Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector with improved retention of a terminal to a holder.SOLUTION: A connector 1 electrically connected to through holes of a substrate, has at least one terminal 2 and a holder 10 that holds the terminal, the terminal has a rectangular plate-shaped terminal body 20 and a pair of electrical contact sections 3 and 3, which is formed extending from both ends of the terminal body in a longitudinal direction of the terminal body and electrically connected to the through holes, the terminal body is provided with engagement pieces 5F and 5B, which are continuous with the terminal body, bent from the terminal body and formed extending in a direction of a thickness of the terminal body, and can be engaged with the holder.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A double-ended press-fit connector having contacts that are electrically connected to through-holes in a printed circuit board is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The double-ended press-fit connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of press-fit contacts and an insulating housing provided in the center of the plurality of press-fit contacts.

[0004] Each press-fit contact is formed by punching a metal plate and includes a plate-shaped contact body and a pair of press-fit portions extending from both ends of the contact body in the longitudinal direction and press-fit into through-holes in a printed circuit board. The contact body is provided with a retaining means extending in the plate width direction and capable of engaging with the inner surface of a press-fit hole in an insulating housing.

[0005] The insulating housing has a pair of divided bodies, each of which has an insertion hole penetrating the divided body and into which a contact body of each press-fit contact is inserted.

[0006] When assembling such a double-ended press-fit connector, one of the pair of split bodies is inserted into one of the insertion holes approaching one end of the press-fit contact, and the other of the pair of split bodies is inserted into the other insertion hole approaching the other end of the press-fit contact, so that the anti-pullout means of each press-fit contact engages with the inner surface of the insertion hole and the pair of split bodies are maintained in contact with each other, thereby assembling the double-ended press-fit connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-53090 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, with conventional double-ended press-fit connectors, there was a concern that when each press-fit portion was pressed into a through-hole in the printed circuit board, the anti-pull-out means of each press-fit contact would disengage from the insertion hole in the insulating housing, causing the press-fit contact (terminal) to fall out of the insertion hole in the insulating housing (holder).

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which improves the holding force of a terminal in a holder. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 is a connector electrically connected to a through hole of a board, comprising a plurality of terminals and a holder for holding the plurality of terminals, wherein the terminals have a rectangular plate-shaped terminal body and a pair of electrical contact portions formed extending from both ends of the terminal body in the longitudinal direction of the terminal body and electrically connected to the through holes, and the terminal body is provided with a locking piece that is continuous with the terminal body, bent from the terminal body and extending in the thickness direction of the terminal body, and can be engaged with the holder. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the invention as recited in claim 1, the holding force of the terminal in the holder can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the connector. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a terminal constituting the connector shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is an enlarged conceptual diagram showing a main part of a holder constituting the connector shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 13 is a perspective view for explaining a procedure for assembling the terminal to the holder, showing a state in which the terminal is brought close to the holder; FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a terminal block (connector) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Terminal block 1 according to this embodiment electrically connects a pair of substrates arranged to face each other.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal block 1 includes six terminals 2 (at least one terminal) and a holder 10 that holds the six terminals 2.

[0015] Each terminal 2 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate, and as shown in Figures 2 to 4, includes a strip-shaped terminal body 20 extending in a straight line, a pair of electrical contact portions 3, 3 electrically connected to through-holes in the board, a pair of direction identification portions 4, 4 (abutment portions), and a pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B that can be engaged with the holder 10.

[0016] In the following, the arrows X, Y, and Z are directions perpendicular to each other, and the longitudinal direction of the terminal body 20 may be referred to as the "front-rear direction X", the width direction of the terminal body 20 as the "left-right direction Y", and the thickness direction of the terminal body 20 as the "up-down direction Z". Furthermore, one side of the front-rear direction X may be referred to as the "front X1", the other side as the "rear X2", one side of the up-down direction Z as the "upper Z1", and the other side as the "lower Z2".

[0017] 2 to 4, a pair of electrical contact portions 3, 3 are provided contiguously on both ends of the terminal body 20 in the longitudinal direction X. Each electrical contact portion 3 includes an electrical contact portion main body 30 having a rectangular plate shape, and a press-fit portion 31 formed to sandwich the electrical contact portion main body 30 and extend in a direction away from the terminal body 20. The electrical contact portion main body 30 and the press-fit portion 31 are provided coaxially with the terminal body 20.

[0018] The electrical contact body 30 is formed so that its dimension in the width direction is narrower (smaller) than that of the terminal body 20 .

[0019] The press-fit portion 31 is made of an elastic body having a hole 3a in the center, and is configured so that when it is pressed into a through-hole in the board, it elastically contacts the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole due to the restoring force of the elastic body. When the press-fit portion 31 is pressed into the through-hole, the terminal 2 is electrically connected to a circuit formed on the board.

[0020] The pair of direction identification parts 4, 4 are provided at the front end part (one end part in the longitudinal direction) of the terminal body 20, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The pair of direction identification parts 4, 4 are provided extending in a rectangular shape on both sides in the width direction of the terminal body 20. The pair of direction identification parts 4, 4 are configured such that, as shown in Fig. 1, when each terminal 2 is assembled to the holder 10, the rear end surface 4b of each direction identification part 4 abuts against the front end surface 11f of the holder body 11 (end surface of the holder 10).

[0021] 2 to 4, the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B are provided at both ends of the terminal body 20 in the width direction Y, and are provided at positions shifted in the longitudinal direction X of the terminal body 20. That is, one of the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a first locking piece 5F) is provided continuously with an end face 20L on one side of the terminal body 20 in the width direction Y, and the other of the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a second locking piece 5B) is provided continuously with an end face 20R on the other side of the terminal body 20 in the width direction Y. The first locking piece 5F is provided between each direction identifier 4 and the second locking piece 5B in the longitudinal direction X.

[0022] 2, each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is formed to be continuous with each of the end faces 20L, 20R of the terminal body 20 and bends to extend downward Z2. A tip 5S of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is located at a position Z2 below the terminal body 20. As a result, when the terminal 2 is locked to the holder 10, the tip 5S of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is configured to come into contact with the holder 10 first.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the locking pieces 5F, 5B include a locking piece main body 50 that is continuous with the terminal body 20 and is bent to extend downward Z2, and a pair of protrusion shapes 51, 51 that protrude from both sides of the locking piece main body 50 in the longitudinal direction X and can be engaged with the second accommodating portion 15F (15B) of the holder 10 described later.

[0024] 2, the locking piece main body 50 includes a bent portion 52 that is continuous with the terminal body 20 and is bent, and an extending portion 53 that is continuous with the bent portion 52 and extends downward Z2. A pair of protruding shapes 51, 51 are formed on the extending portion 53. That is, the pair of protruding shapes 51, 51 are provided on the lower end portion of the locking piece main body 50.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, each protrusion shape 51 is formed in a triangular shape in a side view, and includes an apex 51a, an upper inclined portion 51b continuing to the upper side Z1 of the apex 51a, and a lower inclined portion 51c continuing to the lower side Z2 of the apex 51a. The upper inclined portion 51b is formed so that the protruding dimension gradually increases toward the lower side Z2. The lower inclined portion 51c is formed so that the protruding dimension gradually decreases toward the lower side Z2. That is, the tip portion 5S of each locking piece 5F, 5B is configured so that the dimension in the longitudinal direction X decreases toward the tip. Also, the upper inclined portion 51b is formed so that the inclination with respect to the vertical direction Z is greater than that of the lower inclined portion 51c.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the holder 10 includes a rectangular parallelepiped holder body 11 and a pair of positioning members 12, 12 that protrude rearward X2 from the holder body 11 and are inserted into predetermined positions on the substrate to be positioned.

[0027] 1 and 6, the holder body 11 has six (a plurality of) terminal holding portions 13 capable of accommodating the respective terminals 2. The six terminal holding portions 13 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction Y (the same direction as the width direction of the terminal body 20). Each terminal holding portion 13 is arranged extending in the front-rear direction X (the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the terminal body 20).

[0028] 6, each terminal holding portion 13 is formed in a groove shape with respect to the upper surface (hereinafter sometimes referred to as reference surface 11A) of the holder body 11, and includes a first housing portion 14 capable of housing the terminal body 20, a pair of second housing portions 15F, 15B capable of housing the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B, a protruding piece 16 for locking each terminal 2, and a notch-shaped portion 17 provided between the pair of second housing portions 15F, 15B in the front-rear direction X. The first housing portion 14 and the pair of second housing portions 15F, 15B are provided contiguous to each other.

[0029] 6, in each terminal holding portion 13, the pair of second accommodating portions 15F, 15B and the upper surface of the cutout portion 17 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as terminal holding portion upper surface 13A) are configured to be higher than the reference plane 11A. The terminal holding portion upper surface 13A is configured as a plane that includes the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y.

[0030] 6, the first accommodating portion 14 is configured to include a rectangular mounting surface 14A on which the terminal body 20 is mounted, and a pair of opposing surfaces 14B, 14B that rise up and face each other from both ends of the mounting surface 14A in the left-right direction Y. The first accommodating portion 14 is formed by cutting out both end edges of the holder body 11 in the front-rear direction X and extending in the front-rear direction X.

[0031] 1 and 6, the pair of second storage sections 15F, 15B are provided contiguous to both ends of the first storage section 14 in the left-right direction Y, and are provided at positions shifted from each other in the front-rear direction X. That is, one of the pair of second storage sections 15F, 15B is provided contiguous to one side of the first storage section 14 in the width direction Y, and the other of the pair of second storage sections 15F, 15B is provided contiguous to the other side of the first storage section 14 in the width direction Y.

[0032] 5, each of the second accommodating portions 15F, 15B is recessed relative to the terminal holding portion upper surface 13A, and includes a second accommodating portion main body 150 for accommodating each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B provided on each terminal 2, and an introduction opening 151 provided continuously to the upper side Z1 of the second accommodating portion main body 150. In FIG. 5, the first locking piece 5F of the terminal 2 is indicated by a dashed line.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the second storage section main body 150 includes a first surface 150A that is continuous with the mounting surface 14A of the first storage section 14 and extends downward Z2, a second surface 150B that faces the first surface 150A, and a third surface 150C and a fourth surface 150D that are provided between the first surface 150A and the second surface 150B and face each other in the front-to-rear direction X.

[0034] The first surface 150A and the second surface 150B are each formed from a plane including the front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z, and the third surface 150C and the fourth surface 150D are each formed from a plane including the left-right direction Y and the up-down direction Z. The upper ends of the second surface 150B, the third surface 150C, and the fourth surface 150D are provided at the same position in the up-down direction Z, and are provided to extend upward to Z1 from the reference surface 11A.

[0035] 5, the introduction opening 151 is configured to have a wide opening, including a second tapered surface 151B continuing to the upper Z1 of the second surface 150B provided on the second storage body 150, a third tapered surface 151C continuing to the upper Z1 of the third surface 150C, and a fourth tapered surface 151D continuing to the upper Z1 of the fourth surface 150D. That is, the introduction opening 151 is configured to become wider in the front-rear direction X (the direction in which the first storage section 14 extends) and the left-right direction Y as it moves away from the bottom of the second storage body 150.

[0036] The second tapered surface 151B is configured to have an inclination that slopes outward in the left-right direction Y as it extends upward Z1. The third tapered surface 151C is configured to have an inclination that slopes toward the rear X2 as it extends upward Z1. The fourth tapered surface 151D is configured to have an inclination that slopes toward the front X1 as it extends upward Z1.

[0037] 5 and 6, the protruding pieces 16 are provided at positions adjacent to the front X1 side of the second accommodating portion 15F and adjacent to the rear X2 side of the second accommodating portion 15B. The protruding pieces 16 are provided to protrude from the opposing surface 14B of the first accommodating portion 14 and are configured to be able to lock the edge of each terminal 2.

[0038] 6, a pair of cutout shapes 17 are provided in the first accommodating portion 14 at positions opposing each other in the left-right direction Y. The cutout shapes 17 are formed by cutting out a corner formed by the opposing surface 14B of the first accommodating portion 14 and the terminal holding portion upper surface 13A.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, the pair of positioning members 12, 12 are provided in a rod-like shape protruding from both ends in the left-right direction Y on the rear end surface 11b of the holder main body 11.

[0040] 6 and 7, when assembling the terminal block 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, the pair of direction identification portions 4, 4 of the terminal 2 are positioned forward X1, and the locking pieces 5F, 5B provided on the terminal 2 are inserted close to the second housing portions 15F, 15B of the holder 10. At this time, since the tips 5S of the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B are positioned on the lower Z2 side (thickness direction side) of the terminal main body 20 relative to the terminal main body 20, the tips 5S of the locking pieces 5F, 5B are assembled to the holder 10 first.

[0041] As the insertion progresses, the pair of downward inclined portions 51c, 51c of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B are guided to appropriate positions in the front-rear direction X by the third tapered surface 151C and the fourth tapered surface 151D of the introduction opening 151. As a result, the terminal 2 is provisionally set in the holder 10.

[0042] As the insertion proceeds further, the pair of protruding shapes 51, 51 of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B bite into the third surface 150C and the fourth surface 150D of each of the second housing parts 15F, 15B, and each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is locked to each of the second housing parts 15F, 15B. At substantially the same time, each of the protruding pieces 16 locks the edge of each of the terminals 2, and the terminal body 20 is placed on the mounting surface 14A of the first housing part 14. In this way, the terminal body 20 is accommodated in the first housing part 14, and each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is accommodated in each of the second housing parts 15F, 15B. As a result, the terminal 2 is assembled to the terminal holding part 13. By repeating this operation, the assembly of the terminal block 1 is completed.

[0043] According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the terminal 2 has a rectangular plate-shaped terminal body 20, and the terminal body 20 is provided with the locking pieces 5F, 5B that are continuous with the terminal body 20, bent from the terminal body 20, and extended downward X2 (thickness direction) of the terminal body 20, and can be locked to the holder 10. That is, the locking pieces 5F, 5B are formed extending in the up-down direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the terminal body 20. According to this, since each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is formed extending in the direction (thickness direction Z) perpendicular to the press-fitting direction (front-rear direction X), when each of the electrical contact parts 3 of the terminal 2 is press-fitted into the through-hole, each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B receives the load generated by the press-fitting. This suppresses the terminal 2 from falling off the holder 10, and thus improves the holding force of the terminal 2 to the holder 10.

[0044] The terminal 2 has a pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B, which are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction X of the terminal body 20, one of the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B being provided continuously with an end face 20L on one side in the width direction Y of the terminal body 20, and the other of the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B being provided continuously with an end face 20R on the other side in the width direction Y of the terminal body 20. With this, even if a force in a direction away from the holder 10 acts on one of the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B when each electrical contact portion 3 of the terminal 2 is press-fitted into a through-hole, a force in a direction approaching the holder 10 (opposite direction) is generated on the other, and the other is pressed against the holder 10, thereby further improving the holding force of the terminal 2 to the holder 10.

[0045] Moreover, the holder 10 is configured such that the second accommodating portions 15F, 15B have introduction openings 151 that become wider in the front-rear direction X (the direction in which the first accommodating portion 14 extends) as they move away from the bottom of the first accommodating portion 14. This makes it possible to absorb positional deviation of the terminal 2 relative to the holder 10 in the front-rear direction X when the terminal 2 is attached to the holder 10.

[0046] Further, the tip 5S of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is configured so that the dimension in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction X) becomes smaller toward the tip. That is, the tip 5S of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B is tapered in the front-rear direction X. With this, the tapered shape of the tip 5S of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B and the tapered shape of the introduction opening 151 of each of the second accommodating portions 15F, 15B in the holder 10 can further absorb the positional deviation of the terminal 2 with respect to the holder 10 when the terminal 2 is assembled to the holder 10.

[0047] Further, each tip 5S of the pair of locking pieces 5F, 5B is located on the lower Z2 side (thickness direction side) of the terminal body 20 relative to the terminal body 20. With this, the tips 5S of each of the locking pieces 5F, 5B are assembled to the holder 10 in advance, thereby improving the workability of assembling the terminal 2 to the holder 10.

[0048] Furthermore, the terminals 2 have direction identification portions 4 (contact portions) that are provided to protrude from both sides of the terminal body 20 in the width direction Y and can contact end faces of the holder 10. With this, when each electrical contact portion 3 of the terminals 2 is press-fitted into a through-hole, the direction identification portions 4 come into contact with the front end face 11f of the holder body 11 (end face of the holder 10) and receive a load in the press-fitting direction, thereby further improving the holding force of the terminals 2 with respect to the holder 10.

[0049] In addition, the best configurations and methods for implementing the present invention are disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention has been mainly illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, but those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. Therefore, the descriptions limiting the shapes, materials, etc. disclosed above are illustrative descriptions for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention, and therefore descriptions of the names of components that are free of some or all of the limitations on the shapes, materials, etc. are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Terminal block (connector) 2 Terminal 10 Holder 11f Front end face (holder end face) 20 Terminal body 20L One end face in the width direction of the terminal body 20R The other end face in the width direction of the terminal body 3, 3 Pair of Electrical Contacts 4 Directional identification part (contact part) 5F First locking piece (one of a pair of locking pieces) 5B Second locking piece (the other of the pair of locking pieces) 5S End of the locking piece 14 First storage section 15F, 15B Second Storage Section 150 Second storage unit main body 151 Introduction opening X Front-rear direction (longitudinal direction of the terminal body, direction in which the first housing section extends) Y Left / right direction (width direction of terminal body) Z Up and down direction (thickness direction of terminal body)

Claims

1. A connector electrically connected to a through hole of a substrate, At least one terminal and a holder for holding the terminal; The terminal has a rectangular plate-shaped terminal body and a pair of electrical contact portions formed to extend from both ends of the terminal body in the longitudinal direction of the terminal body and electrically connected to the through holes, A connector characterized in that the terminal body is provided with a locking piece that is continuous in the width direction of the terminal body and is bent in the thickness direction of the terminal body, and can be engaged with the holder.

2. The terminal has a pair of the locking pieces, The pair of locking pieces are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the terminal body, A connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that one of the pair of locking pieces is provided continuous with an end face on one side of the width direction of the terminal body, and the other of the pair of locking pieces is provided continuous with an end face on the other side of the width direction of the terminal body.

3. the holder has a first accommodating portion having a groove shape into which the terminal body is inserted, and a second accommodating portion provided to protrude from both sides in a width direction of the first accommodating portion and into which the locking piece is inserted, The second accommodating portion has a second accommodating portion main body in which the locking piece is accommodated, and an introduction opening portion continuous with a side of the second accommodating portion main body away from a bottom, 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the introduction opening is configured to become wider in a direction in which the first accommodating portion extends as it becomes farther away from a bottom of the second accommodating portion body.

4. 4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the tip of the locking piece is configured so that the dimension in the longitudinal direction becomes smaller toward the tip.

5. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of locking pieces has a tip end located on a thickness direction side of the terminal body relative to the terminal body.

6. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal has abutment portions protruding from both sides in a width direction of the terminal body and capable of abutting against end faces of the holder.

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