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 connector device for a circuit board mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector for a circuit board, which is an example of a connector device for a circuit board. 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 in the holding member, and two guide members. The guide members are integrally formed with the reinforcing members respectively, and are incorporated in the holding member by insert molding together with the reinforcing members.

[0003] The holding member has a housing portion that houses a part of the mating connector when the mating connector approaches from above the connector in the vertical direction and they are fitted together, an island portion disposed within the housing portion and protruding upward in the vertical direction, and an enclosing portion that surrounds the island portion via the housing portion.

[0004] The island portion has a longitudinal length in a first horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and has first contact portion housing portions arranged in the first horizontal direction at both ends in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the first horizontal direction. The first contact portions of the contacts are housed in these first contact portion housing portions.

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

[0006] The reinforcing member is located at two end portions of the island-shaped portion in the first horizontal direction and extends into the island-shaped portion. The reinforcing member includes a protection portion for protecting the island-shaped portion. The protection portion includes an exposed connecting portion that extends downward in the vertical direction from the upper surface, support portions that branch off in a direction away from the island-shaped portion along the second horizontal direction from the upper surface, lower exposed portions connected to each support portion, and elastic pieces connected to each lower exposed portion.

[0007] The guide member has a first guide portion that faces the protection portion of the reinforcing member in the first horizontal direction, two second guide portions that are positioned sandwiching the accommodation portion of the holding member in the second horizontal direction, and a connecting portion that extends downward from the upper end of the first guide portion and connects 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 at the lower end that is connected to the upper end and formed as a free end, it is configured to be soldered to a circuit board (not shown).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] In the electrical connector for a circuit board of Patent Document 1, in the second guide portion of the guide member that extends in the first horizontal direction, the lower end that is soldered to a circuit board (not shown) is formed by vertically bending along the vertical direction from the end portion in the second horizontal direction that forms the upper end of the second guide portion. As a result, in the second horizontal direction, there has been a problem that the connector becomes larger by at least the thickness of the guide member. In addition, in the connector of Patent Document 1, when fitting with the mating connector, the elastic piece of the reinforcing member that contacts the mating connector extends to the island portion in the first horizontal direction. As a result, there has been a problem that the connector becomes larger in the first horizontal direction by the amount of arrangement of the elastic pieces of the reinforcing member in addition to the terminals.

[0010] Furthermore, in the connector of Patent Document 1, since the guide member protrudes on the fitting side with the mating connector compared to the terminals, there has been a problem that the connector becomes larger in the vertical direction.

[0011] Moreover, in the connector of Patent Document 1, the upper surface of the reinforcing member that protects the island portion is formed to be narrow in the second horizontal direction compared to the guide member, and the elastic pieces of the reinforcing member that can contact the mating connector when fitting with the mating connector are provided branching from such a narrow upper surface. Therefore, heat is likely to be generated in these narrow upper surfaces and elastic pieces, causing a problem of generating noise in the high-frequency signal.

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

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, a connector device for a circuit board according to an aspect of the present invention is a connector device for a circuit board mounted on a mounting surface of the circuit board, and includes a housing having a height direction, a length direction, and a width direction that are orthogonal to each other, and terminals and reinforcing metal fittings held by the housing. The housing has a protruding wall that protrudes in the height direction from the side of the mounting surface toward the fitting side with the mating connector, and a length portion that protrudes in the height direction from the side of the mounting surface toward the fitting side with the mating connector and extends along the length direction and a width portion that extends along the width direction, and a peripheral wall that surrounds the periphery of the protruding wall. The housing further has 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 fitting side with the mating connector toward the mounting surface side. The reinforcing metal fitting has a first portion and a second portion that extend toward the terminals along at least the length portion of the peripheral wall in a state of being respectively connected to end portions disposed in the width portion of the peripheral wall and being spaced apart from each other in the height direction. The first portion is exposed from the housing on the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction, and the second portion is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board on the side opposite to the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction. The second portion is located closer to the mounting surface than the first portion in the height direction, and is located at the same position as the outer end of the first portion or inward of the housing from the outer end in the width direction. The present invention also features a connector device assembly comprising the above-described connector device for a circuit board and the mating connector that mates with the connector device for a circuit board. According to the connector device for a circuit board and the like in this aspect, it is possible to prevent the connector from being enlarged at least in the width direction.

[0014] In the connector device for a circuit board according to the above aspect, the end portion includes an outer wall portion that forms an outer wall of the width portion of the peripheral wall, an inner wall portion facing the receiving portion that forms an 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 fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction. The upper wall portion is preferably exposed from the housing on the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction.

[0015] Further, in the connector device for a circuit board according to 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 connector device for a circuit board according to the above aspect, 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 as the top of the first portion located on the side closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

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

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

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

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

[0021] Also, in the connector device for a circuit board according to the above aspect, a part of the terminal is exposed from the length portion of the housing on the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction, and among the exposed part of the terminal, the top of the terminal that is located closest to the mating connector in the height direction may be positioned at the same height 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] Also, in the connector device for a circuit board according to the above aspect, the elastic contact portion of the terminal may be positioned between the mating connector and the protruding wall so as to be able to elastically contact the mating connector when fitting with the mating connector.

[0023] Also, in the connector device for a circuit board according to the above aspect, the reinforcing metal fitting further has a bottom portion that forms a part of the bottom wall of the receiving portion, and an elastic contact portion that extends along the width direction from the bottom portion and protrudes toward the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction, and the elastic contact portion may be positioned between the mating connector and the peripheral wall so as to be able to elastically contact the mating connector when fitting with the mating connector.

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

[0025] Also, in the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, it is preferable that 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 disposed to face the exposed surface of the second portion in the width direction.

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

[0027] Also, in the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, it is preferable that the top of the first portion located closest to the mating connector in the height direction is positioned at the same height as the top of the housing located closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

[0028] Furthermore, in the circuit board connector device of the above aspect, the terminal and the reinforcing metal fitting may be integrally formed 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 plate-shaped metal.

Advantages of the Invention

[0030] According to the present invention, there is provided a circuit board connector device that solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, at least the problem of increasing the size of the connector in the second horizontal direction (width direction).

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0032] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, one preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, only the preferred embodiment is shown, but of course, the present invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

[0033] In FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a connector device assembly 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view. This connector device assembly 3 is composed of a receptacle connector (connector device for a circuit board) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a plug connector 2 which is a mating connector fitted to the receptacle connector 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the receptacle connector 1 is disposed on the lower side and the plug connector 2 is disposed on the upper side, and FIG. 2 is a view in which the upper and lower sides of FIG. 1 are reversed.

[0034] The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are connector devices for circuit boards, each being mounted on the mounting surface of a different circuit board (not shown). The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 can be fitted to each other and the fitting can be released by moving them along the direction of the illustrated arrow "α" with respect to the mounting surfaces of the respective circuit boards. Both the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 have a symmetrical shape in the length direction "β" orthogonal to the direction "α" along the connector fitting direction, and the width direction "γ" orthogonal to these "α" and "β" directions. However, as long as it does not conflict with the subject matter of the present invention, it may have different shaped portions.

[0035] The receptacle connector 1 includes a substantially flat rectangular resin housing 10, terminals 20 held by the housing 10, and a reinforcing metal fitting 30. The holding of the terminals 20 and the reinforcing metal fitting 30 by the housing 10 may be by incorporation or press-fitting, but integral molding (insert molding) is more preferable. In the present embodiment, the terminals 20 and the reinforcing metal fitting 30 are held in the housing 10 by integral molding (insert molding).

[0036] The housing 10 has a height direction "α", a length direction "β", and a width direction "γ" that are orthogonal to each other. The height direction "α" is along the connector fitting direction described above. Note that these terms are merely for convenience in distinguishing directions and do not imply their lengths.

[0037] The housing 10 mainly includes a bottom wall 11 disposed on the mounting surface where the circuit board is mounted, a substantially rectangular protruding wall 12 protruding in the height direction "α" from the bottom wall 11 toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2, and a surrounding wall 13 in a frame shape protruding in the height direction "α" from the side of the mounting surface toward the fitting 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". It also has a receiving portion 16 located between the protruding wall 12 and the surrounding wall 13 in the length direction "β" and the width direction "γ", and recessed in the height direction "α" from the fitting side with the plug connector 2 toward the mounting surface side. The surrounding wall 13 is composed of two side walls (the "length portions" in the claims) 14 and two end walls (the "width portions" in the claims) 15. The side walls 14 face each other in the width direction "γ" and extend in parallel along the length direction "β". Similarly, the end walls 15 face each other in the length direction "β" and extend in parallel along the width direction "γ". A groove portion 12A for accommodating a part of each terminal 20 is formed over the entire protruding range of the protruding wall 12 in an open state upward.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a view in which the housing 10 is omitted from the receptacle connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and the like, leaving only the terminals 20 and the reinforcing metal fitting 30. FIG. 3(a) shows a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 3(b) shows a side view thereof. Further, FIG. 4 shows a plan view of only the receptacle connector 1, FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 5.

[0039] Five terminals 20 are provided on one side in the width direction "γ" and five on the other side, for a total of ten, centered on the protruding wall 12. The number of terminals 20 is not particularly limited and may be one. All the terminals 20 are arranged within the range of the protruding wall 12 at a predetermined interval in the length direction "β".

[0040] The terminal 20 is mainly a signal terminal used for transmitting and receiving signals. Each terminal 20 is formed by punching and bending a single sheet of plate-shaped metal, and includes a base portion 21, a contact arm portion 22 that extends from one end of the base portion 21 in the height direction "α" toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2, that is, is raised from the mounting surface side toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2, and an inverted U-shaped held portion 23 that extends from the other end of the base portion 21 in the height direction "α" toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2 and toward the mounting surface side, and a connection portion 24 formed at the end of the held portion 23 that can be soldered to the mounting surface. The base portion 21 has a predetermined width along the length direction "β". Thereby, the hole 11a formed in the bottom of the housing 10 by installing a mold for positioning the terminal 20 can be completely blocked, and the intrusion of foreign matter from the substrate side can be prevented. The contact arm portion 22 is formed to be elastically deformable, and an elastic contact portion 22a as described above is provided at its free end.

[0041] When the terminal 20 is held by the housing 10, as described above, the contact arm portion 22 is disposed in the groove portion 12A provided in the protruding wall 12, while the held portion 23 is disposed opposite to the side wall 14 on the side facing 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 of being elastically protruded 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 side wall 14 disposed opposite to the groove portion 12A, and is positioned between the plug connector 2 and the protruding wall 12 so as to be able to elastically contact the plug connector 2 when the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are fitted.

[0043] The held portion 23 includes an inner arm portion 23a extending in the height direction “α” along the inner surface of the side wall 14 from the end portion on the side wall 14 side of the base portion 21 toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2, a transition portion 23b continuously extending from the upper end of the inner arm portion 23a and folded back in the height direction “α” at a position outside the inner arm portion 23a in the connector width direction toward the mounting surface side, and an outer arm portion 23c extending in the height direction “α” toward the mounting surface side via the transition portion 23b. A lock recess 23a-1 is provided on the exposed surface of the inner arm portion 23a.

[0044] Even when the terminal 20 is held by the housing 10, it is preferable that a part of the held portion 23 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10 at least in part. Among the held portion 23, in particular, a part of the transition portion 23b is exposed from the side wall 14 of the housing 10 on the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”, and can form the top portion 23A of the terminal 20 located on the side closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”. The portion forming the top portion 23A of the terminal 20 and its peripheral portion in the width direction “γ” are likely to collide with the plug connector 2 during fitting with the plug connector 2. By exposing these portions from the housing 10 on the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”, a metal portion having a greater strength than the resin housing 10 can be made to collide with the plug connector 2 during fitting with the plug connector 2, thereby preventing undesired damage to the receptacle connector 1.

[0045] FIGS. 8 to 10 respectively show perspective views of the reinforcing metal fitting 30 at different angles, and further, FIG. 11 shows a front view of the reinforcing metal fitting. The reinforcing metal fitting 30 has at least a function of reinforcing the strength of the housing 10, and may further have a function as a power supply terminal by making mechanical and electrical contact with the reinforcing metal fitting 70 of the plug connector 2. It should be noted that it is not essential to have a function as a power supply terminal, but many advantages can be obtained by using it as a power supply terminal.

[0046] Two reinforcing fittings 30 are provided, one at each end in the length direction "β" of the peripheral wall 13. Both of these reinforcing fittings 30 are arranged outside the range of the protruding wall 12 in the length direction "β", excluding the portions (35, 36, to be described later) that can form a part of the protruding wall 12.

[0047] The reinforcing fitting 30 is formed by punching and bending a single sheet of plate-shaped metal. The reinforcing fitting 30 includes at least an end portion (31, 32, 33) and, in a state of being respectively connected to this end portion and being spaced apart from each other in the height direction "α", along the peripheral wall 13, and more specifically, a side wall top surface reinforcing portion (first portion) 40 and an upright portion (second portion) 41 that extend in parallel toward the terminal 20 along a part of the end wall 15 in the width direction "γ" and along a part of the side wall 14 in 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 portion top surface reinforcing portion) 32 that connects the outer wall portion 33 and the inner wall portion 31 on the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α".

[0049] The outer wall portion 33 is provided in a state where substantially all of its portions are embedded in the housing 10 on the side of the mounting surface for the circuit board. An installation portion 34 that extends substantially parallel to the board surface of the circuit board is provided at the end of the outer wall portion 33. The inner wall portion 31 can form a part of the surface of the receiving portion 16. As shown in the present embodiment, the upper wall portion 32 may form a flat plate surface on the surface “β-γ” orthogonal to the height direction “α”. This flat surface forms a top portion 32A that is located on the side closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”. The top portion 32A is provided in a state of being exposed from the housing 10 and has a predetermined width along the width direction “γ” of the peripheral wall 13. According to the above configuration, the possibility that the upper wall portion 32 also collides 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 and the like. Moreover, throughout the entire width direction “γ” of the side wall 14, a portion where there is a high possibility of colliding with the plug connector 2 during fitting with the plug connector 2 is made into a metal portion with high strength, thereby preventing undesired damage to the receptacle connector 1. Also, it is possible to effectively prevent the receptacle connector 1 from becoming larger in size in the height direction “α”. The other portions are provided in a state of being exposed from the housing 10 on the surface on the fitting side with the plug connector 2.

[0050] As shown in the present embodiment, the side wall top surface reinforcing portion 40 may form a flat plate surface on the surface “β-γ” orthogonal to the height direction “α”. Thereby, in the height direction “α”, the receptacle connector 1 can be miniaturized. This flat surface forms a top portion 40A that is located on the side closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”. The top portion 40A extends from the upper wall portion 32 in a continuous state via a connecting portion 40c with the top portion 32A of the upper wall portion 32 and is exposed from the housing 10 together with the top portion 32A. As shown in the present embodiment, these top portions 40A and 32A are preferably positioned at the same height in the height direction “α” together with the top portion 10A of the housing 10 and the top portion 23A of the terminal. These top portions 40A, 32A, 10A, and 23A have a high possibility of colliding with the plug connector 2 during fitting with the plug connector 2. By exposing these portions from the housing 10 on the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”, a metal portion with higher strength than the resin housing 10 is used as a portion that can collide with the plug connector 2 during fitting with the plug connector 2, thereby preventing undesired damage to the receptacle connector 1.

[0051] The upright upper part 41 is a part that extends continuously from the outer wall part 33 via the bent part 41a, is positioned closer to the mounting surface than the side wall top surface reinforcing part 40 in the height direction "α", and is positioned at the same position as the outer end 40a of the side wall top surface reinforcing part 40 or inside the housing 10 more than the outer end 40a in the width direction "γ". The side wall top surface reinforcing part 40 and the upright upper part 41 extend in parallel with each other with free ends formed at their tips while maintaining this positional relationship. According to this configuration, by providing the reinforcing metal fitting 30, the receptacle connector 1 will not be enlarged in the width direction "γ". Furthermore, compared with the conventional configuration, the receptacle connector 1 can be miniaturized in the width direction "γ".

[0052] The upright upper part 41 is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board on the side opposite to the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α". In order to mount it on the circuit board, a mounting part 42 that extends substantially parallel to the board surface of the circuit board is provided on the side of the mounting surface.

[0053] At least a part of the upright upper part 41 can form an exposed surface 41b that is exposed from the housing 10 on the side of the receiving part 16. This exposed surface 41b is formed by the surface formed by the height direction "α" and the length direction "β". Except for the exposed surface 41b, the upright upper part 41 includes the bent part 41a extending from the outer wall part 33, and substantially all of its parts are embedded in the housing 10. When the reinforcing metal fitting 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 part 40, and a part 10a of the housing provided between them form the same surface along the height direction "α" on the side of the receiving part 16. Thereby, the receptacle connector 1 can be miniaturized in the width direction "γ". Also, by making these the same surface, the strength of the receptacle connector 1 can be strengthened.

[0054] The reinforcing fitting 30 also includes a bottom portion 38 that forms a part of the bottom wall 51 of the receiving portion 16. Further, it includes an end wall 35 that extends along the longitudinal direction “β” from the bottom portion 38 and protrudes toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α” to form a part of the outer wall of the protruding wall 12, and a curved portion 36a provided on the side opposite to the bottom portion 38 of the end wall 35. The end wall 35 is located at the end in the longitudinal direction “β” of the protruding wall 12 and has a function of protecting the end face of the protruding wall 12 when fitting with the plug connector 2. The curved portion 36a forms a top portion 36A of the protruding wall 12 that is located on the side closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”. The top portion 36A is positioned at the same height as the top portion 23A formed on the transition portion 23b of the terminal 20 and the top portion 40A of the side wall top surface reinforcing portion 40 in the height direction “α”. Thus, together with the top portion 40A and the like, it has a role of reinforcing the resin housing 10, particularly its protruding wall 12. The end portion 36b of the curved portion 36a is embedded in the protruding wall 12, effectively preventing the reinforcing fitting 30 from being easily peeled off from the housing 10.

[0055] The reinforcing fitting 30 further includes extending portions 43 that extend in a branched state from the bottom portion 38 along directions spaced apart from each other in the width direction “γ”, and, via the extending portions 43, a narrow contact arm portion 44 that protrudes from the bottom portion 38 toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction “α”, in other words, that is raised from the mounting surface side toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2. In this way, by branching the narrow contact arm portion 44 from the relatively large bottom portion 38 in the width direction “γ”, heat generation in the elastic piece can be effectively prevented, and the reinforcing fitting 30 can also be used as a power terminal capable of transmitting high current. Also, by providing a predetermined width to the extending portions 43, the hole 11b formed in the bottom of the housing 10 can be completely blocked by installing a mold for positioning the reinforcing fitting 30, preventing foreign matter from entering from the substrate side. At the tip of each contact arm portion 44, an elastic contact portion 44a is formed that is positioned between the plug connector 2 and the peripheral wall 13 so as to be in elastic contact with the plug connector 2 when fitting with the plug connector 2.

[0056] The top 44A of the elastic contact portion 44a positioned 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 positioned closest to the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α". Thereby, when fitting with the plug connector 2, it is possible to effectively prevent problems such as buckling of the contact arm portion 44 due to collision with the plug connector 2.

[0057] The elastic contact portion 44a is provided in a state of being elastically protruded 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 to the one side wall 14, and is positioned between the plug connector 2 and the side wall 14 so as to be able to elastically contact the plug connector 2 when the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are fitted.

[0058] The elastic contact portions 44a are arranged along the length direction "β" in the same manner as the elastic contact portions 22a. However, unlike the elastic contact portions 22a, the elastic contact portions 44a do not extend over the range of the protruding wall 12 where the elastic contact portions 22a are arranged in the length direction "β". Therefore, providing the elastic contact portions 44a does not increase the size of the receptacle connector 1 in the length direction "β".

[0059] In the width direction "γ", the elastic contact portion 22a and the elastic contact portion 44a are oppositely arranged in the receiving portion 16 of the housing 10 in the width direction "γ". Also, in the width direction "γ", the elastic protruding direction of the elastic contact portion 44a and the elastic protruding direction of the elastic contact portion 22a are set in opposite directions. As a result, in the width direction "γ", a gap is formed between the elastic contact portion 22a and the elastic contact portion 44a into which a predetermined portion of the plug connector 2 is elastically inserted. When a predetermined portion (such as the side wall 54) of the plug connector 2 is elastically inserted into this gap, the elastic contact portion 22a of the terminal 20 is located between the plug connector 2 and the protruding wall 12, in other words, on the inner wall side of the plug connector 2. On the other hand, the elastic contact portion 44a of the reinforcing metal fitting 30 is located between the plug connector 2 and the peripheral wall 13, in other words, on the outer wall side of the plug connector 2, and can elastically contact a predetermined portion of the plug connector 2 respectively.

[0060] The elastic contact portion 44a is arranged in a state of facing the exposed surface 41b of the upright upper portion 41 in the width direction "γ". Also, the exposed surface 41b and the elastic contact portion 44a overlap each other in the length direction "β". By adopting such a configuration and arrangement, for example, when the reinforcing metal fitting 30 is used as a power terminal, the heat generated near the elastic contact portion 44a can be effectively dissipated through the upright upper portion 41 and through the mounting portion 42 continuous with the upright upper portion 41. Since the elastic contact portion 44a is narrower than other portions, heat is particularly likely to be generated, but through the above mechanism, heat can be effectively dissipated. Also, when fitting with the plug connector 2, deformation such as buckling of the elastic contact portion 44a can be effectively prevented.

[0061] The plug connector 2 includes a resin housing 50 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and terminals 60 and a reinforcing metal fitting 70 held by this housing 50. The housing 50 may hold the terminals 60 and the reinforcing metal fitting 70 by incorporation, but integral molding is more preferable.

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

[0063] The housing 50 mainly has a bottom wall 51 disposed on the mounting surface where the circuit board is mounted, and a surrounding frame-shaped peripheral wall 53 protruding in the height direction "α" from the bottom wall 51 toward the fitting 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 in parallel along the length direction "β". Similarly, the end walls 55 face each other in the length direction "β" and extend in parallel 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 arm portions of the U-shaped portion 61 located on the receiving portion 56 side and is connected to the corresponding signal circuit portion of the circuit board.

[0065] The U-shaped portion 61 is a portion that intrudes 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 in the connector mating state, 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 toward the mounting surface side along the outer surface of the side wall 54, a transition portion 61b that is folded back from the lower end of the outer arm portion 61a in the inner position in the connector width direction toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α", and an inner arm portion 61c that extends toward the fitting side with the plug connector 2 in the height direction "α" via the transition portion 61b. A locked step portion 61a-1 is provided on the exposed surface of the outer arm portion 61a corresponding to the lock recess 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 step portion 61A-1 is locked to the lock recess 23a-1, the terminals 20 and 60 are surely brought into contact, and the disconnection of the connector can be prevented.

[0066] The reinforcing metal fittings 70 are provided in two pieces, one at each end of the peripheral wall 53 in the length direction "β", corresponding to the reinforcing metal fittings 30 of the receptacle connector 1. The reinforcing metal fittings 70 not only have a function of reinforcing the housing 50 corresponding to the function of the reinforcing metal fittings 30 of the receptacle connector 1, but may also have a locking function of locking with the reinforcing metal fittings 30 of the receptacle connector 1, and further a function as a power supply terminal that comes into contact with the contact arm portion 44 of the reinforcing metal fittings 30 and is electrically conductive.

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

[0068] The above description relates to a preferred embodiment and it should be understood that it merely represents an article. It can be recognized that variations and modifications of different embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments as well as alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the article described in the appended claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0069] 1 Receptacle connector (connector device for circuit board) 2 Plug connector (mating connector) 3 Connector device assembly 10 Housing 10A Top 12 Protruding wall 13 Peripheral wall 14 Side wall (length portion) 15 End wall (width portion) 16 Receiving portion 20 Terminal 22a Elastic contact portion 23A Top 30 Reinforcing metal fitting 32 Upper wall portion 32A Top 33 End wall portion 36A Top 38 Bottom 40 Side wall top surface reinforcing portion (first part) 40a Outer end 40b Inner end 40A Top 41 Upright upper portion (second part) 42 Mounting portion 44a Elastic contact portion 44 Contact arm portion 51 Bottom wall

Claims

1. A connector device for a circuit board mounted on a mounting surface of the circuit board, comprising: a housing having a height direction, a length direction, and a width direction that are orthogonal to each other; terminals and reinforcing metal fittings held by the housing, wherein the housing includes: a protruding wall protruding in the height direction from the side of the mounting surface toward the fitting side with a mating connector; a peripheral wall protruding in the height direction from the side of the mounting surface toward the fitting side with the mating connector, having a length portion extending along the length direction and a width portion extending along the width direction, and surrounding the periphery of the protruding wall; a receiving portion located between the protruding wall and the peripheral wall in the length direction and the width direction, and recessed in the height direction from the fitting side with the mating connector toward the mounting surface side; wherein the reinforcing metal fitting includes: an outer wall portion forming an outer wall of the width portion of the peripheral wall, an inner wall portion facing the receiving portion and forming an inner wall of the width portion of the peripheral wall, and an upper wall portion connecting the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion on the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction; a flat plate-like length direction portion extending in the length direction from the outer wall portion via a bent portion and formed only by the length direction and the height direction; a bottom portion connected to the lower end of the inner wall portion and forming a part of the bottom wall of the receiving portion; an end wall extending along the length direction from the bottom portion and protruding toward the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction to form a part of the outer wall of the protruding wall; a pair of contact arms extending along the width direction in a direction away from each other from both sides in the width direction of the bottom portion, and symmetrically extending in the length direction and the width direction; and the contact arm has an elastic contact portion capable of contacting the mating connector, wherein the elastic contact portion is located within the range of the length direction portion in the length direction. A connector device for a circuit board characterized by this.

2. The connector device for a circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the length direction portion extends at least a length portion of the peripheral wall toward the terminal.

3. At least one of the upper wall portions is located on the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction and is exposed from the housing, The connector device for a circuit board according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length direction portion is located on the side opposite to the fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction, and a part of the outside of the length direction portion is covered by the peripheral wall.

4. A mounting portion is provided at an end of the outer wall portion on the side of the mounting surface. The circuit board connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lengthwise portion includes a mounting portion mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board on a side opposite to a fitting side with the mating connector in the height direction.

5. The circuit board connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elastic contact portion is positioned between the mating connector and the peripheral wall so as to be able to elastically contact the mating connector when fitted with the mating connector.

6. The surface of the outer wall portion extending along the height direction and the width direction is in a state of being sandwiched by a width portion of the peripheral wall in the length direction. and / or A part of the surface of the lengthwise portion extending along the height direction and the length direction is in a state of being sandwiched by a length portion of the peripheral wall in the width direction. The circuit board connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bent portion (41a) is embedded in the housing.

7. The circuit board connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a space formed by the outer wall portion, the inner wall portion, and the upper wall portion is filled by a width portion of the peripheral wall.

8. The reinforcing metal fitting further has a curved portion provided on a side opposite to the bottom portion of the end wall, and the curved portion forms a top portion of the protruding wall positioned closest to the mating connector in the height direction. The circuit board connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. An end portion of the curved portion is embedded in the protruding wall, and the lengthwise portion does not overlap with the end portion in the length direction. The circuit board connector device according to claim 8.

10. The circuit board connector device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a top portion of the curved portion positioned closest to the mating connector in the height direction is positioned at the same height as a top portion of the upper wall portion positioned closest to the mating connector in the height direction.

11. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the bent portion and the lengthwise portion is covered by the peripheral wall.

12. The circuit board connector device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the elastic contact portion projects in a direction in which the pair of contact arms approach each other in the width direction so as to be elastically displaceable.

13. The circuit board connector device according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the terminal and the reinforcing metal fitting are insert-molded with the housing.

14. A connector device assembly comprising the circuit board connector device according to any one of Claims 1 to 13 and the mating connector that is fitted to the circuit board connector device.

15. The connector device according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the reinforcing metal fitting has another lengthwise portion that extends in the length direction from the upper wall portion via a connecting portion.

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