connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that is stably held on a circuit board. [Solution] The connector 10 comprises a housing 12 and a terminal fitting 22 attached to the housing 12. The terminal fitting 22 has a board connection portion 24 that extends vertically outside the housing 12 and is connected to a substrate S. The housing 12 has a pair of side walls 16 arranged on both the left and right sides of the board connection portion 24, and at least three board projections 18 that protrude downward from each of the pair of side walls 16 and are held by the substrate S. Each of the pair of side walls 16 has board projections 18 protruding from two positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of terminals connected to a substrate. The connector is provided with a plurality of locking portions so as to sandwich each terminal. Each locking portion is inserted into and locked in each locking hole formed in the substrate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, each locking portion is arranged in a straight line in the left - right direction. Therefore, for example, when the mating connector is tilted and mated with the connector in an oblique direction from the normal mating direction (hereinafter referred to as "twisted mating"), each locking portion cannot sufficiently resist the external force in the oblique direction. In the worst - case scenario, some of the locking portions may be damaged such as broken or fractured, and there is a concern that the stability of the connector held on the substrate may be impaired.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to enable the connector to be stably held on the substrate even when receiving an external force.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of this disclosure comprises a housing and a terminal fitting mounted on the housing, wherein the terminal fitting has a substrate connection portion that extends vertically outside the housing and is connected to a substrate, and the housing has a pair of side walls arranged on both sides in the left-right direction flanking the substrate connection portion, and at least three substrate projections that protrude downward from each of the pair of side walls and are held by the substrate, wherein at least one of the pair of side walls has the substrate projections protruding from two or more positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This disclosure can provide a connector that is stably held on a substrate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector of Embodiment 1, showing the housing and terminal fittings respectively from the rear and lower side. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the housing of the connector according to Embodiment 1, viewed from the rear and lower side. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connector of Embodiment 1, showing the housing from the rear and above. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the connector of Embodiment 1, showing a portion of the substrate projection and side wall. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of each of the two types of terminal fittings in the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a bottom view of the rear of the connector of Embodiment 1, viewed from below. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the pressing jig used to attach the connector to the circuit board in the connector of Embodiment 1. [Figure 9]Figure 9 is a rear view of the connector of Embodiment 1, showing the connector attached to the circuit board with a pressing jig. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of the connector of Embodiment 1, showing the portion where the substrate projection is held to the substrate and the case projection is held to the case. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is (1) The housing comprises a housing and a terminal fitting attached to the housing, wherein the terminal fitting has a board connection portion that extends vertically outside the housing and is connected to a substrate, and the housing comprises a pair of side walls arranged on both sides in the left-right direction flanking the board connection portion, and at least three board projections that protrude downward from each of the pair of side walls and are held by the substrate, wherein at least one of the pair of side walls has the board projections protruding from two or more positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction.

[0010] According to the configuration described in (1) above, each board projection is arranged to spread out in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions around the board connection portion. Therefore, even if, for example, the mating connector is forced into the connector and an external force is applied to the connector at an angle, each board projection can effectively resist that external force. As a result, the stability of the connector held by the board can be avoided.

[0011] (2) The connector described in (1) above, wherein the tip of the projection for the substrate is preferably located below the tip of the substrate connection portion. According to the configuration of (2) above, when attaching the connector to a substrate, the projection for the substrate is brought into contact with the substrate before the substrate connection portion, and the relative positions of the substrate connection portion and the substrate in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions can be determined before connecting the substrate connection portion to the substrate.

[0012] (3) The connector according to (1) above, wherein the protrusion for the substrate has a circular outer peripheral shape when viewed from below, and a hole that extends in the vertical direction and opens at the tip of the protrusion for the substrate is preferably formed on the axis of the protrusion for the substrate. According to the configuration of (3) above, for example, when the protrusion for the substrate is inserted into the through-hole of the substrate, when the protrusion for the substrate contacts the substrate, the protrusion for the substrate can be uniformly compressed and deformed while the hole is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the axis of the protrusion for the substrate from deviating from the axis of the through-hole, and the stability of the connector held on the substrate can be further enhanced.

[0013] (4) The connector according to (1) to (3) above, wherein the housing preferably has protrusions for the case that project upward from each of the pair of side walls and are held by the case. According to the configuration of (4) above, the connector is stably held not only on the substrate but also on the case.

[0014] [Details of Embodiments 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, and is intended to be indicated by the claims and to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0015] <Embodiment 1> [[ID=十六]]The connector 10 of Embodiment 1 is attached to a substrate S such as a rigid printed circuit board (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In the following description, for convenience, the surface of the substrate S to which the connector 10 is attached is defined as the upper surface, and in each figure, the upper, right, and front directions are indicated by reference numerals X, Y, and Z, respectively. The reference directions of these directions do not necessarily coincide with the reference directions of the directions in the state where the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like not shown in the figures. For example, the downward direction of the present disclosure is not limited to the downward direction of the gravitational direction.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 includes a housing 12 and a plurality of terminal fittings 22 attached to the housing 12. The housing 12 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 12 has a terminal holding portion 13, a hood portion 14, a pair of side walls 16 that are paired in the left - right direction, at least three or more protrusions 18 for the substrate, and a pair of protrusions 19 for the case. The terminal holding portion 13 has a wall shape and the wall thickness is directed in the front - rear direction. The hood portion 14 has a cylindrical shape, specifically, a flat cylindrical shape that is long in the left - right direction with respect to the up - down direction. The terminal holding portion 13 is disposed inside the hood portion 14 and divides the inside of the hood portion 14 in the front - rear direction.

[0017] The pair of side walls 16 have a wall shape and the wall thickness is directed in the left - right direction. Each side wall 16 protrudes rearward from both ends in the left - right direction at the rear - end edge of the hood portion 14. In each side wall 16, a relief groove 16A that is open upward and rearward is formed.

[0018] In the case of the first embodiment, a total of four protrusions 18 for the substrate are provided, two for each side wall 16. Each protrusion 18 for the substrate is provided to protrude downward from the lower end surface of each of the pair of side walls 16. Each protrusion 18 for the substrate has a columnar or cylindrical shape with a tapered tip, and has a circular outer peripheral shape when viewed from below (see FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 4, a hole 18A is formed at the axis of each protrusion 18 for the substrate. The hole 18A extends vertically inside the protrusion 18 for the substrate and opens at the tip (lower end) of the protrusion 18 for the substrate. The inner end of the hole 18A is located at the lower end portion of the side wall 16. The hole 18A is not connected to the relief groove 16A. The lower end portion of each protrusion 18 for the substrate is formed in a tapered shape so that the diameter of the entire circumference decreases toward the tip. One side wall 16 protrudes the protrusion 18 for the substrate from two positions spaced apart in the front - rear direction.

[0019] An annular recess 18B is formed in the lower end surface of the side wall 16, surrounding the base portion of each substrate projection 18 around its entire circumference. A C-shaped protrusion 18C, viewed from the bottom, is also formed in the lower end surface of the side wall 16, surrounding a portion of the recess 18B. The lower end of each protrusion 18C is formed as a plane parallel to the lower end surface of the side wall 16. Each substrate projection 18 is inserted (press-fitted) into the through-hole H1 of the substrate S (see Figure 9). Each substrate projection 18 is held (fixed) to the substrate S by being press-fitted into the through-hole H1. The lower end of each protrusion 18C rests on the upper surface of the substrate S.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the case projections 19 are circular in shape and protrude upward from each of the pair of side walls 16. The diameter of the case projections 19 is the same as the diameter of the substrate projections 18. The upper end of each case projection 19 is tapered, decreasing in diameter towards the tip. Each case projection 19 is arranged coaxially in the vertical direction with the front substrate projection 18 of the two substrate projections 18 that are arranged in the front-to-back direction. Each case projection 19 is solid and has no holes. The side wall 16 in front of the case projections 19 has a weight-reducing hole 16B that is open upward.

[0021] The terminal fitting 22 is formed by bending a long, slender metal material into an L-shape. The terminal fitting 22 is a male terminal fitting. As shown in Figure 5, the terminal fitting 22 has an extension portion 23 that extends in the front-rear direction, and a substrate connection portion 24 that bends downward at a right angle from the rear end of the extension portion 23 and extends in the up-down direction. The extension portion 23 of some terminal fittings 22 (the terminal fitting 22 on the right in Figure 5) includes a portion that is wider than the extension portion 23 of other terminal fittings 22 (the terminal fitting 22 on the left in Figure 5). The lower end of the substrate connection portion 24 is provided with a rectangular portion 25 and a press-fit portion 26. The rectangular portion 25 protrudes outward in a rectangular shape to the left and right from the main body portion of the substrate connection portion 24.

[0022] The press-fit portion 26 is located at the lower end (tip) of the substrate connection portion 24 and is provided in conjunction with the lower end of the rectangular portion 25. The press-fit portion 26 has a pair of elastic contact pieces 26A and a flex space 26B disposed between the two elastic contact pieces 26A. The pair of elastic contact pieces 26A are shaped to protrude so as to be separated from each other in the left-right direction. The pair of elastic contact pieces 26A are elastically deformable in the left-right direction so as to narrow the flex space 26B.

[0023] As shown in Figure 6, the terminal fitting 22 is fixed to the terminal holding portion 13 with its extension portion 23 passing through the terminal holding portion 13 in the front-to-back direction. When multiple terminal fittings 22 are attached and fixed to the housing 12, the extension portions 23 are parallel to each other (see Figure 7), and the board connection portions 24 are parallel to each other (see Figure 9). The front end of the extension portion 23 protrudes into the hood portion 14 that extends forward from the front surface of the terminal holding portion 13.

[0024] As shown in Figure 7, the rear end of the extension portion 23 and the entire substrate connection portion 24 are positioned and exposed between a pair of side walls 16. When viewed from above, the substrate projection 18 is positioned to surround the area where the multiple substrate connection portions 24 are located. In other words, the substrate projection 18 extends downward from both sides of the substrate connection portion 24 from the left-right direction. The pair of side walls 16 are positioned on both sides of the multiple substrate connection portions 24 in the left-right direction. The tip (lower end) of the press-fit portion 26 of the substrate connection portion 24 protrudes below the lower edge of the side wall 16 (see Figures 6 and 9). The tip (lower end) of the substrate projection 18 is located below the tip (lower end) of the substrate connection portion 24 (see Figures 6 and 9). The connector 10 is thus formed.

[0025] The substrate S to which the connector 10 is attached has multiple through-holes H1 and H2 formed through it in the thickness direction (see Figure 9). When attaching the connector 10 to the substrate S, the pressing jig 50 shown in Figure 8 is used. The pressing jig 50 is used to press the substrate projection 18 into the through-hole H1 and to push the press-fit portion 26 into the through-hole H2.

[0026] The pressing jig 50 has a block-shaped base 51 that is long in the left-right direction, and a pressing body 52 that protrudes downward from the base 51. One upward-recessed insertion hole 51A is formed at each of the left and right ends of the base 51.

[0027] The pressing body portion 52 is a long, block-like shape in the left-right direction. The pressing body portion 52 has a plurality of relief grooves 52A and a plurality of pressing grooves 52B formed therein. Each relief groove 52A is formed as a recess at the lower end of the pressing body portion 52. Each relief groove 52A extends in the front-rear direction relative to the pressing body portion 52. Each relief groove 52A is arranged side by side in the left-right direction relative to the pressing body portion 52.

[0028] Each pressing groove 52B is formed as a recess at the lower end of the pressing body 52. ​​Each pressing groove 52B extends in the left-right direction relative to the pressing body 52. ​​Each pressing groove 52B is aligned in a straight line in the left-right direction. The upper end (rear end) of each pressing groove 52B is located lower than the upper end (rear end) of each relief groove 52A (see Figure 9). In other words, the pressing groove 52B is formed to be shallower than the relief groove 52A. The pressing jig 50 is constructed in this manner.

[0029] An example of the procedure for attaching the connector 10 to the circuit board S will be described. As shown in Figure 9, first, the pressing jig 50 is placed on the connector 10. Specifically, the pressing jig 50 is positioned so that the pressing body 52 protrudes downward from the base 51, and the pressing jig 50 is brought close to the connector 10 from above. Then, one circuit board connection portion 24 of the terminal fitting 22 enters each relief groove 52A from below. At the same time, one case projection 19 enters each insertion hole 51A from below.

[0030] When the pressing jig 50 is brought closer to the connector 10 from above, the rectangular portion 25 enters each pressing groove 52B from below. Then, when the base portion 51 contacts the upper ends of the pair of side walls 16 from above, the upper edge of the rectangular portion 25 contacts the upper end (rear end) of each pressing groove 52B. In this way, the installation of the pressing jig 50 on the connector 10 is completed.

[0031] When attaching the connector 10 to the circuit board S, each circuit board projection 18 is positioned directly toward the through-hole H1. At this time, each circuit board connection portion 24 extends vertically toward the circuit board S from the outside of the housing 12. When the connector 10 is brought toward the circuit board S from above while maintaining this orientation, each circuit board projection 18 is first inserted into the through-hole H1 from above. This determines the relative position of the housing 12 with respect to the circuit board S in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions.

[0032] The diameter of each substrate projection 18 is larger than the inner diameter of the through-hole H1. Therefore, by pressing the base 51 of the pressing jig 50 downwards, the substrate projection 18 is pressed into each through-hole H1, while the hole 18A is reduced in size. The outer surface of the substrate projection 18 is compressed to reduce its diameter by the through-hole H1 and comes into close contact with the inner surface of the through-hole H1. As a result, the substrate projection 18 is fixed to the substrate S and maintains the state in which the housing 12 is attached to the substrate S.

[0033] With the connector 10 positioned on the substrate S by press-fitting the substrate projection 18 into the through-hole H1, each press-fit portion 26 is inserted into the through-hole H2 from above. When each press-fit portion 26 is inserted into the through-hole H2, the pair of elastic contact pieces 26A elastically deform toward each other. As a result, each elastic contact piece 26A elastically contacts the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole H2. In this way, the substrate connection portion 24 is connected to the substrate S. The attachment of the connector 10 to the substrate S is completed when the protrusions 18C formed at the lower end of each side wall 16 contact the upper surface of the substrate S from above. The pressing jig 50 is then removed from the connector 10. At this time, a gap is formed between the insertion hole 51A and the case projection 19, so the pressing jig 50 can be smoothly removed from the connector 10.

[0034] As shown in Figure 10, after attaching the connector 10 to the substrate S and removing the pressing jig 50, a metal case 70, which is the housing of an ECU or the like, is attached so as to cover each side wall 16 from above. The case 70 has mating holes 71 formed therein. When attaching the case 70 to the substrate S, the case projections 19 are fitted into the mating holes 71. As a result, the side walls 16 of the connector 10 are sandwiched from above and below by the substrate S and the case 70. This prevents the connector 10 from shifting relative to the substrate S, even if a mating connector (not shown) is forced into the connector 10 from a direction other than the normal mating direction, and maintains the connection between the press-fit portion 26 and the through-hole H2 (see Figure 9).

[0035] As described above, the connector 10 of this embodiment 1 comprises a housing 12 and a terminal fitting 22 attached to the housing 12. The terminal fitting 22 has a board connection portion 24 that extends vertically outside the housing 12 and is connected to a substrate S. The housing 12 has a pair of side walls 16 arranged on both the left and right sides of the board connection portion 24, and a board projection 18 that protrudes downward from each of the pair of side walls 16 and is held by the substrate S. Each of the pair of side walls 16 has the board projection 18 protruding from two positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction.

[0036] According to this, compared to the case where the substrate projection 18 is arranged in a straight line in the left-right direction, the substrate projection 18 can contact the substrate S with a wider spread in the front-back and left-right directions. Therefore, when an external force is applied to the housing 12, it is possible to avoid instability in the mounting posture and mounting position of the housing 12 relative to the substrate S.

[0037] Furthermore, the tip of the board projection 18 is located below the tip of the board connection portion 24. This allows the board projection 18 to contact the board S before the board connection portion 24 when attaching the connector 10 to the board S, thereby determining the relative positions of the board connection portion 24 and the board S in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions before connecting the board connection portion 24 to the board S. This ensures that the board connection portion 24 is smoothly inserted into the through-hole H2.

[0038] Furthermore, the substrate projection 18 has a circular outer circumference when viewed from below, and a hole 18A is formed in the axis of the substrate projection 18, extending vertically and opening at the tip of the substrate projection 18. This allows the substrate projection 18 to be uniformly compressed radially around its entire circumference when it is press-fitted into the through-hole H1 of the substrate S, thanks to the hole 18A. As a result, the substrate projection 18 can be press-fitted into the through-hole H1 without its axis shifting relative to the axis of the through-hole H1.

[0039] Furthermore, the housing 12 has case projections 19 that protrude upward from each of the pair of side walls 16 and are fixed to the case 70. This makes it possible to connect the side walls 16 of the housing 12 by sandwiching them between the substrate S and the case 70.

[0040] [Other embodiments of this disclosure] Embodiment 1 disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In the first embodiment described above, a recess was formed to surround the protrusion for the substrate. In contrast, according to other embodiments, a configuration may be provided in which only a protrusion is present, without forming a recess. In the first embodiment described above, the tips of all the substrate projections were located below the tips of the substrate connection portions. In contrast, according to another embodiment, the tip of one of the substrate projections provided on each of the pair of side walls may be located below the tip of the substrate connection portion. That is, the tips of some of the substrate projections may be located below the tips of the substrate connection portions. In the first embodiment described above, the projection for the substrate had a circular outer shape. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the projection for the substrate may have an outer shape such as a polygon or an ellipse. In the first embodiment described above, the substrate projection was press-fitted into the through-hole of the substrate. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the substrate projection may be formed in a so-called snap-fit ​​manner and elastically deform to embrace both side edges of the substrate from the sides. In the first embodiment described above, the case projection was provided on the side wall. In contrast, according to another embodiment, the case projection may be provided on the rear edge of the hood portion. In the first embodiment described above, the total number of substrate protrusions was four. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the total number of substrate protrusions may be three, or five or more. When the total number of substrate protrusions is three, it is preferable to have two substrate protrusions on one side wall and one substrate protrusion on the other side wall. Alternatively, when there are four substrate protrusions, it is preferable to have three substrate protrusions protruding from one side wall at intervals in the front-rear direction, and one substrate protrusion protruding from the other side wall. In other words, it is preferable that at least one of the pair of side walls has substrate protrusions protruding from two or more positions at intervals in the front-rear direction. In the first embodiment described above, the case projection and the substrate projection were arranged coaxially, and the diameter of the case projection was the same as the diameter of the substrate projection. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the case projection and the substrate projection may be arranged non-coaxially, and the diameter of the case projection may be different from the diameter of the substrate projection. In the first embodiment described above, a hole was formed in the projection for the substrate. In contrast, according to other embodiments, slits may be formed so that the projection for the substrate is divided in half or into four sections in the circumferential direction. In this case, it is preferable to provide a larger diameter portion at the protruding end of the projection for the substrate, which is larger in diameter than the base end. When the projection for the substrate is inserted into the through-hole, the larger diameter portion engages with the through-hole and prevents it from coming loose. In the first embodiment described above, the case had a protruding portion. In contrast, other embodiments may have a configuration without a protruding portion for the case. In the first embodiment described above, the terminal fitting was a male terminal fitting. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the terminal fitting may be a female terminal fitting having a box portion. In this case, a cavity capable of accommodating the female terminal fitting can be formed in the terminal holding portion. In the first embodiment described above, the terminal fitting was bent into an L-shape. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the terminal fitting may have a shape that extends linearly in the vertical direction. When the terminal fitting has a linear shape, it is preferable that the fitting surface of the hood portion opens upward and the side wall protrudes downward from the lower end of the hood portion. In the first embodiment described above, the terminal fitting was a press-fit terminal having an elastically deformable press-fit portion. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the terminal fitting may not have a press-fit portion and may be fixed to the substrate by soldering. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 10… Connectors 12… Housing 13...Terminal holding part 14…Food Department 16...Side wall 16A...Weight-reducing grooves 16B...Weight-reducing holes 18…Protrusion for circuit board 18A…hole 18B…recess 18C... protruding part 19…Protrusion for case 22…Terminal fittings 23...Extending part 24... Circuit board connection section 25…Rectangular part 26…Press-fit section 26A...Elastic contact piece 26B...Flexible space 50…Pressing jig 51...Base 51A... Insertion hole 52... Pressing body 52A…Relief groove 52B...Pressure groove 70...cases 71…Matching hole H1, H2... Through-hole S... Circuit board

Claims

1. Housing and The terminal fittings attached to the aforementioned housing, Equipped with, The terminal fitting has a board connection portion that extends vertically outside the housing and is connected to the board, The aforementioned housing is A pair of side walls are arranged on both the left and right sides of the aforementioned substrate connection portion, It has at least three substrate projections that protrude downward from each of the pair of side walls and are held in place by the substrate, A connector in which at least one of the pair of side walls has a projection for the substrate protruding from two or more positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the projection for the substrate is located below the tip of the substrate connection portion.

3. The aforementioned projection for the substrate has a circular outer shape when viewed from below. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a hole is formed in the axis of the projection for the substrate, extending in the vertical direction and opening at the tip of the projection for the substrate.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing has a case projection that protrudes upward from each of the pair of side walls and is held in the case.

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