mounting portions 42 , 52 of the terminals 16 , 18 of the metal fittings 12 , 14 held by the housings 8 , 10 of the electrical connector 1 can be securely fixed to the mounting portions 2A, 2B of the mounted object 2 , so that the electrical connector 1 can be securely mounted to the mounted object 2 .

[0105] In addition, by making the thickness T3, T5 of the plated portion in the wall surface S5, S7 of the wall portion 50, 54 of each terminal 16, 18 larger than the thickness T1, T4 of the plated portion produced by plating the mounting surface S3, S6 of the mounting portion 42, 52 of each terminal 16, 18, the resistance of the wall surface S5, S7 of the wall portion 50, 54 of each terminal 16, 18 can be suppressed to improve the conductivity.

[0106] Furthermore, by making the plating thickness (thickness T2, T6) in the exposed surfaces S4, S8 of the wall portions 46, 56 of each terminal 16, 18 smaller than the thickness T1, T4 of the plated portions resulting from the plating process on the mounting surfaces S3, S6 of the mounting portions 42, 52 of each terminal 16, 18, the plating thickness (thickness T2, T6) in the exposed surfaces S4, S8 of the wall portions 46, 56 of each terminal 16, 18 can be suppressed, thereby suppressing the manufacturing costs associated with the plating process, etc.

[0107] Furthermore, according to the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment, the conductivity and solder wettability of the wall surfaces S9, S10, and S12 of the wall portions 54, 56, and 58 of the second terminal 18 that function only as contact surfaces with a portion of the protrusion 32 of the second shell 10 of the plug connector 6 can be ignored, and therefore the thickness T7 of the plated portion to be processed is set to 0 (T7=0).

[0108] This can omit plating processing and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0109] Next, according to the electric connector 1 of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of terminals 16 and 18 of the metal members 12 and 14 is subjected to a partial plating process using so-called “gold plating” using at least gold (Au).

[0110] By such gold plating, the electrical conductivity and durability of the terminals 16 and 18 of the metal members 12 and 14 can be ensured.

[0111] Furthermore, by limiting the plating process using relatively expensive gold plating to a local portion, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0112] Furthermore, according to the electric connector 1 of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of terminals 16 of the metal fitting 12 of the receptacle connector 4 can be partially plated.

[0113] Thus, in the receptacle connector 4 , the electrical conductivity and durability of each terminal 16 of the metal member 12 can be ensured, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0114] Furthermore, according to the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of terminals 18 of the metal member 14 of the plug connector 6 is partially plated.

[0115] Thus, in the plug connector 6 , the conductivity and durability of each terminal 18 of the metal member 14 can be ensured, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0116] Next, refer to Figure 6 An electric connector 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0117] Figure 6 The electrical connector 100 of this embodiment is Figure 3 Same cross-section view.

[0118] Here, in Figure 6 In the electric connector 100 of the illustrated embodiment, the same components as those of the electric connector 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0119] First, if Figure 6 As shown, the electric connector 100 of this embodiment is different in that the first terminal 116 of the first metal part 112 of the socket connector 104 is pressed into the first shell 108 for installation. This is different from the electric connector 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention described above in that the first terminal 16 of the first metal part 12 of the socket connector 4 is integrally molded with the first shell 8 by insert molding.

[0120] In addition, in the embodiment of the electrical connector 100, the second terminal 118 of the second metal part 114 of the plug connector 106 is different from the second terminal 18 of the plug connector 6 of the electrical connector 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention in that it is a shape that is wound from the inside to the outside relative to the center axis C2 of the plug connector 106 (so-called inwardly wound shape).

[0121] In addition, when the socket connector 104 and the plug connector 106 are mated with each other in the mating direction Z1, the second terminal 118 is mated in the first mating recess 138 of the first shell 108 of the socket connector 104, and the elastic contact piece 150 of the first terminal 116 is mated in the second mating recess 140 of the second shell 110 of the plug connector 106.

[0122] Furthermore, the single first contact point P1 of the elastic contact piece 150 of the first terminal 116 contacts the second contact point P2 of the second terminal 118 , and the first terminal 116 and the second terminal 118 contact each other via the single contact points P1 and P2 .

[0123] like Figure 6 As shown, according to the electrical connector 100 of this embodiment, the second metal member 114 of the plug connector 106 is integrally formed with the second housing 110 by insert molding, and after being integrally held by the first housing 110, the surface of the metal member 114 is partially plated.

[0124] This can improve manufacturing efficiency compared to a process of preliminarily plating a metal member and then press-fitting the plated second metal member 114 into the second housing 110 when manufacturing the electric connector 100 .

[0125] Furthermore, by locally plating only a portion of the surface of each metal member 112 , 114 that requires plating, it is not necessary to plate the entire surface of each metal member 112 , 114 , thereby reducing manufacturing costs associated with plating and the like.

[0126] In particular, even when expensive plating with relatively high conductivity or expensive plating with relatively high solder wettability is used as the plating used for the plating process, the manufacturing cost can be effectively suppressed because the portion to be plated is limited to a portion of the surface of each metal member 112, 114.

[0127] Furthermore, when the surface of each metal part 112, 114 is partially plated, the wall surfaces S5, S7 including the single contacts P1, P2 that can contact the target terminals 116, 118 in the wall portions 150, 15 of each terminal 116, 118 are plated, and the exposed surface S8 in the wall portion 156 of the second terminal 118 that is non-contact with the second shell 110 is plated.

[0128] At this time, the thicknesses T3 and T5 of the plated portions resulting from the plating of the wall surfaces S5 and S7 of the wall portions 250 and 254 of each terminal 116 and 118 including the single contacts P1 and P2 that can contact the target terminals 116 and 118 are set to be greater than the thickness T6 of the plated portion resulting from the plating of the exposed surface S8 of the wall portion 156 of the second terminal 118 (T3>T6, T5>T6).

[0129] This can suppress the electrical resistance of the wall surface S7 of the wall portion 156 of the second terminal 118 including the single contact point P2 that contacts the counterpart terminal 116 , thereby improving electrical conductivity.

[0130] On the other hand, the plating thickness (thickness T6) in the exposed surface S8 of the wall portion 156 of the second terminal 118, which is non-contact with the second shell 110 and less likely to contribute to conductivity to the target terminal 116 than the wall portion 154 of the second terminal 118, can be suppressed, thereby suppressing manufacturing costs related to plating processing, etc.

[0131] As a result of the above, at least for each portion of the second terminal 118 of the second metal member 114 that is integrally molded and retained relative to the second shell 110, the electrical characteristics of the electrical connector 100 can be improved and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed by weighted local plating processing based on the plating thickness corresponding to its use.

[0132] In addition, according to the electrical connector 100 of the present embodiment, the thicknesses T1 and T4 of the plated portions resulting from the plating process on the mounting surfaces S3 and S6 of the mounting portions 142 and 152 of each terminal 116 and 118 are set to be smaller than the thicknesses T3 and T5 of the plated portions in the wall surfaces S5 and S7 of the wall portions 150 and 154 of each terminal 116 and 118, and are set to be larger than the thickness T6 of the plated portion in the exposed surface S8 of the wall portion 156 of the second terminal 118 (T3>T1>T6, T5>T4>T6).

[0133] This makes it possible to improve the solder wettability of the plated portions of the mounting surfaces S3 and S6 of the mounting portions 142 and 152 of the terminals 116 and 118 having the thicknesses T1 and T4 .

[0134] Therefore, the mounting portions 142 , 152 of the terminals 116 , 118 of the metal fittings 112 , 114 held by the housings 108 , 110 of the electrical connector 100 can be securely fixed to the mounted portions 2A, 2B of the mounted object 2 , thereby enabling the electrical connector 100 to be securely mounted relative to the mounted object 2 .

[0135] In addition, by making the thickness T3, T5 of the plated portion in the wall surface S5, S7 of the wall portion 150, 154 of each terminal 116, 118 greater than the thickness T1, T4 of the plated portion produced by plating the mounting surface S3, S6 of the mounting portion 142, 152 of each terminal 116, 118, the resistance of the wall surface S5, S7 of the wall portion 150, 154 of each terminal 116, 118 can be suppressed to improve conductivity.

[0136] Furthermore, by making the plating thickness (thickness T6) in the exposed surface S8 of the wall portion 156 of the second terminal 118 smaller than the thicknesses T1 and T4 of the plated portions resulting from the plating process on the mounting surfaces S3 and S6 of the mounting portions 142 and 152 of each terminal 116 and 118, at least the plating thickness (thickness T6) in the exposed surface S8 of the wall portion 156 of the second terminal 118 can be suppressed, thereby suppressing the manufacturing costs associated with the plating process, etc.

[0137] Furthermore, according to the electrical connector 100 of the present embodiment, the conductivity and solder wettability of the wall surfaces S9, S10, and S12 of the wall portions 154, 156, and 158 of the second terminal 118 that function only as contact surfaces with a portion of the peripheral wall 132 of the second shell 110 of the plug connector 106 may be ignored, and therefore the thickness T7 of the plated portion to be processed may be set to 0 (T7=0).

[0138] This can omit plating processing and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0139] Next, according to the electrical connector 100 of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of terminals 116 and 118 of the metal members 112 and 114 is subjected to a partial plating process using so-called “gold plating” using at least gold (Au).

[0140] By such gold plating, the conductivity and durability of the terminals 116 and 118 of the metal members 112 and 114 can be ensured.

[0141] Furthermore, by limiting the plating process using relatively expensive gold plating to a local portion, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0142] Furthermore, according to the electrical connector 100 of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of terminals 116 of the metal member 112 of the receptacle connector 104 is partially plated.

[0143] Thus, in the receptacle connector 104 , the conductivity and durability of each terminal 116 of the metal member 112 can be ensured, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0144] Furthermore, according to the electrical connector 100 of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of terminals 118 of the metal member 114 of the plug connector 106 is partially plated.

[0145] Thus, in the plug connector 106 , the conductivity and durability of each terminal 118 of the metal member 114 can be ensured, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

Claims

1. An electrical connector installed relative to an object to be electrically connected, characterized in that: The electrical connector has: A housing having longitudinal, lateral and height directions that are orthogonal to each other; and a metal member, which is held in the housing, The metal part is integrally formed with the housing by insert molding, is composed of a conductive thin plate-shaped base material held by the housing, and has a terminal whose surface is partially plated after the insert molding. The terminal comprises: a mounting portion, which includes a mounting surface, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the mounted portion of the mounted object; a first wall portion, which is arranged to extend along a first direction orthogonal to the mounting surface and forms a first wall surface including a single contact point that can contact with the target terminal; and a second wall portion, which is arranged at an end portion on one side of the first direction in the first wall portion and forms an exposed surface that is separated from the mounting surface in the first direction and non-contacting with the housing, and the terminal is configured to contact with the target terminal through the single contact point. After the insert molding, the first wall surface of the first wall portion and the exposed surface of the second wall portion are respectively plated, and the first thickness of the plated portion generated by the plating of the first wall surface is greater than the second thickness of the plated portion generated by the plating of the exposed surface of the second wall portion.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting surface of the mounting portion is plated after the insert molding, and a third thickness of the plated portion produced by the plating of the mounting surface is smaller than the first thickness and larger than the second thickness.

3. An electrical connector installed relative to an object to be electrically connected, characterized in that: The electrical connector has: A housing having longitudinal, lateral and height directions that are orthogonal to each other; and a metal member, which is held in the housing, The metal part is integrally formed with the housing by insert molding, is composed of a conductive thin plate-shaped base material held by the housing, and has a terminal whose surface is partially plated after the insert molding. The terminal comprises: a mounting portion, which includes a mounting surface, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the mounted portion of the mounted object; a first wall portion, which is arranged to extend along a first direction orthogonal to the mounting surface and forms a first wall surface including a single contact point that can contact with the target terminal; and a second wall portion, which is arranged at an end portion on one side of the first direction in the first wall portion and forms an exposed surface that is separated from the mounting surface in the first direction and non-contacting with the housing, and the terminal is configured to contact with the target terminal through the single contact point. After the insert molding, the mounting surface of the mounting portion and the exposed surface of the second wall portion are plated respectively, and the first thickness of the plated portion produced by the plating of the mounting surface is greater than the second thickness of the plated portion produced by the plating of the exposed surface.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first wall surface of the first wall portion is plated after the insert molding, and a third thickness of the plated portion obtained by plating the first wall surface is greater than the first thickness.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The first wall portion also has a second wall surface, which is arranged on the opposite side of the second direction orthogonal to the first direction relative to the first wall surface and includes a contact surface that contacts a portion of the shell. The thickness of the plated portion of the second wall surface that is plated after the insert molding is 0.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The plating process is a plating process based on gold plating.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The electrical connector is composed of a socket connector, which includes the housing and the metal member held in the housing. The housing comprises: a bottom wall arranged on the mounted surface of the mounted portion; a protruding wall protruding from the bottom wall toward the height direction of the housing; a peripheral wall including a long side wall and a short side wall spaced apart from each other on the outer periphery of the protruding wall; and a fitting recessed portion arranged on the inner side of the peripheral wall. The terminal of the metal part is a socket terminal, which includes the mounting portion, the third wall portion bent and extended from the mounting portion in the height direction of the shell, the second wall portion bent from the connecting portion connected to the third wall portion to the lateral direction of the shell, and the first wall portion extending from the connecting portion connected to the second wall portion to the first height direction and capable of elastically contacting the object side terminal, and the third wall portion is retained by the long side wall of the peripheral wall of the shell.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The electrical connector is composed of a plug connector including the housing and the metal member held in the housing. The housing comprises: a bottom wall arranged on the mounted surface of the mounted portion; and a protruding wall protruding from the bottom wall toward the height direction of the housing, The terminal of the metal member is a plug terminal, which includes the mounting portion, the first wall portion bent and extended from the mounting portion toward the first height direction of the shell, the second wall portion bent and extended from the connecting portion connected to the first wall portion toward the lateral direction of the shell, and the third wall portion extended from the connecting portion connected to the second wall portion toward the second height direction on the opposite side relative to the first height direction. A portion of the protruding wall of the shell is surrounded by the first wall portion, the second wall portion and the third wall portion of the plug terminal, thereby holding the metal member in the shell.

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