Connector

Abstract

To define, without variations, positions of a lock part and an operation part provided in connection with a plate-like spring member having a U-shape that is a constituent member of a lock mechanism.SOLUTION: A lock mechanism 120 of a connector 100 comprises a spring part 121, an extension part 122, a lock part 123, an operation part 124, and a press load receiving part 125. The press load receiving part 125 is provided on the extension part 122 inside the connector 100. Two island parts 107 of a housing 101 constituting the connector 100 each have two press load receiving parts 107a. The press load receiving parts 125 each correspond to any one corresponding press load part 107a, the press load receiving parts 125 are respectively brought into contact with the corresponding press load parts 107a when the operation part 124 is at a non-release position, and the press load receiving parts 125 are respectively separated from the corresponding press load parts 107a when the operation part 124 is at a release position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 22

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a connector in which a mating connector is mated or removed by moving the mating connector along a third direction (e.g., up-down direction) perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction (e.g., left-right direction) and a second direction (e.g., front-rear direction) perpendicular to each other. Some of these connectors are equipped with a locking mechanism that maintains the mating state between the mating connector and the connector.

[0003] For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a connector equipped with a lock mechanism shown in FIG. 31. That is, in the connector (100) disclosed in Patent Document 1, two additional members (400) of the connector (100) are provided with a total of four restriction mechanisms (500), two of which are provided on each of the two additional members (400). Each of the four restriction mechanisms (500) is a U-shaped plate-like spring member, and a protrusion (511) as a locking part is formed on the base side of the elastically deformable spring member, and an operating part (550) is formed on the tip side of the spring member. When an operator operates the operating part (550) formed on the tip side of the spring, the protrusion (511) formed on the base side of the spring can be moved. That is, the protrusion (511) engages with the mating connector to maintain the mated state of the connectors, and the protrusion (511) separates from the mating connector to release the mated state of the connectors. In addition, the symbols used in the explanations of the prior art documents are placed in parentheses to distinguish them from the embodiments of the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-181824 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the regulating mechanism (500) as a spring member provided in the connector disclosed in the above Patent Document 1 is generally a member formed by punching a metal plate and performing press processing or the like. In press processing, it is difficult to control the opening dimension of the tip side of the regulating mechanism (500) as a U-shaped plate-like spring member with high precision, and there is a problem that the opening dimension of this spring member inevitably varies during manufacturing. This U-shaped plate-like spring member is provided with an operating part (550) that is operated by an operator and a protrusion (511) as a locking part, and the variation in the opening dimension of the spring member means the variation in the positions of these in the connector. In particular, the variation in the position of the operating part (550) provided on the tip side of the spring member in the connector of Patent Document 1 is large.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a connector equipped with a mechanism having a U-shaped plate-shaped spring member and an operating portion and a locking portion connected to the U-shaped plate-shaped spring member, which eliminates variation in the opening dimensions of the U-shaped plate-shaped spring member and has no variation in the positions of the operating portion and the locking portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A connector according to the present invention is a connector in which a mating connector is mated or removed by moving the mating connector along a third direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other, the connector comprising a housing, a plurality of terminals, and two additional members, the housing comprising a terminal holding portion and two island portions, the plurality of terminals are held by the terminal holding portion and are arranged in the first direction in the housing, the two additional members are held by the housing and are located at both ends of the housing in the first direction, each of the two additional members comprising two locking mechanisms located so as to face each other in the second direction, each of the two locking mechanisms comprising a spring portion, an extension portion, a locking portion, an operating portion, and a pressure-receiving portion, the spring portion being a plate-like elastic member having a U-shape that is closed on one side of the outside or inside of the connector in the first direction and open on the other side of the outside or inside when viewed in the third direction, the second side of the U-shape being a U-shaped member that is ... an outer end of the connector in the first direction is formed as a fixed end, and an inner end of the connector in the second direction of the U-shape is formed as a free end; the extension portion is formed to be continuous with the inner end of the connector in the second direction formed as a free end of the U-shaped spring portion and to extend in the first direction, thereby enabling displacement in the second direction by the elastic force of the spring portion; the locking portion is formed on the inner side of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion and has a locking surface facing one of the third directions; the operation portion is located on the outer side of the locking portion of the connector in the first direction of the extension portion and is formed on the inner side of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion; and the operation portion can move between a non-release position and a release position on the outer side of the connector than the non-release position in the second direction, which is located when a pressing operation is applied toward the outside of the connector in the second direction; and the pressed load portion is located between the locking portion and the operation portion in the first direction of the extension portion,The extension portion is provided on the inside of the connector in the second direction, and each of the two island portions has a total of two pressing load portions facing toward the outside of the connector in the second direction and opposed to each other, each of the pressed load portions faces one of the corresponding pressing load portions in the second direction, and when the operation portion is in the non-release position, each of the pressed load portions is in contact with the corresponding pressing load portion and is subjected to a pressing load toward the outside of the connector in the second direction, and when the operation portion is in the release position, each of the pressed load portions is separated from the corresponding pressing load portion.

[0008] That is, in the connector according to the present invention, a pressure load portion is provided on the housing, a pressure application portion is provided on an extension portion on which the lock portion and the operating portion are provided, which is continuous with a spring portion that is a U-shaped plate-like elastic member, and when the unlocking operation is not performed (i.e., when the operating portion is in the non-release position), the pressure application portion constantly contacts and presses the pressure application portion to apply a preload. As a result, the opening of the spring when the operating portion is in the non-release position is determined by the pressure application portion and not by the natural state of the member, and the positions of the lock portion and the operating portion are always defined in predetermined positions by the pressure load portion provided on the housing. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the variation in the opening dimensions that occurs during manufacturing of the U-shaped plate-like spring member (the spring portion and extension portion which are elastic members), which is a component of the locking mechanism that is responsible for maintaining and releasing the mated state of the connectors, and to provide a connector in which the positions of the locking portion and operating portion connected to the spring member are defined and consistent. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing the connector of the embodiment and a mating connector. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the connector of FIG. 1 and a mating connector. [Diagram 3] 2 is a bottom view showing the connector of FIG. 1 and a mating connector. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view showing the connector of FIG. 1 and a mating connector. [Diagram 5] 2 is a right side view showing the connector and the mating connector of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector and the mating connector of FIG. 2 taken along line 6-6. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector and the mating connector of FIG. 4 taken along line 7-7. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing a state in which the mating connector has been removed from the connector of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the mating connector of the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the mating connector of the embodiment in an exploded state. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view showing the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view showing the connector of the present embodiment in an exploded state. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing an additional member that constitutes the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view showing an additional member that constitutes the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a top view showing an additional member constituting the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 16] 13 is a bottom view showing an additional member constituting the connector of the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a front view showing an additional member that constitutes the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 18] 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the additional member of FIG. 17 taken along line 18-18. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a right side view showing an additional member that constitutes the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a left side view showing an additional member that constitutes the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the connector of the present embodiment. [Figure 22] 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 21 taken along line 22-22. [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the connector of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 22. Note that FIG. 23 shows a locking mechanism of an additional member provided on the left side of the connector. [Figure 24] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the unlocking tool of the present embodiment. [Diagram 25] 1 is a front view for explaining a method of using the unlocking tool of the present embodiment, showing a state before the connector assembly is unlocked, in which a first circuit board and a second circuit board are indicated by dashed lines. [Figure 26] 1 is a front view for explaining a method of using the unlocking tool of the present embodiment, showing a state in which the connector assembly is unlocked, in which the first circuit board and the second circuit board are indicated by dashed lines. [Figure 27] 1 is a right side view for explaining a method of using the unlocking tool of the present embodiment, showing the state when the connector assembly is unlocked. FIG. [Figure 28] 28 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector, the mating connector, and the unlocking jig of FIG. 27 taken along line 28-28. [Figure 29] 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector, the mating connector, and the unlocking jig taken along line 29-29 in FIG. 27. [Diagram 30] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the unlocking tool, the connector, and the mating connector of the present embodiment, showing a perspective view of the connector and the mating connector as viewed from above. [Diagram 31] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a connector disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present invention, a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction are defined, and in the drawings, an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction are defined for convenience of explanation. In this specification, the first direction is the left-right direction. In the drawings, the left-right direction is indicated as the X direction. In particular, the right side is the +X direction, and the left side is the -X direction. In addition, in this specification, the second direction is the front-rear direction. In the drawings, the front-rear direction is indicated as the Y direction. In particular, the front is the +Y direction, and the rear is the -Y direction. Furthermore, in this specification, the third direction is the up-down direction. In the drawings, the up-down direction is indicated as the Z direction. In particular, the upper side is the +Z direction, and the lower side is the -Z direction.

[0012] Furthermore, the following embodiments do not limit the inventions related to each claim, and not all of the combinations of features described in each embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0013] 1 to 7, a connector 100 of the present embodiment constitutes a connector assembly 10 together with a mating connector 500. In the present embodiment, the mating connector 500 is configured as a plug connector, and the connector 100 is configured as a receptacle connector.

[0014] 1 and 8, in the connector assembly 10 of this embodiment, the mating connector 500 is engaged with or disengaged from the connector 100 by moving the mating connector 500 along a third direction (Z: up-down direction) perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction (X: left-right direction) and a second direction (Y: front-back direction) which are perpendicular to each other.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a mating connector 500 of this embodiment includes a mating housing 501, a plurality of mating terminals 505, and two mating additional members 510. The mating connector 500 includes a mating housing 501, a plurality of mating terminals 505, and two mating additional members 510.

[0016] The mating housing 501 is a member that functions as an insulator, and is made of, for example, a resin material. The mating housing 501 also includes a mating terminal holding portion 503, and a plurality of mating terminals 505 are mounted on the mating terminal holding portion 503.

[0017] The multiple mating terminals 505 are made of a conductive metal material and are formed, for example, by punching a metal plate and performing press processing or the like. The multiple mating terminals 505 of this embodiment are held by a mating terminal holding portion 503 of a mating housing 501 and are arranged in a direction along the left-right direction, which is a first direction. The mating housing 501 and the multiple mating terminals 505 can be integrally formed, for example, by injection molding or the like.

[0018] The two mating additional members 510 are members that are held by the mating housing 501 and are located at both ends of the mating housing 501 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction. The two mating additional members 510 of this embodiment are attached to the housing 501 by fitting them from below upward (in the +Z direction) into both ends of the housing 501 that includes a plurality of mating terminals 505 that are integrally formed by injection molding or the like. The mating additional members 510 are formed of, for example, a metal material.

[0019] Furthermore, each of the two mating additional members 510 of this embodiment has a lock hole 511 on the front and rear surfaces. That is, the mating connector 500 of this embodiment has a total of four lock hole portions 511, one on the front and rear surfaces of each of the left and right ends. A locking state is realized by engagement of a lock portion 123 of a locking mechanism 120 of the connector 100 described later, and the mating state of the mating connector 500 with the connector 100 can be maintained.

[0020] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a connector 100 of this embodiment includes a housing 101, a plurality of terminals 105, and two additional members 110. As shown in FIG.

[0021] The housing 101 is a member that functions as an insulator, and is formed of, for example, a resin material. The housing 101 also includes a terminal holding portion 103 and two island portions 107. A plurality of terminals 105 are installed on the terminal holding portion 103. Meanwhile, the two island portions 107 are formed at positions corresponding to two additional members 110, which will be described later.

[0022] The multiple terminals 105 are made of a conductive metal material, and are formed, for example, by punching a metal plate and performing press processing or the like. The multiple terminals 105 of this embodiment are held by a terminal holding portion 103 of the housing 101 and are arranged in a direction along the left-right direction, which is a first direction. The housing 101 and the multiple terminals 105 can be integrally formed, for example, by injection molding or the like. In this case, the terminal holding portion 103 is formed simultaneously with the injection molding, so that it is inseparable from the multiple terminals 105. However, the housing 101 of this embodiment may be formed by previously forming the housing 101 made of a resin material, and fitting the multiple terminals 105 into the previously formed terminal holding portion 103.

[0023] The two additional members 110 are members that are held by the housing 101 and are located at both ends of the housing 101 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction. In this embodiment, the two additional members 110 are attached to the housing 101 by fitting them from above downward (in the -Z direction) into both ends of the housing 101 that includes a plurality of terminals 105 integrally formed by injection molding or the like. The two additional members 110 and the above-mentioned two island parts 107 overlap each other in the left-right direction (X direction). More specifically, regarding this embodiment, the positional range of the island part 107 in the left-right direction (X direction) is included in the positional range of the corresponding additional member 110. In this embodiment, each additional member 110 has a concave shape that can be covered from above downward (in the -Z direction) with the corresponding island part 107 that protrudes upward (in the +Z direction). That is, the two additional members 110 are attached to the housing 101 by fitting them into the portions including the corresponding island portions 107 on both ends of the housing 101. The additional members 110 are formed of, for example, a metal material.

[0024] Furthermore, each of the two additional members 110 of this embodiment includes a locking mechanism 120 that realizes a locked state by engaging with four locking hole portions 511 of the mating connector 500. Two locking mechanisms 120 are provided for each of the two additional members 110. In other words, the connector 100 includes a total of four locking mechanisms 120, two on each of the left and right ends.

[0025] 13 to 22, a detailed configuration of the additional member 110 of the connector 100 having the locking mechanism 120 will be described. Note that, in Figs. 13 to 20, the additional member 110 installed on the right side of the connector 100 is shown.

[0026] 16, the additional member 110 of this embodiment includes two locking mechanisms 120 positioned to face each other in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction. Each of the two locking mechanisms 120 includes a spring portion 121, an extension portion 122, a locking portion 123, an operating portion 124, and a pressure-bearing portion 125.

[0027] In this example, the spring portion 121 is a portion formed as a plate-like elastic member having a U-shape that is closed on the outside of the connector 100 in the left-right direction that is the first direction and open on the inside when viewed in the up-down direction that is the third direction. The spring portion 121 has an outer end portion of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction that is the second direction of the U-shape that is connected to and fixed to a portion of the additional member 110 other than the lock mechanism 120 (in this example, a bent portion 112 described later) and forms a fixed end, and an inner end portion of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction that is the second direction of the U-shape that is formed as a free end.

[0028] The extension portion 122 is a member that is continuous with an inner end portion of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, formed as a free end of the U-shaped spring portion 121. The extension portion 122 is formed to extend in the left-right direction, which is the first direction, so that it can be displaced in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, by the elastic force of the spring portion 121.

[0029] Locking portion 123 is formed on the inside of connector 100 in the front-rear direction which is the second direction of extension portion 122. As shown in the cross-sectional shape in Fig. 7, locking portion 123 has an inclined surface 123a formed on the upper side and a locking surface 123b formed on the lower side which is a flat surface facing downward, which is one of the up-down directions which is the third direction. Therefore, when mating connector 500 is fitted to connector 100, as mating connector 500 is moved downward in the -Z direction relative to connector 100, the surface of mating additional member 510 of mating connector 500 slides along inclined surface 123a of locking portion 123 while pushing locking portion 123, causing extension portion 122 to be displaced outward in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction of connector 100, and then extension portion 122 is displaced inward in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction of connector 100, causing locking portion 123 to fit into locking hole portion 511 of mating additional member 510, thereby achieving a smooth engagement state by inclined surface 123a of locking portion 123. In addition, once the locking portion 123 is fitted into the locking hole portion 511 of the mating additional member 510, the lower locking surface 123b of the locking portion 123 faces the inner surface of the locking hole portion 155 of the mating additional member 510, and even if the mating connector 500 is moved in a direction (+Z direction) to remove it from the connector 100 with the mating connector 500 and the connector 100 engaged with each other, the upward movement of the mating connector 500 in the vertical direction which is the third direction is restricted by the locking surface 123b abutting against the inner surface of the locking hole portion 511. In other words, the locking surface 123b facing downward, which is one of the vertical directions which is the third direction of the locking portion 123, restricts the movement of the mating connector 500 in the vertical direction which is the third direction, and prevents it from being removed from the connector 100.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 16, the operation part 124 is formed between the spring part 121 and the lock part 123 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction of the extension part 122, and on the inside of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction of the extension part 122. The operation part 124 is formed so as to be able to move between a non-release position, which is located when no pressing operation is received, and a release position, which is located on the outside of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, and is located when a pressing operation toward the outside of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, is received. Regarding the non-release position and the release position of the operation part 124, as shown in Fig. 7, the non-release position is a state in which the lock part 123 is fitted into the lock hole part 511 of the counterpart additional member 510, and the release position is a state in which the lock part 123 moves from the lock hole part 511 of the counterpart additional member 510 to the left-right outside of the connector 100 and comes out of the lock hole part 511 to release the engagement state.

[0031] 13 and the like, the operation unit 124 is formed with a sliding slope 124a on the upper side. The operation unit 124 is pressed by the unlocking tool 700 described later so as to be pushed outward in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, and this pressing operation is an operation in which the pressing leg 701 of the unlocking tool 700 is pressed from an upper position in the -Z direction, which is the downward direction, against the sliding slope 124a of the operation unit 124. In this pressing operation, the pressing leg 701 applies a pressing force while sliding on the surface of the sliding slope 124a of the operation unit 124. Therefore, since the operation unit 124 has the sliding slope 124a, an operation error in which the operation unit 124 is erroneously pressed down by the pressing leg 701 is extremely unlikely to occur, and the pressing leg 701 can smoothly move the operation unit 124 from the non-released position to the released position.

[0032] In the locking mechanism 120 of this embodiment, the operating unit 124 is disposed on the side close to the U-shaped spring unit 121 of the locking mechanism 120 that functions as an elastic member, i.e., on the root side of the elastic deformation of the locking mechanism 120 where the extension unit 122 is displaced, and the locking unit 123 is disposed at the tip, so that when the operating unit 124 is pressed to move from the non-released position to the released position, the locking unit 123 that moves in conjunction with the operating unit 124 moves by a larger amount than the operating unit 124. In other words, the locking mechanism 120 of this embodiment can set the amount of displacement of the operating unit 124 smaller than that of the prior art, while ensuring the necessary amount of displacement of the locking unit 123. Therefore, when connector 100 is viewed in the third direction (up-down direction), the amount by which the non-released position of operating unit 124 protrudes toward the opposite side from the release position in terms of the direction of movement, i.e., in the example of this embodiment in FIG. 15, the dimension by which operating unit 124 protrudes inward in the second direction (front-to-back direction) from top plate 111 described below, i.e., the dimension by which operating unit 124 is exposed from top plate 111 in waiting to receive a pressing operation, can be set smaller than in the prior art.

[0033] The additional member 110 of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 20 further includes a top plate 111 and a bent portion 112. As shown in FIG.

[0034] The top plate 111 is formed in a position that at least partially covers the spring portion 121 and the extension portion 122 when viewed downward in the third direction, that is, the up-down direction, and is a member formed to have an extension parallel to an imaginary plane formed by the first direction, that is, the left-right direction, and the second direction, that is, the front-back direction.

[0035] Bent portion 112 is a portion formed as a curved bent shape that connects top plate 111 to the outer end of connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction of the U-shape that constitutes spring portion 121.

[0036] That is, the above-mentioned lock mechanism 120 is formed by connecting an outer end portion in the front-rear direction of the U-shaped spring portion 121 to the lower end of the bent portion 112 .

[0037] Further, the additional member 110 of this embodiment includes a hold-down 113. As shown in Figs. 14, 17, 20, etc., the hold-down 113 is formed continuously with an end 111a formed on the inside of the connector 100 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction of the top plate 111, and is a portion formed extending downward from the end 111a in the -Z direction, which is the downward direction. In the hold-down 113, a soldering portion 113a is provided at an end on the opposite side to the connection portion with the end 111a, that is, at a lower end, and, for example, as shown in Figs. 25 and 26, when the lower surface side of the connector 100 is placed on the second circuit board 151, the soldering portion 113a can be soldered to the second circuit board 151. By soldering the soldering portion 113a of the hold-down 113 to the second circuit board 151, the attachment of the additional member 110, which is equipped with the locking mechanism 120 to which an upward external force is applied when attempting to remove the mating connector 500, to the second circuit board 151 becomes more secure.

[0038] Furthermore, the additional member 110 of this embodiment includes a restricting portion 114. In this example, as shown in Figs. 13 to 15, 18, 20, etc., the restricting portion 114 is formed as a portion extending from the top plate 111 toward the vicinity of the extension portion 122, and includes a restricting surface 114a facing downward in the up-down direction (third direction). That is, the restricting surface 114a is fixed to the top plate 111 and faces downward. On the other hand, with respect to the extension portion 122, a surface of a portion of the extension portion 122 facing the restricting surface 114a is formed as a regulated surface 122a. When the operating portion 124 is in the non-release position and no upward external force is applied to the locking mechanism 120 including the extension portion 122, the restricting surface 114a and the restricted surface 122a face each other with a gap therebetween, and when an upward external force is applied to the extension portion 122 on which the locking portion 123 is formed, for example, by forcibly removing the mating connector 500 while the locking portion 123 is still fitted into the locking hole portion 511 of the mating connector 500, the restricted surface 122a abuts against the restricting surface 114a. When the restricted surface 122a abuts against the restricting surface 114a in this way, the irregular upward movement of the extension portion 122 is strongly restricted by the restricting portion 114. That is, the restricting portion 114 is formed so that the locking mechanism 120 acts more reliably. By providing the restricting portion 114 to the additional member 110 of this embodiment, damage due to an unreasonable operation of the locking mechanism 120 can be suitably prevented.

[0039] Note that the locking portion 123 and the regulated surface 122a formed in the extension portion 122 are preferably arranged so that their positions in the X direction (left-right direction) in the extension portion 122, i.e., the first direction, at least partially overlap (see FIG. 13, etc.). The locking portion 123 to which an upward force is applied and the regulated surface 122a to which a downward force is applied by hitting against the regulating surface 114a are arranged at overlapping positions in the extension direction of the extension portion 122, i.e., the X direction (first direction), thereby preventing the generation of torque or bending stress in the extension portion 122, making the action of the regulating portion 114 effective, and suitably preventing the occurrence of defects such as breakage of the locking mechanism 120.

[0040] 16 and 22, which is a cross-sectional view of the connector 100 viewed from above in the vertical direction, the pressure-receiving portion 125 of the locking mechanism 120 of this embodiment is formed inside the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction of the extension portion 122, at a position between the locking portion 123 and the operating portion 124 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction of the extension portion 122. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 22, the connector 100 of this embodiment is provided with two locking mechanisms 120 on each of the two additional members 110, totaling four locking mechanisms 120. Meanwhile, each of the two island portions 107 of the housing 101 is provided with two pressure-receiving portions 107a facing outward from the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, and opposed to each other. That is, as is clear from a comparison between Figures 12 and 22, in the connector 100 of this embodiment, each of the four pressure-receiving load portions 125 provided in the locking mechanism 120 is arranged opposite one of the corresponding pressure-receiving load portions 107a in the second direction, that is, the front-to-rear direction.

[0041] When the operating portion 124 is in the non-release position, each of the pressure-receiving portions 125 is in contact with the corresponding pressure-receiving portion 107a and is configured to receive a pressure load toward the outside of the connector 100 in the second direction, that is, the front-to-rear direction (see the state in Figure 22).

[0042] Here, the dimension of the opening of the tip of the U-shaped spring member including the spring portion 121 and the extension portion 122 in the natural state varies due to the lack of control by the press processing when manufacturing the additional member 110. In other words, the position of the tip of the extension portion 122 acting as a free end on the side farther from the spring portion 121 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, varies in the natural state in which the extension portion 122 is not subjected to an external force. However, as described above, in the present invention, even when the operation portion 124 is in the non-release position, the spring member is not in the natural state, and the pressure-receiving load portion 125 of the extension portion 122 is in contact with the pressure load portion 107a and receives a pressure load as an external force. In other words, even when the operation portion 124 is in the non-release position, the position of the extension portion 122 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, is determined by the pressure load portion 107a provided on the housing 101.

[0043] That is, in the connector 100 of this embodiment, by providing the pressing load portion 107a in the housing 101, the extension portion 122 elastically supported by the spring portion 121 is constantly pressed to apply a preload when the unlocking operation is not performed (i.e., when the operation portion 124 is in the non-release position). Therefore, since the positions of the lock portion 123 and the operation portion 124 when the unlocking operation is not performed (i.e., when the operation portion 124 is in the non-release position) are always defined to predetermined positions by the pressing load portion 107a provided in the housing 101, it is possible to eliminate the influence of the variation in the opening dimension of the spring member (a U-shaped elastic member including the spring portion 121 and the extension portion 122) that inevitably occurs during the manufacturing of the additional member 110.

[0044] On the other hand, when the operating portion 124 is in the release position, that is, when the operating portion 124 is operated to release the engagement between the locking portion 123 and the locking hole portion 511, each of the two pressed load portions 125 that were in contact with the two pressing load portions 107a of the island portion 107 moves toward the outside of the connector 100 in the second direction, that is, the front-to-rear direction, and moves away from the corresponding pressing load portion 107a.

[0045] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to absorb manufacturing dimensional variations in the opening of the U-shaped plate-like spring member (elastic member), which is a component of the locking mechanism 120 that is responsible for maintaining and releasing the mated state of the connector 100 and the mating connector 500, and in particular to realize a connector 100 in which the position of the locking portion 123 in the locked state is determined without variation, so that it is possible to provide a connector 100 that can stably realize the locked state of the mated state of the connector 100 and the mating connector 500.

[0046] The above describes the detailed configuration of the four lock mechanisms 120 provided in total, two for each of the two additional members 110 provided in the connector 100. Next, the operation when the mating connector 500 is mated with or removed from the connector 100 will be described.

[0047] When mating the mating connector 500 with the connector 100, as shown in Fig. 8, the mating connector 500 is moved downward in the -Z direction to fit the mating connector 500 into the connector 100. At this time, the surface of the mating additional member 510 of the mating connector 500 slides along the inclined surface 123a of the locking portion 123 while being pushed into the connector 100, so that the extension portion 122 is once displaced toward the outside in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction of the connector 100, and then the extension portion 122 is displaced so as to return toward the inside in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction of the connector 100, so that the locking portion 123 fits into the locking hole portion 511 of the additional member 510. By this operation, the engagement between the locking hole portion 511 and the locking portion 123 shown in Fig. 7 is realized, and a locked state in which the engagement between the mating connector 500 and the connector 100 is maintained is achieved.

[0048] An unlocking tool 700 is used to release the locked state between the mating connector 500 and the connector 100. The unlocking tool 700 of this embodiment is shown in Fig. 24. That is, the two additional members 110 provided in the connector 100 each have two locking mechanisms 120, for a total of four locking mechanisms 120, and the total of four operating parts 124 can be simultaneously operated by this unlocking tool 700.

[0049] The unlocking tool 700 is a member having two pressing legs 701 protruding downward from the lower left and right ends in the up-down direction (Z direction) of a vertically elongated cubic member as shown in FIG. 24 when it is in an orientation to be used with the connector assembly 10 in a state in which the connector 100 and the mating connector 500 are mated with each other. Each of the pressing legs 701 has a total of two pressing operation surfaces 701a facing both outside directions in the front-rear direction (Y direction). That is, the unlocking tool 700 has a total of four pressing operation surfaces 701a. The unlocking tool 700 is used by moving it in the -Z direction, which is the downward direction, from an upper position of the connector assembly 10 in a state in which the mating connector 500 is mated with the connector 100, so as to change from the state shown in FIG. 25 to the state shown in FIG. 26. 1 and 2, in the connector assembly 10, when the connector 100 and the mating connector 500 are mated, the gap between the two locking mechanisms 120 provided on each additional member 110 so as to face each other in the front-rear direction forms a space that is open upward. Two pressing legs 701 of the unlocking tool 700 are simultaneously inserted from above into each of the two spaces that are open upward, on both sides in the left-right direction of the connector assembly 10 in the mated state. At this time, the amount of protrusion of the operation part 124 protruding into each of the spaces, more specifically, the dimension of the operation part 124 exposed from the top plate 111 toward the inside in the Y direction (front-rear direction) when viewed from above along the Z direction, is significantly smaller than that of the prior art (see FIG. 15). When the unlocking tool 700 is pressed against such a connector assembly 10 in the downward -Z direction as shown in Figure 26, the pressing operation surfaces 701a, of which two are provided on each of the two pressing legs 701 of the unlocking tool 700 (a total of four), press the operating parts 124, of which one is provided on each of the locking mechanisms 120 of the connector 100 (a total of four), in a manner that they are pushed outward in the second direction, that is, the front-to-rear direction, thereby moving each of them from the non-released position to the released position.As a result, extension portion 122 moves outward in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, so as to open with U-shaped spring portion 121 as a fulcrum, and lock portion 123, which is located farther from the fulcrum along extension portion 122 than operation portion 124, moves in conjunction with it in the same direction as operation portion 124 and by an amount of movement greater than the amount of movement of operation portion 124 from the non-released position to the released position. In the start state of this operation, i.e., the state in which connector assembly 10 is waiting for insertion of lock release tool 700, the dimension of operation portion 124 exposed from top plate 111 is small as described above, so that an operation error in which operation portion 124 or extension portion 122 is erroneously pressed down by pressing leg portion 701 is extremely unlikely to occur. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13 and 15, the exposed portion of the operating unit 124 that is exposed in a small dimension from the top plate 111 is a sliding slope 124a. When the pressing legs 701 of the lock release tool 700 are pressed against this sliding slope 124a in the -Z direction, which is a downward direction from an upper position, the pressing legs 701 slide along the surface of the sliding slope 124a and press the operating unit 124 outward in the second direction, the front-to-rear direction, so that the pressing legs 701 can smoothly move the operating unit 124 from the non-released position to the released position. In addition, in this embodiment, the positions of the locking part 123 and the operating part 124 when the unlocking operation is not performed (i.e., when the operating part 124 is in the non-released position) are always defined at a predetermined position by the pressing load part 107a provided on the housing 101, so that the sliding slope 124a is always exposed with the same protruding amount from the top plate 111, and can always receive the pressing operation from the pressing leg part 701 of the unlocking tool 700 in a stable manner. Furthermore, since the operation amount (movement amount) required to move the operating part 124 to the non-released position is small, the operability of the unlocking is improved and lighter than that of the conventional technology. The movement of the locking part 123 described above releases the engagement of the locking part 123 that was fitted into the locking hole part 511 of the counterpart additional member 510, that is, the locking surface 123b is no longer in contact with or facing the inner surface of the locking hole part 511 in the vertical direction, and the upper part of the locking part 123 is opened and can move upward.When the engagement between the lock hole portion 511 and the lock portion 123 is released, i.e., from the state shown in Figure 26, the operator can lift the mating connector 500 upward in the +Z direction, thereby removing the mating connector 500 from the connector 100.

[0050] Here, before the pressure operation surface 701a of the unlocking tool 700 presses the operation unit 124, i.e., in the state waiting for the insertion of the unlocking tool 700, the pressure-receiving load unit 125 comes into contact with the pressure load unit 107a and receives a pressure load, whereby the position of the operation unit 124 is always defined at a predetermined position, so that the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism 120 by the unlocking tool 700 can always be executed stably.

[0051] 27 to 30, when the operating portion 124 is pressed by the unlocking tool 700 and moves from the released position to the released position, the connector 100 and the unlocking tool 700 of this embodiment are configured to form three contact surfaces α, β, and γ between them. In this way, by providing a plurality of contact surfaces α, β, and γ between the connector 100 that receives a pressing force from the unlocking tool 700 in the -Z direction, which is the downward direction, and the unlocking tool 700, the posture of the unlocking tool 700 that comes into contact with the connector 100 can be stabilized, and problems such as twisting of the unlocking tool 700 can be preferably prevented.

[0052] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 27 and Fig. 28, the connector side operation feeling imparting portion 115 formed as a convex portion on the additional member 110 can be provided, and the unlocking jig 700 can be provided with a jig side operation feeling imparting portion 705 formed as a corresponding concave portion (through hole in this example). As shown in Fig. 27 and Fig. 28, the connector side operation feeling imparting portion 115 and the jig side operation feeling imparting portion 705 of the unlocking jig 700 are preferably formed with dimensions and shapes that have a play when they are fitted together. By adopting such a configuration, when the operating portion 124 is operated by the unlocking jig 700 and the connector side operation feeling imparting portion 115 and the jig side operation feeling imparting portion 705 are fitted together during the process in which the operating portion 124 moves from the released position to the released position, an operation feeling (click feeling) can be imparted to the operator operating the unlocking jig 700.

[0053] 26, when used with the connector assembly 10, it is preferable that the unlocking tool 700 of this embodiment has an outer shape that does not protrude from the outer shape of the connector assembly 10 when viewed in the third direction, that is, the up-down direction. By making the outer shape of the unlocking tool 700 have dimensions that do not protrude from the outer shape of the connector assembly 10, it is possible to avoid interference with other components installed on the board, for example, and this can contribute to improved operability.

[0054] In the embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 22 etc., the spring portion 121 is provided at an outer position in the first direction (left-right direction) of each locking mechanism 120, and has a U-shape that is closed on the outer side of the connector 100 in the first direction (left-right direction) and open on the inner side when viewed in the third direction (up-down direction). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration is also possible in which the orientation of the spring portion 121 is reversed in the first direction (left-right direction) and the spring portion 121 is provided at an inner position in the first direction (left-right direction) of each locking mechanism 120, as in the modified example shown in Fig. 23 (note that Fig. 23 shows the locking mechanism 120 of the additional member 110 installed on the left side of the connector 100). That is, in this modification, when the spring portion 121 is viewed in the third direction (up-down direction), it is U-shaped so as to be closed on the inside of the connector 100 in the left-right direction which is the first direction and open on the outside, but in the extension portion 122, the operation portion 124 is disposed on the outside in the first direction (left-right direction), the lock portion 123 is disposed on the inside, and the pressure-receiving portion 125 is disposed between the operation portion 124 and the lock portion 123, which is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 22 etc. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 23, the operation portion 124 is located at the tip of the opening side of the U-shaped spring member, and therefore the effect of stably defining the position of the operation portion 124 is high. Therefore, in this modification, the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism 120 by the unlocking tool 700 can be always stably performed.

[0055] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments.

[0056] For example, the connector assembly 10 consisting of the mating connector 500 and connector 100 of the above-mentioned embodiment is particularly useful when used as a board-to-board connector that electrically connects a first circuit board 551 on which the mating connector 500 is mounted and a second circuit board 151 on which the connector 100 is mounted, as shown in Figures 25 and 26.

[0057] For example, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration was adopted in which mating connector 500 was configured as a plug connector, connector 100 was configured as a receptacle connector, and locking mechanism 120 was installed on connector 100. However, the connector may be either a plug connector or a receptacle connector as long as the locking mechanism according to the present invention exerts the same effects as in the above-described embodiment. Also, in the present invention, the mating connector and the connector include all types of connectors.

[0058] It will be apparent from the description of the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10 Connector assembly 100 Connectors 101 Housing 103 Terminal holding part 105 Multiple Terminals 107 Island 107a Pressure load section 110 Additional parts 111 Tabletop 111a End 112 Bending part 113 Hold Down 113a Soldering section 114 Regulatory Department 114a Regulatory aspects 115 Connector side operation feeling imparting portion (convex portion) 120 Locking mechanism 121 Spring part 122 Extension 122a Regulated surface 123 Rock Club 123a Slope 123b Lock surface 124 Operation section 124a Sliding slope 125 Pressurized load part 151 Second circuit board (board) 500 Mating Connector 501 Mating housing 503 Mating terminal holding part 505 Multiple mating terminals 510 Additional parts on the other side 511 Lock hole 551 First circuit board (board) 700 Unlocking tool 701 Pressing leg 701a Press operation surface 705 Jig side operation feeling imparting part (concave) α, β, γ (with unlocking tool) contact surface

Claims

[Claim 1] A connector in which a mating connector is mated or removed by moving the mating connector along a third direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other, The connector includes a housing, a plurality of terminals, and two additional members. The housing includes a terminal holding portion and two island portions, the plurality of terminals are held by the terminal holding portion and are arranged in the first direction in the housing, the two additional members are held by the housing and are located at both ends of the housing in the first direction, Each of the two additional members includes two locking mechanisms positioned to face each other in the second direction, Each of the two locking mechanisms includes a spring portion, an extension portion, a locking portion, an operating portion, and a pressure-bearing portion, the spring portion is a plate-like elastic member having a U-shape that is closed on one side of the outer side or the inner side of the connector in the first direction and is open on the other side of the outer side or the inner side when viewed in the third direction, and an outer end of the U-shape of the connector in the second direction is formed as a fixed end, and an inner end of the U-shape of the connector in the second direction is formed as a free end, the extension portion is formed so as to be continuous with an inner end portion of the connector in the second direction, the inner end portion being formed as a free end of the U-shaped spring portion, and to extend in the first direction, so that the extension portion is capable of being displaced in the second direction by the elastic force of the spring portion; the locking portion has a locking surface formed on an inner side of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion and facing one of the third directions, The operation portion is formed at a position outside the lock portion of the connector in the first direction of the extension portion and inside the connector in the second direction of the extension portion, the operation unit is movable between a non-release position and a release position located on the outer side of the connector in the second direction relative to the non-release position when the operation unit is pressed toward the outer side of the connector in the second direction, the pressure-receiving portion is provided on an inner side of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion, at a position between the lock portion and the operation portion in the first direction of the extension portion, Each of the two island portions includes two pressure load portions facing away from each other toward the outside of the connector in the second direction, Each of the pressure-receiving load portions faces one of the corresponding pressure load portions in the second direction, When the operation portion is in the non-release position, each of the pressure-receiving load portions is in contact with the corresponding pressing load portion and receives a pressing load toward an outside of the connector in the second direction, A connector, characterized in that, when the operating portion is in the release position, each of the pressure-receiving load portions is separated from the corresponding pressure load portion.

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