Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can prevent defects at a connection portion between a circuit board and a terminal fitting.SOLUTION: A connector 10, 10E comprises: a terminal fitting 80; a housing 20 which holds the terminal fitting 80; and a cover member 40, 40E, as an attachment member, which is attached to the housing 20. The terminal fitting 80 has: a body part 81 which is housed inside the housing 20; and a lead part 82 which is led out rearward from the housing 20 so as to be connected to a flexible substrate body 94, 94E of a circuit board 90 or 90E. The cover member 40, 40E has, in rear of the lead part 82, a substrate pressing part 41, 41E which locates the substrate body 94, 94E between itself and the reinforcing plate 93, 93E of the circuit board 90, 90E in a condition restricting the movement of the substrate body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of terminal fittings and a housing that holds the terminal fittings. The terminal fittings have a main body that is accommodated inside the housing and a lead portion (leg portion, mounting portion) that is pulled out from the housing. The tip portion (mounting portion) of the lead portion is soldered to a flexible circuit board (cable) such as an FPC. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-192612 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If an external force is applied to the circuit board and transmitted to the connection between the tip of the lead and the circuit board, there is a concern that defects such as solder cracks may occur at the connection.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of preventing problems from occurring in the connection portions between the circuit board and the terminal fittings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a connector comprising terminal fittings, a housing that holds the terminal fittings, and a mounting member that is mounted to the housing, wherein the terminal fittings have a main body portion that is accommodated inside the housing and a lead portion that is pulled rearward from the housing and connected to a flexible board body of a circuit board, and the mounting member has a board retaining portion rearward of the lead portion that positions the board body between the housing and a reinforcing plate of the circuit board in a state in which movement is restricted. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of preventing problems from occurring in the connection portion between the circuit board and the terminal fittings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connector of the first embodiment as viewed obliquely from behind. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the connector of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which insulating portions are disposed between all pairs of lead portions adjacent in the width direction in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state in which insulating portions are disposed between all pairs of lead portions adjacent in the width direction in the connector of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a main body is held in a bent state between a corner of a circuit board and a board pressing portion, behind a lead portion, in the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a housing in the connector of the first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from behind. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cover member in the connector of the first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the body portion is arranged behind the lead portions and between the reinforcing plate and the board pressing portion in a state in which its movement is restricted in the connector of the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the connector of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A terminal fitting, a housing for holding the terminal fitting, and a mounting member attached to the housing, wherein the terminal fitting has a main body portion accommodated inside the housing and a lead portion pulled rearward from the housing and connected to a flexible board body of a circuit board, and the mounting member has a board retaining portion rearward of the lead portion and between the mounting member and a reinforcing plate of the circuit board in a state in which movement of the board body is restricted.

[0010] According to the above-mentioned configuration (1), even if an external force is applied to the circuit board, the movement of the board body of the circuit board is restricted between the reinforcing plate of the circuit board and the board pressing portion, so that the external force can be prevented from being transmitted to the connection portion between the board body and the lead portion. Therefore, the above-mentioned configuration (1) can prevent problems from occurring in the connection portion between the circuit board and the terminal fitting.

[0011] (2) In the connector described above in (1), the mounting member is preferably a cover member that covers the lead portion.

[0012] According to the above configuration (2), the mounting member has the function of suppressing the transmission of external forces to the connection portion as well as the function of protecting the lead portion from foreign matter, etc., so that a high-performance connector can be provided.

[0013] (3) In the connector described in (2) above, it is preferable that the terminal fittings are held in multiple positions in the housing, the cover member has an insulating portion arranged between adjacent lead portions, and the insulating portion is arranged between the reinforcing plate of the circuit board in a state in which the movement of the board body is restricted.

[0014] According to the above configuration (3), the insulating portion as well as the board pressing portion can suppress the transmission of external force to the connection portion. Moreover, the insulating portion can also suppress the occurrence of leaks between adjacent lead portions.

[0015] (4) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (3) above, it is preferable that the board holding portion holds the board body in a bent state between itself and a corner portion corresponding to the rear end of the reinforcing plate.

[0016] According to the above configuration (4), the substrate body is held in a bent state, so that it is possible to more reliably prevent external forces from being transmitted to the connection portions between the body portion and the leads.

[0017] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0018] <Embodiment 1> As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 of the first embodiment is exemplified as a connector mounted on a circuit board 90 such as an FPC (Flexible printed circuits). The connector 10 includes a plurality of terminal fittings 80, a housing 20 that holds the terminal fittings 80, and a cover member 40 as a mounting member that is mounted on the housing 20. The connector 10 is adapted to be mated with a mating connector (not shown). In the following description, the front-rear direction refers to the mating direction of the connector 10 with the mating connector. The front is represented by an arrow X in FIG. 1. The right side is represented by an arrow Y in FIG. 1, and the upper side is represented by an arrow Z in FIG. The left-right direction is synonymous with the width direction and the horizontal direction, and the up-down direction is synonymous with the height direction. The references for these directions are for convenience, and do not necessarily coincide with the references for directions when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown) or the like.

[0019] (Housing 20) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and has a housing main body 21 in the shape of a rectangular block that is long in the left-right direction, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6. The housing main body 21 has a plurality of cavities 22 extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cavities 22 are arranged in two rows, one above the other, in the left-right direction in the housing main body 21. A terminal fitting 80 is inserted into each cavity 22 from the rear.

[0020] 4, fixing members 30 are press-fitted onto the outer left and right surfaces of the housing main body 21. The fixing members 30 are made of a metal plate, and are fixed by soldering while penetrating the circuit board 90. The housing 20 is fixed to the circuit board 90 via the fixing members 30.

[0021] 6, the housing 20 has a lock arm 23 that protrudes from the upper surface of the housing body 21. The lock arm 23 is elastically deformable and engages the mating connector to hold the connector 10 and the mating connector in a mated state. The housing 20 also has a bridge portion 24 that is continuous with the rear end portion of the lock arm 23. The bridge portion 24 is bridged above the rear end portion of the housing body 21 so as to extend in the left-right direction.

[0022] The housing 20 has side walls 26 protruding rearward from both the left and right ends of the rear surface (drawing surface 25) of the housing main body 21. The upper surface of the front end of each side wall 26 is connected to the bridge portion 24. As shown in FIG. 3, each side wall 26 is installed on the surface of the circuit board 90. Each side wall 26 laterally covers and protects lead portions 82 (described later) of terminal fittings 80 located at both the left and right ends. As shown in FIG. 4, a locking portion 27 is formed on the outer side surface of the front end of each side wall 26. As shown in FIG. 6, the locking portion 27 has a groove shape extending in the vertical direction on the outer side surface of the side wall 26, and can be locked to a locking portion 52 (described later) of the cover member 40.

[0023] 6, the housing 20 has an overhanging portion 28 that protrudes rearward from an upper end of the pull-out surface 25 of the housing main body 21. The overhanging portion 28 is shaped like a horizontal plate extending in the left-right direction. Both left and right ends of the overhanging portion 28 are integrally connected to the respective side walls 26, and are formed over the entire length of each side wall 26, longer than the left and right intermediate portions of the overhanging portion 28 in the front-rear direction.

[0024] 5, a step 29 is formed on the underside of housing body 21. The underside of the front end of housing body 21 is disposed one step lower than the underside of the rear part (the part rearward of the front end) of housing body 21 via step 29. Circuit board 90 is front-stopped by step 29 to define the position of its front end.

[0025] (Terminal fitting 80) The terminal fittings 80 are integrally formed by bending a conductive metal plate. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the terminal fittings 80 have a cylindrical main body portion 81 and a strip-shaped lead portion 82 extending rearward from the main body portion 81. The main body portion 81 is accommodated in each cavity 22 inside the housing 20. A tab of a mating terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the inside of the main body portion 81 for connection.

[0026] The lead portion 82 is pulled out rearward from the pull-out surface 25 of the housing 20. As shown in Fig. 5, the lead portion 82 has a portion that extends downward at a position rearward of the housing 20. The rear lower end of the lead portion 82 serves as a board connection portion 83 that is disposed along the surface of the circuit board 90. The board connection portion 83 is connected to a conductive portion 92 (pad) formed on the circuit board 90 by soldering.

[0027] The board connection portions 83 of each terminal fitting 80 are arranged in a zigzag pattern in the front-rear direction on the circuit board 90 while being lined up in multiple rows in the left-right direction. The circuit board 90 is configured to include a hard reinforcing plate 93 and a board body 94 in the form of a flexible resin film that is laminated and supported by the reinforcing plate 93. The conductive portion 92 is formed on the surface (mounting surface) of the board body 94.

[0028] The lead portion 82 drawn out from the upper cavity 22 is formed to be longer than the lead portion 82 drawn out from the lower cavity 22. As shown in Fig. 3, the lead portion 82 drawn out from the upper cavity 22 has a wide portion 84 located at the top and a narrow portion 85 located at the bottom, which is narrower than the wide portion 84. The lead portion 82 drawn out from the lower cavity 22 is arranged side by side with the narrow portion 85 in the left-right direction to narrow the pitch between adjacent terminal fittings 80.

[0029] (Cover member 40) The cover member 40 is made of synthetic resin and is attached to the housing 20 from the rear. As shown in Fig. 7, the cover member 40 has a board pressing portion 41 arranged at the rear, a covering portion 46 and a plurality of insulating portions 42 arranged at the left and right intermediate portions (excluding the left and right ends) of the front, and side portions 43 arranged at the left and right ends of the front.

[0030] 5, the board pressing portion 41 is disposed so as to be able to come into contact with the board body 94 of the circuit board 90, and holds the board body 94 between itself and the reinforcing plate 93 of the circuit board 90 so as to prevent it from moving. Specifically, the board pressing portion 41 is disposed in contact with or in close proximity to the board body 94 of the circuit board 90, and when an external force is applied to the circuit board 90, the board pressing portion 41 comes into contact with the board body 94 to restrict the movement of the board body 94. The board pressing portion 41 is disposed behind each lead portion 82 drawn out from the drawing surface 25 of the housing 20, so as to cover each lead portion 82 from the rear.

[0031] As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the board pressing portion 41 has a pressing body 44 that is long in the left-right direction and thick in the up-down direction. The lower surface of the pressing body 44 is arranged horizontally along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. The board pressing portion 41 also has a pressing end 45 that protrudes downward from the rear end of the pressing body 44. The pressing end 45 is formed over the entire length of the pressing body 44 in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 5, the lower surface of the pressing end 45 is arranged along the left-right direction below the lower surface of the pressing body 44. The lower surface of the pressing end 45 and the lower surfaces of the side portions 43 are continuous and at the same height.

[0032] In the case of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the board body 94 of the circuit board 90 has a first board body 94A supported by being stacked on the reinforcing plate 93, and a second board body 94B arranged behind the reinforcing plate 93 in a state of not being supported by the reinforcing plate 93. The first board body 94A includes a conductive portion 92 and is sandwiched between the reinforcing plate 93 and the pressing body 44 in the vertical direction. The second board body 94B is stretched in the front-rear direction while being pressed from above by the pressing end portion 45. The board body 94 has a third board body 94C that is bent from a corner portion 95 at the upper end at the rear end of the reinforcing plate 93 and inclined downward from the first board body 94A to the second board body 94B. The third board body 94C maintains a state of being inclined (bent) with respect to the front-rear direction between the corner portion 95 at the upper end of the reinforcing plate 93 and the pressing end portion 45. As shown in FIG. 3, the board body 94 and the reinforcing plate 93 are formed with a width dimension corresponding to the width dimension in the left-right direction of the housing 20.

[0033] The covering portion 46 has a plate shape that is long in the left-right direction, and constitutes the upper wall of the front part of the cover member 40. As shown in Fig. 3, the covering portion 46 is disposed so as to collectively cover each lead portion 82 from above. As shown in Fig. 7, the upper surface of the covering portion 46 has a high surface 47 that extends from the front end to both left and right ends, a low surface 48 that is disposed lower than the high surface 47 in the left-right intermediate part of the rear part, and a first inclined surface 49A (inclined surface 49) that inclines downward from the high surface 47 to the low surface 48.

[0034] The high surface 47 of the cover portion 46 has a gate shape in a plan view and is arranged along the left-right and front-rear directions. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the high surface 47 is arranged to infiltrate into the lower surface side of the eaves portion 28. The first inclined surface 49A is arranged to be inclined downward as it moves away from the eaves portion 28. As shown in Fig. 1, a second inclined surface 49B (inclined surface 49) is also formed on the upper surface of the board holding portion 41, inclining downward as it moves rearward from the eaves portion 28. The second inclined surface 49B is connected to the rear ends of the first inclined surface 49A and the low surface 48, and is formed over the entire length of the board holding portion 41 in the left-right direction.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 3, the insulating parts 42 are arranged between all pairs of lead parts 82 adjacent in the left-right direction. Each insulating part 42 has a first insulating part 42A protruding downward from the cover part 46 and a second insulating part 42B connected to the lower end of the first insulating part 42A. Each first insulating part 42A has a plate shape and is arranged vertically along the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. Each first insulating part 42A is arranged on both the left and right sides of the corresponding lead part 82 drawn out from the upper cavity 22 so as to cover the lead part 82 from the side.

[0036] Each second insulating portion 42B has a portion protruding from one side of the plate surface of one side (left side in FIG. 3) of each first insulating portion 42A, and a portion extending downward from the end of the portion. The first insulating portion 42A and the second insulating portion 42B are continuously formed in a front view, and the corresponding lead portion 82 drawn from the lower cavity 22 is accommodated and arranged in the internal space opened downward. The wide portion 84 of the corresponding lead portion 82 drawn from the upper cavity 22 is accommodated and arranged in the space between the adjacent first insulating portions 42A and above the second insulating portion 42B. The narrow portion 85 of the corresponding lead portion 82 drawn from the upper cavity 22 is accommodated and arranged in the space between the adjacent first insulating portion 42A and second insulating portion 42B.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 7, each side portion 43 is disposed so as to protrude forward from both left and right ends of the board pressing portion 41. Each side portion 43 has a plate-shaped side plate portion 51 disposed along the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. Each side plate portion 51 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction with a connection portion with the board pressing portion 41 as a fulcrum. As shown in Fig. 3, each side plate portion 51 is disposed so as to cover each side wall 26 from the side.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 7, each side portion 43 has a locking portion 52 protruding from the inner surface of each side plate portion 51 (the surface where each side plate portion 51 faces in the left-right direction). The locking portion 52 has a claw shape that is long in the vertical direction and is connected to the upper front end of the inner surface of each side plate portion 51. After each side plate portion 51 is elastically deformed, as shown in Fig. 4, each locking portion 52 fits into the corresponding locked portion 27, thereby holding the cover member 40 in a state where it is prevented from coming off the housing 20. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a third inclined surface 49C (inclined surface 49) that slopes downwardly on both left and right ends is formed on the upper surface of each side portion 43.

[0039] (Function of Connector 10) During assembly, the cover member 40 is placed on the housing 20 from the rear so as to cover each lead portion 82 drawn out from the drawing surface 25 of the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the locking portion 52 of each side portion 43 is locked to each locked portion 27 of the housing 20, and the cover member 40 is held by the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the high surface 47 of the cover portion 46 is arranged to face and contact the lower surface of the eaves portion 28. Each insulating portion 42 is arranged between adjacent lead portions 82 in the left-right direction. The lead portions 82 drawn out from the upper cavity 22 are arranged between the first insulating portions 42A adjacent in the left-right direction, except for the lead portions 82 arranged at both left and right ends. Of the lead portions 82 drawn out from the upper cavity 22, the lead portions 82 arranged at both left and right ends are arranged between the first insulating portions 42A adjacent in the left-right direction and the side walls 26. The lead portions 82 drawn out from the lower cavity 22 are disposed in the internal space formed between the first insulating portion 42A and the second insulating portion 42B. As a result, all pairs of lead portions 82 adjacent in the left-right direction are shielded from each other, making it possible to prevent leakage between the terminal fittings 80.

[0040] Even if foreign matter such as water (not shown) adheres to the upper surface of the housing 20 and tries to move toward each lead portion 82, the gap (labyrinth) between the high surface 47 of the cover portion 46 and the eaves portion 28 makes it difficult for the foreign matter to pass between the cover portion 46 and the eaves portion 28, and the foreign matter can be prevented from entering the inside of the cover member 40. The foreign matter then descends from the eaves portion 28 along the first inclined surface 49A, and further descends along the second inclined surface 49B, and is discharged from the cover member 40. Furthermore, the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface of each side portion 43 descends along the third inclined surface 49C, and is discharged from the cover member 40. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the cover member 40.

[0041] The lower end faces of each insulating portion 42 and each side wall 26 are arranged to be in contact with and face the surface of the first board body 94A of the circuit board 90. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower face of the pressing body 44 of the cover member 40 is arranged to be in contact with and face the upper face of the first board body 94A. The first board body 94A is sandwiched between the pressing body 44 and the reinforcing plate 93 in the vertical direction behind each lead portion 82, and its movement is restricted. The lower face of the pressing end portion 45 of the cover member 40 is arranged to be in contact with and face the upper face of the second board body 94B. When the second board body 94B is pressed from above by the pressing end portion 45, the first board body 94A and the second board body 94B are bent with a corner portion 95 corresponding to the rear end of the reinforcing plate 93 as a fulcrum, thereby forming a third board body 94C. When the third board body 94C is formed, a bent portion is formed behind each lead portion 82 in the board body 94. Even if an external force is applied to the rearward extending portion of the second substrate body 94B, the above-mentioned bent portion (third substrate body 94C) is interposed between the second substrate body 94B and the first substrate body 94A, so that the external force is not easily transmitted to the first substrate body 94A, and the movement of the first substrate body 94A is more reliably restricted. This also relieves stress generated in the connection portion between the substrate connection portion 83 of each lead portion 82 and each conductive portion 92 of the first substrate body 94A, making it possible to prevent defects such as cracks from occurring in the connection portion.

[0042] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a plurality of terminal fittings 80, the housing 20 that holds the terminal fittings 80, and the cover member 40 that is attached to the housing 20. The terminal fittings 80 have a main body portion 81 that is accommodated inside the housing 20, and lead portions 82 that are drawn out from the housing 20 and connected to the circuit board 90. The cover member 40 has a covering portion 46 that collectively covers the lead portions 82, and an insulating portion 42 that is disposed between adjacent lead portions 82.

[0043] According to the above configuration, adjacent lead portions 82 are shielded by the insulating portion 42, so that it is possible to prevent leakage between adjacent lead portions 82. Also, since each lead portion 82 is collectively covered by the covering portion 46, it is possible to prevent foreign matter such as water from adhering to the lead portions 82, so that it is possible to more reliably prevent leakage from occurring.

[0044] In the case of the first embodiment, the lead portions 82 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and the insulating portion 42 is arranged between all pairs of the lead portions 82 adjacent in the left-right direction. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent leakage from occurring between all pairs of the lead portions 82 adjacent to each other.

[0045] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, the housing 20 has the eaves portion 28 that protrudes from the pull-out surface 25, and the cover portion 46 is disposed facing the eaves portion 28 from below. With this configuration, even if foreign matter such as water adhering to the upper surface of the housing 20 moves from the eaves portion 28 toward the cover member 40, the cover portion 46 can prevent the foreign matter from entering the inside of the cover member 40, so that the adhesion of foreign matter to the lead portion 82 can be more reliably prevented.

[0046] In the case of the first embodiment, the upper surface of the cover member 40 has slopes 49 (first slope 49A, second slope 49B, and third slope 49C) that slope downward as the upper surface moves away from the overhanging portion 28. With this configuration, foreign matter such as water adhering to the upper surface of the housing 20 is discharged from the overhanging portion 28 through the slopes 49 to the outside of the cover member 40, so that it is possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter from adhering to the lead portion 82.

[0047] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, each lead portion 82 is connected to a conductive portion 92 formed on a flexible board body 94 of the circuit board 90. The cover member 40 serving as the mounting member has a board pressing portion 41 that is located behind the lead portions 82 and that positions the board body 94 between the reinforcing plate 93 of the circuit board 90 in a state in which movement is restricted.

[0048] According to the above configuration, even if an external force is applied to the circuit board 90, the movement of the board body 94 of the circuit board 90 is restricted between the reinforcing plate 93 of the circuit board 90 and the board pressing portion 41, so that the external force can be prevented from being transmitted to the connection portion between the board body 94 and the lead portion 82. This makes it possible to prevent problems from occurring in the connection portion between the circuit board 90 and the terminal fitting 80. In particular, since the cover member 40 has a function of protecting the lead portion 82 from foreign matter and the like in addition to a function of preventing the transmission of external force to the connection portion, a high-performance connector 10 can be provided.

[0049] In the case of the first embodiment, each insulating portion 42 is configured to dispose the board body 94 between the reinforcing plate 93 of the circuit board 90 in a state in which the movement is restricted. With this configuration, each insulating portion 42 can have both a function of suppressing the occurrence of leaks between adjacent lead portions 82 and a function of suppressing the transmission of external force to the connection portion between the circuit board 90 and the terminal fitting 80.

[0050] In the case of the first embodiment, the board pressing portion 41 holds the board main body 94 in a bent state between the board pressing portion 41 and a corner portion 95 corresponding to the rear end of the reinforcing plate 93. According to this configuration, the board main body 94 held in a bent state can more reliably prevent external force from being transmitted to the connection portion between the main body portion 81 and the lead portion 82.

[0051] <Embodiment 2> 8 and 9, connector 10E of the second embodiment differs from connector 10 of the first embodiment in that board pressing portion 41E of cover member 40E does not include a portion corresponding to pressing end portion 45. The rest is similar to that of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding parts to those of the first embodiment, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0052] The board pressing portion 41E is composed of a pressing body 44E having a lower surface along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the pressing body 44E is arranged so as to be able to come into contact with the board body 94E of the circuit board 90E. As shown in FIG. 9, the lower surface of the pressing body 44E is arranged above the lower surfaces of the side parts 43 and is connected to the lower surfaces of the side parts 43 in a stepped manner. Each side part 43 has a restricting portion 53 that protrudes inwardly to the left and right from the rear end of the side plate portion 51. Each restricting portion 53 is arranged in contact with or adjacent to both left and right ends of the circuit board 90E to restrict the circuit board 90E from being misaligned in the left and right direction.

[0053] The reinforcing plate 93E of the circuit board 90E is formed to be longer in the front-rear direction than the reinforcing plate 93 of the first embodiment. In the case of the second embodiment, the rear end of the reinforcing plate 93E is disposed rearward of the rear end of the cover member 40E and, in turn, the rear end of the connector 10E. The board main body 94E has a portion supported by the reinforcing plate 93E rearward of the rear end of the connector 10E.

[0054] In the case of the second embodiment, the pressing body 44E is disposed so as to sandwich the board body 94E in the vertical direction between the pressing body 44E and the reinforcing plate 93E at a position rearward of the lead portions 82. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, even if an external force is applied to the circuit board 90E, the movement of the board body 94E is restricted, and defects such as cracks can be prevented from occurring in the connection portions between the lead portions 82 and the conductive portions 92.

[0055] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The first and second embodiments disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. According to the first and second embodiments, the board pressing portion 41, 41E contacts the board body 94, 94E of the circuit board 90, 90E and restricts the movement of the board body 94, 94E between the board pressing portion 41, 41E and the reinforcing plate 93, 93E. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the board pressing portion may contact the board body of the circuit board and have a locking portion such as a claw that locks the reinforcing plate to restrict the movement of the board body. In the first and second embodiments, the board pressing portion 41, 41E is formed on the cover member 40, 40E that covers each lead portion 82. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the board pressing portion may be, for example, a dedicated mounting member that is attached to the housing without covering each lead portion and that engages the circuit board. According to the first and second embodiments, the terminal fitting 80 is a female terminal having a cylindrical main body 81. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the terminal fitting may be a male terminal having a tab protruding forward. When the terminal fitting is a male terminal, the housing preferably has a hood from which the tab can protrude. According to the first and second embodiments, each insulating portion 42 is disposed between all pairs of lead portions 82 adjacent in the left-right direction. In contrast, according to other embodiments, each insulating portion may be disposed between some pairs of lead portions adjacent in the left-right direction. For example, when the pitch between adjacent lead portions in the left-right direction varies, insulating portions may be disposed corresponding to the narrow pitch between the lead portions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10,10E…Connector 20. Housing 21…Housing body 22…Cavity 23...Lock arm 24…Erection part 25…Drawer surface 26…Side wall 27…Locked part 28...Eaves 29...Dan section 30…Fixing member 40, 40E…Cover member (mounting member) 41, 41E…Board holder 42…Insulation section 42A…First insulation section 42B…Second insulating section 43…Side 44, 44E…Press body 45…Press end 46…Cover 47…High plane 48…lower surface 49…Slope 49A…1st slope 49B…Second slope 49C…Third slope 51...Side plate part 52...Latching part 53…Regulation Department 80...Terminal fitting 81…Main body 82…Lead section 83...Board connection part 84…Wide section 85…Narrow part 90,90E…Circuit board 92...Conductive part 93,93E…Reinforcement plate 94,94E…Board body 94A…First board body 94B…Second board body 94C…Third board body 95…Corner

Claims

1. A terminal fitting, a housing for holding the terminal fittings; a mounting member attached to the housing, The terminal fitting has a main body portion accommodated inside the housing and a lead portion extended rearward from the housing and connected to a flexible board main body of a circuit board, The mounting member has a board pressing portion located rearward of the lead portion, which positions the board body between the mounting member and a reinforcing plate of the circuit board in a state in which movement is restricted.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting member is a cover member that covers the lead portion.

3. The terminal fittings are held in plurality in the housing, the cover member has an insulating portion disposed between adjacent lead portions, The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the insulating portion disposes the board body between the insulating portion and a reinforcing plate of the circuit board in a state in which movement of the board body is restricted.

4. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the board pressing portion holds the board body in a bent state between itself and a corner portion corresponding to a rear end of the reinforcing plate.

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