Connector device for circuit board

Abstract

To provide a connector device for a circuit board resolving a conventional problem, i.e., up-sizing of a connector at least in the second horizontal direction.SOLUTION: A connector device for a circuit board includes a housing, and terminals and strengthening metal fittings held on the housing. The housing has a wall projecting in the height direction, a peripheral wall projecting in the height direction, and surrounding the wall in the long direction and the width direction, and a receiving part located between the wall and the peripheral wall in the long direction and the width direction, and recessed in the height direction. The strengthening metal fitting has first and second portions extending at least the length portion of the peripheral wall toward the terminal in a state coupled, respectively, with the ends placed in the width portion of the peripheral wall, and in a state separated from each other in the height direction. The second portion is located at the same position as the outer end of the first portion in the height direction, or on the side closer to the component side than the outer end, and located farther inside of the housing than the first portion in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit board connector device that is mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector for a circuit board, which is an example of a circuit board connector device. This electrical connector for a circuit board includes a holding member made of resin, a plurality of contacts held by the holding member, two reinforcing members incorporated into the holding member, and two guide members. The guide members are each integral with the reinforcing members and are incorporated into the holding member together with the reinforcing members by insert molding.

[0003] The retaining member has a accommodating portion that accommodates a portion of the mating connector when the mating connector approaches the connector from above in the vertical direction and the two are mated, an island-shaped portion that is arranged within the accommodating portion and protrudes upward in the vertical direction, and an enclosing portion that surrounds the island-shaped portion via the accommodating portion.

[0004] The island-shaped portion has a longitudinal direction in a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and has first contact portion accommodating portions arranged in the first horizontal direction at both ends in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the first horizontal direction. These first contact portion accommodating portions accommodate the first contact portions of the contacts.

[0005] The enclosing portion has a longitudinal direction in a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and has second contact portion accommodating portions arranged in the first horizontal direction at both ends in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the first horizontal direction. The second contact portions of the contacts are accommodated in these second contact portion accommodating portions. The first contact portion and the second contact portion are arranged opposite each other in the second horizontal direction.

[0006] The reinforcing members are located at two ends of the island-shaped portion in the first horizontal direction and extend into the island-shaped portion. The reinforcing members include protective portions that protect the island-shaped portion, and the protective portions include exposed connecting portions extending downward in the up-down direction from the upper surface, supporting portions branching from the upper surface in directions away from the island-shaped portion along the second horizontal direction, lower exposed portions connected to each supporting portion, and elastic pieces connected to each lower exposed portion.

[0007] The guide member has a first guide portion facing the protective portion of the reinforcing member in the first horizontal direction, two second guide portions positioned on either side of the accommodating portion of the holding member in the second horizontal direction, and a connecting portion extending downward from the upper end of the first guide portion to connect the guide member and the reinforcing member. The upper end of the second guide portion of the guide member is connected to the upper end of the first guide portion, and its lower end, which is connected to the upper end and formed as a free end, is adapted to be soldered to a circuit board (not shown). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-168210 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In the electrical connector for circuit boards of Patent Document 1, the lower end of the second guide portion of the guide member extending in the first horizontal direction, which is soldered to the circuit board (not shown), is formed by bending vertically along the up-down direction from the end portion in the second horizontal direction that forms the upper end of the second guide portion.As a result, there is a problem in that the connector becomes larger in the second horizontal direction by at least the amount of the thickness of the guide member. Furthermore, in the connector of Patent Document 1, the elastic piece of the reinforcing member that comes into contact with the mating connector when mated extends to the island-shaped portion in the first horizontal direction, resulting in a problem in that the connector becomes larger in the first horizontal direction by the amount of the elastic piece of the reinforcing member arranged in addition to the terminals.

[0010] Furthermore, in the connector of Patent Document 1, the guide members protrude further toward the mating side with the mating connector than the terminals, which causes a problem in that the connector also becomes larger in size in the vertical direction.

[0011] Furthermore, in the connector of Patent Document 1, the upper surface of the reinforcing member that protects the island-shaped portion is formed to be narrower in the second horizontal direction than the guide member, and the elastic piece of the reinforcing member that can come into contact with the mating connector when mated with the mating connector is branched off from this narrow upper surface.As a result, heat is easily generated on this narrow upper surface and elastic piece, causing problems such as noise in high-frequency signals.

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector device for a circuit board that solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, that is, the problem of the connector becoming large in size at least in the second horizontal direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a circuit board connector device according to one aspect of the present invention is a circuit board connector device mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board, and includes a housing having a height direction, a length direction, and a width direction which are orthogonal to one another, and terminals and reinforcing metal fittings held by the housing, and the housing includes a protruding wall protruding in the height direction from the mounting surface side toward the mating side with the mating connector, a peripheral wall protruding in the height direction from the mounting surface side toward the mating side with the mating connector, and surrounding the periphery of the protruding wall, the peripheral wall having a length portion extending along the length direction and a width portion extending along the width direction, and the reinforcing metal fitting has a first portion and a second portion that extend along at least the length of the peripheral wall toward the terminal, each of which is connected to an end portion located at a width portion of the peripheral wall and is spaced apart from each other in the height direction, the first portion being exposed from the housing on the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, and the second portion being mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board on the opposite side of the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, and the second portion being located closer to the mounting surface than the first portion in the height direction, and being located at the same position as the outer end of the first portion in the width direction or further inward in the housing than the outer end. The present invention also features a connector device assembly comprising the above-mentioned circuit board connector device and the mating connector that is fitted with the circuit board connector device. According to the circuit board connector device etc. of this aspect, it is possible to prevent the connector from becoming large in size at least in the width direction.

[0014] In the above-described connector device for a circuit board, the end portion includes an outer wall portion that forms the outer wall of the width portion of the peripheral wall, an inner wall portion that faces the receiving portion and forms the inner wall of the width portion of the peripheral wall, and an upper wall portion that connects the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion on the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, and it is preferable that the upper wall portion is exposed from the housing on the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction.

[0015] In the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, the first portion may extend from the upper wall portion, and the second portion may extend from the outer wall portion.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the connector device for a circuit board, the top of the upper wall portion located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction may be positioned at the same height in the height direction as the top of the first portion located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

[0017] In the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, the second portion may have a surface defined by the height direction and the length direction, and at least a portion of the surface may be exposed from the housing on the side of the receiving portion. In the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, at least a portion of the surface of the second portion exposed from the housing, the inner end of the first portion, and a portion of the housing provided therebetween may form the same surface along the height direction on the side of the receiving portion.

[0018] Furthermore, in the above-described connector device for a circuit board, the reinforcing metal fitting may further have a bottom portion that forms part of the bottom wall of the receiving portion, an end wall that extends from the bottom portion along the longitudinal direction and protrudes in the vertical direction toward the mating side with the mating connector to form part of the outer wall of the protruding wall, and a curved portion provided on the opposite side of the end wall from the bottom portion.

[0019] In the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, the curved portion may form the top of the projecting wall that is located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

[0020] Furthermore, in the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, it is preferable that the end of the curved portion is embedded in the protruding wall.

[0021] Furthermore, in the above-described connector device for a circuit board, a portion of the terminal may be exposed from the length portion of the housing on the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, and the top of the exposed portion of the terminal that is located closest to the mating connector in the height direction may be positioned at the same height in the height direction as the top of the curved portion that is located closest to the mating connector in the height direction and the top of the first portion.

[0022] In addition, in the above-described circuit board connector device, the elastic contact portion of the terminal may be positioned between the mating connector and the protruding wall so as to be in elastic contact with the mating connector when mated with the mating connector.

[0023] Furthermore, in the above-described connector device for a circuit board, the reinforcing metal fitting may further have a bottom portion forming part of the bottom wall of the receiving portion, and an elastic contact portion extending from the bottom portion along the width direction and protruding in the height direction toward the mating side with the mating connector, and the elastic contact portion may be positioned between the mating connector and the peripheral wall so as to be in elastic contact with the mating connector when mated with the mating connector.

[0024] Furthermore, in the above-described connector device for a circuit board, it is preferable that the top of the elastic contact portion located closest to the mating connector in the height direction is located closer to the mounting surface than the top of the first portion located closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

[0025] Furthermore, in the above-described connector device for a circuit board, it is preferable that the second part has an exposed surface formed by the height direction and the length direction and exposed from the housing on the side of the receiving part, and that the elastic contact part is arranged opposite the exposed surface of the second part in the width direction.

[0026] In the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, it is preferable that the exposed surface and the resilient contact portion overlap each other in the length direction.

[0027] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the connector device for a circuit board, it is preferable that the top of the first part, which is located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction, is positioned at the same height in the height direction as the top of the housing, which is located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

[0028] Furthermore, in the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, the terminals and the reinforcing metal fittings may be integrally molded with the housing.

[0029] Furthermore, in the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, the reinforcing metal fitting may be made of a single metal plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] According to the present invention, there is provided a circuit board connector device which solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, namely the problem of the connector becoming large in size at least in the second horizontal direction (width direction). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a connector device assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a connector device assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a side view showing a terminal and a reinforcing metal fitting of a receptacle connector. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view of a circuit board connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of explanation, only the preferred embodiment is shown, and it is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0033] 1 and 2 are perspective views showing an example of a connector device assembly 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention. This connector device assembly 3 is made up of a receptacle connector (circuit board connector device) 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention and a plug connector 2, which is a mating connector that mates with this receptacle connector 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the receptacle connector 1 is arranged on the lower side and the plug connector 2 is arranged on the upper side, and Fig. 2 is a view in which Fig. 1 is turned upside down.

[0034] The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are circuit board connector devices that are mounted on the mounting surfaces of different circuit boards (not shown). The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 can be mated and unmated by moving them in the direction of the arrow "α" relative to the mounting surfaces of the respective circuit boards. Both the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 have symmetrical shapes in a length direction "β" perpendicular to the direction "α" along the connector mating direction, and in a width direction "γ" perpendicular to the "α" and "β" directions. However, they may have portions with different shapes as long as they do not contradict the subject matter of the present invention.

[0035] The receptacle connector 1 includes a substantially flat, rectangular resin housing 10, and terminals 20 and reinforcing metal fittings 30 held in the housing 10. The terminals 20 and reinforcing metal fittings 30 may be held in the housing 10 by assembly or press-fitting, but are more preferably integrally molded (insert molding). In this embodiment, the terminals 20 and reinforcing metal fittings 30 are held in the housing 10 by integrally molding (insert molding).

[0036] The housing 10 has a height direction "α", a length direction "β", and a width direction "γ", which are perpendicular to one another. The height direction "α" is aligned with the connector mating direction. Note that these terms are merely terms of convenience for distinguishing directions and do not necessarily refer to their length.

[0037] The housing 10 mainly comprises a bottom wall 11 disposed on the mounting surface on which the circuit board is mounted, a substantially rectangular protruding wall 12 protruding from the bottom wall 11 in the height direction "α" toward the mating side with the plug connector 2, a frame-like peripheral wall 13 protruding in the height direction "α" from the mounting surface side toward the mating side with the plug connector 2 and surrounding the periphery of the protruding wall 12 in the length direction "β" and the width direction "γ", and a receiving portion 16 located between the protruding wall 12 and the peripheral wall 13 in the length direction "β" and the width direction "γ" and recessed in the height direction "α" from the mating side with the plug connector 2 toward the mounting surface side. The peripheral wall 13 consists of two side walls ("length portions" in the claims) 14 and two end walls ("width portions" in the claims) 15. The side walls 14 face each other in the width direction "γ" and extend parallel to each other along the length direction "β", and similarly, the end walls 15 face each other in the length direction "β" and extend parallel to each other along the width direction "γ". Grooves 12A that accommodate a portion of each terminal 20 are formed in the protruding wall 12 over the entire protruding range of the protruding wall 12 with the grooves 12A open at the top.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows the receptacle connector 1 shown in Fig. 1 etc. with the housing 10 omitted, leaving only the terminals 20 and reinforcing metal fittings 30. Fig. 3(a) shows a perspective view, and Fig. 3(b) shows a side view. Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows a plan view of only the receptacle connector 1, Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Fig. 5.

[0039] A total of ten terminals 20 are provided, five on one side of the width direction "γ" and five on the other side, with the projecting wall 12 at the center. The number of terminals 20 is not particularly limited and may be one. All of the terminals 20 are arranged within the range of the projecting wall 12 at predetermined intervals in the length direction "β".

[0040] The terminals 20 are signal terminals primarily used for transmitting and receiving signals. Each terminal 20 is formed by stamping and bending a single sheet of metal. It includes a base 21, a contact arm 22 extending from one end of the base 21 in a height direction "α" toward the mating side with the plug connector 2—in other words, a raised contact arm 22 extending from the mounting surface toward the mating side with the plug connector 2, an inverted-U-shaped retained portion 23 extending from the other end of the base 21 in the height direction "α" toward the mating side with the plug connector 2 and toward the mounting surface, and a connecting portion 24 formed at the end of the retained portion 23 and solderable to the mounting surface. The base 21 has a predetermined width along the length direction "β." This completely covers the hole 11a formed in the bottom of the housing 10 by the mold for positioning the terminal 20, preventing the intrusion of foreign matter from the board side. The contact arm 22 is elastically deformable, and the aforementioned resilient contact portion 22a is provided at its free end.

[0041] When the terminal 20 is held in the housing 10, as described above, the contact arm portion 22 is positioned in the groove portion 12A provided in the protruding wall 12, while the held portion 23 is positioned opposite the side wall 14 on the side opposite the contact arm portion 22 in the width direction "γ" via the receiving portion 16.

[0042] The elastic contact portion 22a is provided in a state in which it elastically protrudes into the receiving portion 16 in the width direction "γ" while being biased from the groove portion 12A provided in the protruding wall 12 toward one of the side walls 14 arranged opposite the groove portion 12A, and is positioned between the plug connector 2 and the protruding wall 12 so as to be in elastic contact with the plug connector 2 when the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are mated.

[0043] The held portion 23 includes an inner arm portion 23a extending in the height direction "α" from the end of the base portion 21 on the side wall 14 side along the inner surface of the side wall 14 toward the mating side with the plug connector 2, a transition portion 23b continuing from the upper end of the inner arm portion 23a and folding back in the height direction "α" toward the mounting surface at a position outside the inner arm 23a in the connector width direction, and an outer arm portion 23c extending in the height direction "α" toward the mounting surface after passing the transition portion 23b. A locking recess 23a-1 is provided on the exposed surface of the inner arm portion 23a.

[0044] Even when the terminals 20 are held in the housing 10, it is preferable that at least a portion of the retained portions 23 be exposed to the outside of the housing 10. Part of the retained portions 23, particularly part of the transition portions 23b, may be exposed from the side wall 14 of the housing 10 on the mating side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α" to form the top portions 23A of the terminals 20 located on the side closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α". The portion forming the top portions 23A of the terminals 20 and its surrounding portion in the width direction "γ" are likely to collide with the plug connector 2 when mated with the plug connector 2. However, by exposing these portions from the housing 10 on the mating side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α", metal portions that are stronger than the resin housing 10 may collide with the plug connector 2 when mated with the plug connector 2, preventing undesired damage to the receptacle connector 1.

[0045] 8 to 10 show perspective views of the reinforcing metal fitting 30 from different angles, and Fig. 11 shows a front view of the reinforcing metal fitting. The reinforcing metal fitting 30 has the function of at least reinforcing the strength of the housing 10, and may also function as a power terminal by making mechanical and electrical contact with the reinforcing metal fitting 70 of the plug connector 2. Note that it is not essential that the reinforcing metal fitting 30 function as a power terminal, but using it as a power terminal provides many advantages.

[0046] Two reinforcing metal fittings 30 are provided, one at each end in the longitudinal direction "β" of the peripheral wall 13. Both reinforcing metal fittings 30 are arranged outside the range of the projecting wall 12 in the longitudinal direction "β", except for portions (35 and 36 described below) that may form part of the projecting wall 12.

[0047] The reinforcing metal fitting 30 is formed by punching and bending a single piece of plate-like metal. The reinforcing metal fitting 30 includes at least end portions (31, 32, 33), and a side wall top surface reinforcing portion (first portion) 40 and a rising portion (second portion) 41 that are connected to the end portions, are spaced apart in the height direction "α", and extend parallel to the terminal 20 along the peripheral wall 13, more specifically, along a portion of the end wall 15 along the width direction "γ" and a portion of the side wall 14 along the length direction "β".

[0048] The end portion includes an outer wall portion 33 that forms the outer wall of the end wall 15, an inner wall portion 31 that forms the inner wall of the end wall 15, and an upper wall portion (end top surface reinforcement portion) 32 that connects the outer wall portion 33 and the inner wall portion 31 on the mating side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α".

[0049] The outer wall portion 33 is provided on the mounting surface side of the circuit board, with almost the entire portion embedded in the housing 10. A mounting portion 34 extending approximately parallel to the board surface of the circuit board is provided at an end of the outer wall portion 33. The inner wall portion 31 may form a portion of the surface of the receiving portion 16 . As shown in this embodiment, the upper wall portion 32 may have a flat plate surface in a plane "β-γ" perpendicular to the height direction "α." This flat surface forms a top portion 32A located closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α." The top portion 32A is provided in a state exposed from the housing 10 and has a predetermined width along the width direction "γ" of the peripheral wall 13. With the above configuration, the possibility of the upper wall portion 32 colliding with the plug connector 2 can be made substantially the same as that of the top portion 40A of the side wall top surface reinforcing portion 40. Moreover, throughout the width direction "γ" of the side wall 14, the portion likely to collide with the plug connector 2 when mated with the plug connector 2 is made of high-strength metal, thereby preventing undesired damage to the receptacle connector 1. Furthermore, an increase in the size of the receptacle connector 1 in the height direction "α" can be effectively prevented. The remaining portion is provided in a state exposed from the housing 10 on the mating side with the plug connector 2.

[0050] As shown in this embodiment, the side wall top surface reinforcement portion 40 may form a flat plate surface in a plane "β-γ" perpendicular to the height direction "α." This allows the receptacle connector 1 to be miniaturized in the height direction "α." This flat surface forms a top portion 40A located closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α." The top portion 40A extends from the upper wall portion 32, continuing with the top portion 32A of the upper wall portion 32 via a connecting portion 40c, and is exposed from the housing 10 together with the top portion 32A. As shown in this embodiment, the top portions 40A and 32A are preferably positioned at the same height in the height direction "α" as the top portion 10A of the housing 10 and the top portions 23A of the terminals. These tops 40A, 32A, 10A, and 23A are likely to collide with the plug connector 2 when mated with the plug connector 2, but by exposing these parts from the housing 10 on the mating side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α," the metal parts, which are stronger than the plastic housing 10, can be used as parts that may collide with the plug connector 2 when mated with the plug connector 2, preventing undesired damage to the receptacle connector 1.

[0051] The rising portion 41 extends continuously from the outer wall portion 33 via the bent portion 41a. It is positioned closer to the mounting surface than the sidewall top surface reinforcement portion 40 in the height direction "α," and is positioned at the same position as the outer end 40a of the sidewall top surface reinforcement portion 40 or further inward of the housing 10 than the outer end 40a in the width direction "γ." The sidewall top surface reinforcement portion 40 and the rising portion 41 extend parallel to each other while maintaining this positional relationship and forming free ends at their tips. With this configuration, the provision of the reinforcing metal fitting 30 does not result in an increase in the size of the receptacle connector 1 in the width direction "γ." Furthermore, the receptacle connector 1 can be made smaller in the width direction "γ" compared to conventional configurations.

[0052] The rising portion 41 is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board on the side opposite to the mating side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α." To be mounted on the circuit board, a mounting portion 42 is provided on the mounting surface side, extending substantially parallel to the board surface of the circuit board.

[0053] At least a portion of the rising portion 41 can form an exposed surface 41b that is exposed from the housing 10 on the receiving portion 16 side. This exposed surface 41b is formed by a plane defined by the height direction "α" and the length direction "β." Except for the exposed surface 41b, the rising portion 41, including the bent portion 41a extending from the outer wall portion 33, is substantially entirely embedded in the housing 10. When the reinforcing bracket 30 is insert-molded into the housing 10, at least this exposed surface 41b, the inner end 40b of the side wall top surface reinforcing portion 40, and the portion of the housing 10a provided therebetween form the same plane along the height direction "α" on the receiving portion 16 side. This allows the receptacle connector 1 to be miniaturized in the width direction "γ." Furthermore, by making these portions on the same plane, the strength of the receptacle connector 1 can be increased.

[0054] The reinforcing metal fitting 30 also includes a bottom portion 38 that forms a portion of the bottom wall 51 of the receiving portion 16, an end wall 35 that extends from the bottom portion 38 along the longitudinal direction "β" and protrudes in the height direction "α" toward the mating side with the plug connector 2 to form a portion of the outer wall of the protruding wall 12, and a curved portion 36a that is provided on the side of the end wall 35 opposite the bottom portion 38. The end wall 35 is located at the end of the protruding wall 12 in the longitudinal direction "β" and functions to protect the end face of the protruding wall 12 when mated with the plug connector 2. The curved portion 36a forms an apex 36A of the protruding wall 12 that is located on the side closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α". The apex 36A is positioned at the same height in the height direction "α" as the apex 23A formed in the transition portion 23b of the terminal 20 and the apex 40A of the side wall apex surface reinforcing portion 40. As a result, together with top portion 40A, etc., it serves to reinforce resin housing 10, particularly projecting wall 12. End 36b of curved portion 36a is embedded in projecting wall 12, effectively preventing reinforcing metal fitting 30 from easily peeling off from housing 10.

[0055] The reinforcing metal fitting 30 further includes extending portions 43 that branch off from the bottom portion 38 in a direction separating them in the width direction "γ," and narrow contact arms 44 that protrude from the bottom portion 38 in the height direction "α" via the extending portions 43 toward the mating side with the plug connector 2. In other words, the narrow contact arms 44 extend upward from the mounting surface side toward the mating side with the plug connector 2. By branching the narrow contact arms 44 from the relatively large bottom portion 38 in the width direction "γ," heat generation in the elastic pieces can be effectively prevented, allowing the reinforcing metal fitting 30 to be used as a power terminal capable of transmitting high current. Furthermore, by providing the extending portions 43 with a predetermined width, the holes 11b formed in the bottom of the housing 10 by installing a mold for positioning the reinforcing metal fitting 30 can be completely blocked, thereby preventing the intrusion of foreign matter from the board side. At the tip of each contact arm 44, a resilient contact portion 44a is formed. The resilient contact portion 44a is positioned between the plug connector 2 and the peripheral wall 13 so as to be in resilient contact with the plug connector 2 when the plug connector 2 is mated.

[0056] The top 44A of the elastic contact portion 44a located closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α" is located closer to the mounting surface than the top 40A of the side wall top surface reinforcing portion 40 located closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α". This effectively prevents the contact arm portion 44 from buckling due to a collision with the plug connector 2 when mating with the plug connector 2.

[0057] The elastic contact portion 44a is provided in a state in which it elastically protrudes into the receiving portion 16 in the width direction "γ" while being biased from one side wall 14 toward the other side wall 14 arranged opposite the one side wall 14, and is positioned between the plug connector 2 and the side wall 14 so as to be in elastic contact with the plug connector 2 when the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are mated.

[0058] The resilient contact portions 44a are arranged along the longitudinal direction "β" like the resilient contact portions 22a, but unlike the resilient contact portions 22a, the resilient contact portions 44a do not extend in the longitudinal direction "β" to the extent of the protruding wall 12 along which the resilient contact portions 22a are arranged. Therefore, the provision of the resilient contact portions 44a does not result in an increase in the size of the receptacle connector 1 in the longitudinal direction "β".

[0059] In the width direction "γ", the resilient contact portion 22a and the resilient contact portion 44a are disposed opposite to each other in the width direction "γ" in the receiving portion 16 of the housing 10. Furthermore, in the width direction "γ", the resilient protruding direction of the resilient contact portion 44a and the resilient protruding direction of the resilient contact portion 22a are set in opposite directions. As a result, a gap is formed between the resilient contact portions 22a and 44a in the width direction "γ" into which a predetermined portion of the plug connector 2 is resiliently inserted. By resiliently inserting a predetermined portion of the plug connector 2 (such as the side wall 54) into this gap, the resilient contact portion 22a of the terminal 20 can resiliently contact a predetermined portion of the plug connector 2 between the plug connector 2 and the protruding wall 12, in other words, on the inner wall side of the plug connector 2, while the resilient contact portion 44a of the reinforcing metal fitting 30 can resiliently contact a predetermined portion of the plug connector 2 between the plug connector 2 and the protruding wall 12, in other words, on the inner wall side of the plug connector 2, and the resilient contact portion 44a of the reinforcing metal fitting 30 can resiliently contact a predetermined portion of the plug connector 2 between the plug connector 2 and the peripheral wall 13, in other words, on the outer wall side of the plug connector 2.

[0060] The resilient contact portion 44a is disposed opposite the exposed surface 41b of the rising portion 41 in the width direction "γ." The exposed surface 41b and the resilient contact portion 44a overlap in the length direction "β." This configuration and arrangement allows, for example, when the reinforcing bracket 30 is used as a power terminal, heat generated near the resilient contact portion 44a to be effectively dissipated via the rising portion 41 and the mounting portion 42, which is continuous with the rising portion 41. Because the resilient contact portion 44a is narrower than other portions, it is particularly susceptible to heat generation. However, the above mechanism allows for effective heat dissipation. Furthermore, deformation of the resilient contact portion 44a due to buckling or the like can be effectively prevented when mating with the plug connector 2.

[0061] The plug connector 2 includes a resin housing 50 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and terminals 60 and reinforcing metal fittings 70 held by the housing 50. The terminals 60 and reinforcing metal fittings 70 may be held by the housing 50 by being assembled together, but it is more preferable to hold them by integral molding.

[0062] The housing 50 forms a frame-shaped fitting portion that corresponds to the receiving portion 16 provided in the housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1. When the housing 50 is fitted into the receiving portion 16, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are fitted and connected.

[0063] The housing 50 mainly has a bottom wall 51 disposed on the mounting surface on which the circuit board is mounted, and a frame-shaped peripheral wall 53 protruding from the bottom wall 51 in the height direction "α" toward the mating side with the receptacle connector 1. The peripheral wall 53 includes two side walls 54 and two end walls 55. The side walls 54 face each other in the width direction "γ" and extend parallel to each other along the length direction "β", and similarly, the end walls 55 face each other in the length direction "β" and extend parallel to each other along the width direction "γ".

[0064] The plug connector 2 is also provided with a plurality of terminals 60 corresponding to the terminals 20 of the receptacle connector 1. Each terminal 60 includes a U-shaped portion 61 held by the side wall 54, and a connecting portion 62 that extends outward in the width direction "γ" from one of the two arms of the U-shaped portion 61 that is located on the receiving portion 56 side and is connected to a corresponding signal circuit portion of the circuit board.

[0065] The U-shaped portion 61 is a portion that protrudes between the contact arm portion 22 of the signal terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 and the inner arm portion 23a of the held portion 23 when the connectors are mated, and is embedded in the side wall 54 so as to straddle the side wall 54 from below. The U-shaped portion 61 has an outer arm portion 61a that extends along the outer surface of the side wall 54 toward the mounting surface, a transition portion 61b that is folded back from the lower end of the outer arm 61a at a position inside the connector width direction in the height direction "α" toward the mating side with the plug connector 2, and an inner arm portion 61c that extends through the transition portion 61b in the height direction "α" toward the mating side with the plug connector 2. A locking step portion 61a-1 is provided on the exposed surface of the outer arm portion 61a in correspondence with the locking recess portion 23a-1 of the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1. When the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are mated, the locked stepped portion 61A-1 is locked in the lock recess 23a-1, ensuring contact between the terminals 20 and 60 and preventing the connectors from coming loose.

[0066] Two reinforcing metal fittings 70 are provided, one at each end in the longitudinal direction "β" of peripheral wall 53, corresponding to reinforcing metal fittings 30 of receptacle connector 1. Reinforcing metal fittings 70 not only have the function of reinforcing housing 50, corresponding to the function of reinforcing metal fittings 30 of receptacle connector 1, but may also have a locking function to lock with reinforcing metal fitting 30 of receptacle connector 1, and may further function as a power terminal that comes into contact with contact arm portion 44 of reinforcing metal fitting 30 to establish electrical conduction.

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are possible.

[0068] It should be understood that the foregoing description is of preferred embodiments and is merely representative of the article. It can be appreciated that variations and modifications of different embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Accordingly, exemplary embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, can be made without departing from the spirit of the article as set forth in the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 Receptacle connector (connector device for circuit boards) 2 Plug connector (mating connector) 3 Connector device assembly 10. Housing 10A top 12 Projection wall 13 Peripheral wall 14 Side wall (length) 15 End wall (width part) 16 Reception Department 20 terminals 22a Elastic contact part 23A Top 30 Reinforcement metal fittings 32 Upper wall 32A Top 33 End wall 36A Top 38 Bottom 40 Side wall top surface reinforcement portion (first portion) 40a outer end 40b inner end 40A top 41 Rising section (second section) 42 Mounting section 44a Elastic contact part 44 Contact arm 51 Bottom wall

Claims

1. A circuit board connector device to be mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board, a housing having a height direction, a length direction, and a width direction which are orthogonal to one another; a terminal and a reinforcing metal fitting held by the housing, The housing includes: a protruding wall protruding in the height direction from the mounting surface side toward a mating side with a mating connector; a peripheral wall surrounding the periphery of the protruding wall, the peripheral wall protruding in the height direction from the mounting surface side toward the mating side with the mating connector, and having a length portion extending along the length direction and a width portion extending along the width direction; a receiving portion that is located between the protruding wall and the peripheral wall in the length direction and the width direction and is recessed in the height direction from the mating side with the mating connector toward the mounting surface side, The reinforcing metal fittings are a first portion and a second portion extending along at least the length of the peripheral wall toward the terminal, the first portion and the second portion being connected to ends of the peripheral wall at a width portion thereof and spaced apart from each other in the height direction; the first portion is exposed from the housing on a mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, the second portion is mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board on a side opposite to a mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, A connector device for a circuit board, characterized in that the second part is located closer to the mounting surface than the first part in the height direction, and is located at the same position as the outer end of the first part in the width direction or further inward from the housing than the outer end.

2. 2. The connector device for a circuit board as described in claim 1, wherein the end portion includes an outer wall portion that forms the outer wall of the width portion of the peripheral wall, an inner wall portion that faces the receiving portion and forms the inner wall of the width portion of the peripheral wall, and an upper wall portion that connects the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion on the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, and the upper wall portion is exposed from the housing on the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction.

3. 3. The circuit board connector device according to claim 2, wherein said first portion extends from said upper wall portion and said second portion extends from said outer wall portion.

4. 4. A connector device for a circuit board as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the top of the upper wall portion located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction is positioned at the same height in the height direction as the top of the first portion located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

5. 5. The circuit board connector device according to claim 4, wherein the second portion has a surface formed by the height direction and the length direction, and at least a portion of the surface is exposed from the housing on the side of the receiving portion.

6. 6. A connector device for a circuit board as described in claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the second part exposed from the housing, the inner end of the first part, and the part of the housing provided therebetween form the same surface along the height direction on the side of the receiving part.

7. A connector device for a circuit board as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reinforcing metal fitting further has a bottom portion that forms part of the bottom wall of the receiving portion, an end wall that extends from the bottom portion along the longitudinal direction and protrudes in the vertical direction toward the mating side with the mating connector to form part of the outer wall of the protruding wall, and a curved portion provided on the end wall opposite the bottom portion.

8. 8. The circuit board connector device according to claim 7, wherein the curved portion forms a top of the protruding wall that is located on a side closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

9. 9. The circuit board connector device according to claim 7, wherein an end of said curved portion is embedded in said protruding wall.

10. A connector device for a circuit board as described in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a portion of the terminal is exposed from the length portion of the housing on the mating side with the mating connector in the height direction, and the top of the exposed portion of the terminal that is located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction is positioned at the same height in the height direction as the top of the curved portion that is located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction and the top of the first portion.

11. 11. The circuit board connector device according to claim 10, wherein the resilient contact portions of the terminals are positioned between the mating connector and the protruding wall so as to be in resilient contact with the mating connector when mated with the mating connector.

12. A connector device for a circuit board as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the reinforcing metal fitting further has a bottom portion that forms part of the bottom wall of the receiving portion, and an elastic contact portion that extends from the bottom portion along the width direction and protrudes in the height direction toward the mating side with the mating connector, and the elastic contact portion is positioned between the mating connector and the peripheral wall so as to be in elastic contact with the mating connector when mated with the mating connector.

13. 13. A connector device for a circuit board as described in claim 12, wherein the top of the elastic contact portion located closest to the mating connector in the height direction is located closer to the mounting surface than the top of the first portion located closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

14. A connector device for a circuit board as described in claim 12 or 13, wherein the second portion has an exposed surface formed by the height direction and the length direction and exposed from the housing on the side of the receiving portion, and the elastic contact portion is arranged opposite the exposed surface of the second portion in the width direction.

15. 15. The circuit board connector device according to claim 14, wherein the exposed surface and the resilient contact portion overlap each other in the length direction.

16. A connector device for a circuit board as described in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the top of the first part located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction is positioned at the same height in the height direction as the top of the housing located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

17. 17. The circuit board connector device according to claim 1, wherein said terminals and said reinforcing metal fittings are integrally formed with said housing.

18. 18. The circuit board connector device according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcing metal fitting is made of a single metal plate.

19. 19. A connector assembly comprising a combination of the circuit board connector device according to claim 1 and the mating connector that is mated with the circuit board connector device.

Images