PCB Connectors

Abstract

To easily remove the terminal fitting from a circuit board.SOLUTION: A board connector 10 includes a terminal fitting 30, and a housing 20 to which the terminal fitting 30 is assembled, and is fixed to a circuit board 12. The terminal fitting 30 includes a support receiving portion 32 supported by the housing 20, a connecting portion 34 connected to the circuit board 12, and an elastic portion 33 which is provided between the support receiving portion 32 and the connecting portion 34, which can be elastically deformed. The connecting portion 34 is pressed against the circuit board 12 on the basis of the restoring force of the elastically deformed elastic portion 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of conductive contacts and an insulator that holds the conductive contacts. The conductive contacts have terminal portions that extend toward the board. The conductive contacts are electrically and mechanically connected to the board by press-fitting the terminal portions into through-holes in the board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-113928 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a configuration in which terminal fittings are attached to a circuit board by press-fitting, as in the connector of Patent Document 2, or in which terminal fittings are attached to a circuit board by soldering or the like, it becomes difficult to remove the terminal fittings from the circuit board when repairing the connector, for example.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and allows terminal fittings to be easily removed from a circuit board. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The board connector of the present disclosure comprises: A board connector comprising terminal fittings and a housing to which the terminal fittings are attached, the board connector being fixed to a circuit board, The terminal fittings are a support receiving portion supported by the housing; a connection portion connected to the circuit board; an elastic portion provided between the support portion and the connection portion and capable of elastic deformation; and The connection portion is pressed against the circuit board by the restoring force of the elastic portion that has been elastically deformed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the terminal fitting can be easily removed from the circuit board. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a board connector according to a first embodiment is fixed to a circuit board. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of the circuit board and a part of the board connector of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fixing member as seen from the outside in the left-right direction. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fixing member as seen from the inside in the left-right direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support member as seen from the outside in the left-right direction. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support member as seen from the inside in the left-right direction. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, showing the state before the board connector is fixed to the circuit board. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, showing the board connector fixed to the circuit board. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2, showing a state in which the fixing member is in the provisionally locked position. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2, showing the fixing member in the full locking position. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 2, showing a state in which the fixing member is in the provisionally locked position. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 2, showing the fixing member in the full locking position. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view seen from the rear side, showing a state in which the board connector of the second embodiment is fixed to the circuit board. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view seen from the front side, showing a state in which the board connector is fixed to the circuit board. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fixing member as seen from the outside in the left-right direction. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the fixing member as seen from the inside in the left-right direction. [Figure 18] 18 is a side view of a part of the board connector and a part of the circuit board of FIG. 14 as seen from the front side. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state before the board connector is fixed to the circuit board. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the board connector is fixed to the circuit board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The board connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A board connector comprising terminal fittings and a housing to which the terminal fittings are attached, the board connector being fixed to a circuit board, The terminal fittings are a support receiving portion supported by the housing; a connection portion connected to the circuit board; an elastic portion provided between the support receiving portion and the connecting portion and capable of elastic deformation; and The connection portion is pressed against the circuit board by the restoring force of the elastic portion that has been elastically deformed. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, the connection portion of the terminal fitting is pressed against the circuit board based on the restoring force of the elastically deformed elastic portion and connected to the circuit board, so that it can be more easily removed from the circuit board than connections made by press-fit, soldering, etc. (2) A fixing member is provided which is attached to the housing directly or via another member, is fixed to the circuit board, and fixes the housing to the circuit board, and the fixing member has an attachment portion which is attached to the housing directly or via another member, and a fixing portion which is inserted into a hole provided in the circuit board and fixed, and the fixing portion has a pair of hooking pieces which are inserted into the holes and are elastically deformable, and it is preferable that the pair of hooking pieces elastically deform in directions approaching each other during the insertion process and are fixed by being hooked onto the edge of the hole based on the restoring force. With this configuration, the fixing member for fixing the housing to the circuit board is fixed to the housing by utilizing the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the pair of hooks, eliminating the need for fixing by soldering, etc. Therefore, by elastically deforming the pair of hooks and removing the fixing member from the hole, the board connector can be easily removed from the circuit board. (3) A support member is provided that is attached to the housing and supports the fixing member, the support member having a through-hole that passes through the hole and protrudes to the opposite side of the housing, the protruding end of the through-hole having a pressure-receiving surface facing the circuit board, and the hook piece preferably contacts the circuit board and the pressure-receiving surface of the through-hole based on the restoring force due to elastic deformation of the hook piece. With this configuration, the hooking piece comes into contact with the circuit board and the pressure-receiving surface of the through-hole based on the restoring force of elastic deformation, thereby pressing the support member in a direction away from the circuit board (opposite the housing).As a result, the housing to which the support member is attached is pressed against the circuit board, and the connection portion of the terminal fitting is pressed against the circuit board. (4) It is preferable that the housing includes a plurality of the terminal fittings assembled in a line along an alignment direction, and the fixing member is provided at a position overlapping the plurality of connecting portions in the alignment direction. With this configuration, it is easier to ensure contact pressure between the terminal fittings and the circuit board, and the housing is less likely to tilt relative to the circuit board, compared to a configuration in which the fixing members are provided at positions shifted from the alignment direction.

[0010] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] [Example 1] A first embodiment of the board connector of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 13. In this first embodiment, the up and down directions shown in Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 13 are defined as upward and downward, respectively. The right and left directions shown in Figures 1 to 4, 6, and 8 to 11 are defined as forward and backward, respectively. The left and right directions shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 8 to 13 are defined as right and left, respectively.

[0011] (Connector configuration) A board connector 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as connector 10) of this first embodiment is installed on the surface (front surface) of a circuit board 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The connector 10 includes a housing 20, a plurality of terminal fittings 30, a pair of fixing members 40, and a pair of support members 50. The housing 20 can be fitted into a mating housing (not shown). The fixing member 40 and the support member 50 are provided on both the left and right sides of the housing 20. The support member 50 is attached to the housing 20 and supports the fixing member 40. The fixing member 40 is attached to the housing 20 via the support member 50 and fixed to the circuit board 12, thereby fixing the housing 20 to the circuit board 12.

[0012] (Housing configuration) The housing 20 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the housing 20 has a square tubular hood portion 21 that opens forward. As shown in Fig. 8, the hood portion 21 has a rear wall 22 that extends in the up-down direction and a fitting portion 23 that protrudes forward from the outer edge of the rear wall 22. As shown in Fig. 8, the rear wall 22 is provided with a plurality of rear wall holes 24 (only one is shown in Fig. 8) that penetrate from front to back. The terminal fittings 30 are attached by press-fitting into each rear wall hole 24 of the rear wall 22. The fitting portion 23 is square tubular and can be fitted into a mating housing (not shown).

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, fixing grooves 60 are provided on both the left and right sides of the rear end of the hood portion 21, to which the support member 50 is attached. The fixing grooves 60 are recessed inward in the left-right direction (toward the other fixing groove 60). The support member 50 is inserted into the fixing grooves 60 from above. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the fixing grooves 60 include a first groove 61, a second groove 62, and a third groove 63. The fixing grooves 60 are arranged in this order from the inner side in the left-right direction (toward the other fixing groove 60) to the outer side in the left-right direction: the first groove 61, the second groove 62, and the third groove 63. The first groove 61 is open in the up-down direction and recessed inward in the left-right direction (toward the other fixing groove 60). The second groove 62 has a greater width in the front-rear direction than the first groove 61. The second groove 62 is provided in a stepped shape on the outer side in the left-right direction relative to the first groove 61. The third groove 63 has a width in the front-rear direction greater than that of the first groove 61 and a width in the front-rear direction smaller than that of the second groove 62. The third groove 63 is provided in a stepped shape on the outer side in the left-right direction relative to the second groove 62. The upper ends of the front and rear wall portions of the third groove 63 are provided with recesses 64 that are recessed downward.

[0014] (Terminal metal fitting configuration) The terminal fitting 30 is configured as a male terminal fitting, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. The terminal fitting 30 is made of conductive metal and has a long, thin tab-like shape. The terminal fitting 30 has a tab portion 31, a support receiving portion 32, an elastic portion 33, and a connecting portion 34. The tab portion 31 extends in the front-rear direction. The tab portion 31 is connected to a mating terminal (female terminal fitting).

[0015] The support receiving portion 32 is connected to the rear end of the tab portion 31. The support receiving portion 32 is wider in the left-right direction than the other portions of the terminal fitting 30. The support receiving portion 32 is press-fitted into the rear wall hole 24 of the housing 20 and is supported by the housing 20.

[0016] The elastic portion 33 extends from the rear end of the support receiving portion 32. The elastic portion 33 is provided between the support receiving portion 32 and the connecting portion 34 and is elastically deformable. The elastic portion 33 includes a first bent portion 33A, a second bent portion 33B, and a third bent portion 33C. The first bent portion 33A extends downward from the rear end of the support receiving portion 32. The first bent portion 33A is bent so as to be convex toward the front and downward. The second bent portion 33B extends downward from the rear end of the first bent portion 33A. The second bent portion 33B is bent so as to be convex toward the rear. The third bent portion 33C extends downward from the lower end of the second bent portion 33B toward the front and downward. The third bent portion 33C is bent so as to be convex toward the front. The elastic portion 33 is elastically deformable such that the first bent portion 33A, the second bent portion 33B, and the third bent portion 33C are bent inward, for example.

[0017] The connection portion 34 extends downward and rearward from the lower end of the elastic portion 33 (specifically, the third bent portion 33C). The connection portion 34 is electrically connected to a conductive portion (not shown) of the circuit board 12. The connection portion 34 is pressed against the circuit board 12 by the restoring force of the elastically deformed elastic portion 33.

[0018] (Configuration of support member) As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the support member 50 is made of, for example, metal and is integrally formed. The support member 50 has an assembly portion 51 and a through portion 52. The assembly portion 51 is a portion that is assembled to the housing 20. The assembly portion 51 is a component portion on the upper end side of the support member 50. The assembly portion 51 is formed in a plate shape. The assembly portion 51 is provided with hook pieces 51A that protrude toward both the front and rear from near the center in the up-down direction. The assembly portion 51 is provided with folded portions 51B that extend toward both the front and rear from above the hook pieces 51A and are folded back. At the upper end of the assembly portion 51, an upper edge portion 51C that protrudes upward is provided between the pair of folded portions 51B. A through hole 51D that penetrates in the left-right direction is provided in the center of the assembly portion 51. The through hole 51D is rectangular. A bent piece 51E is provided at the lower edge of the through hole 51D, bent inward in the left-right direction (opposite the side where the folded-back portion 51B is folded back). A bulging portion 51F that bulges inward in the left-right direction (the same side as the bent side of the bent piece 51E) is provided between the upper edge portion 51C and the through hole 51D in the assembly portion 51. The bulging portion 51F is formed, for example, by forming a cut extending in the left-right direction and then hammering it out inward in the left-right direction.

[0019] The through-hole 52 is a component of the lower end side of the support member 50. The through-hole 52 is pocket-shaped and recessed downward. The through-hole 52 passes through the hole 14 of the circuit board 12 and protrudes away from the housing 20. The through-hole 52 has a first plate 53 and a second plate 54. The first plate 53 and the second plate 54 face each other in the left-right direction. Band-shaped arm portions 53A are provided at both front and rear ends of the first plate 53. The arm portions 53A wrap around to the opposite surface of the second plate 54 (the surface opposite the first plate 53) to support the second plate 54. The front and rear ends of the lower edge of the first plate 53 and the front and rear ends of the lower edge of the second plate 54 are connected by pressure-receiving portions 55A, respectively. The pressure-receiving portions 55A are provided at the protruding ends of the through-hole 52. The upper surface of the pressure receiving portion 55A serves as a pressure receiving surface 55B facing the lower surface of the circuit board 12 when the support member 50 is attached to the circuit board 12. A bridge portion 55C is provided to bridge the pair of pressure receiving portions 55A. A bent portion 55 is provided at the upper end of the first plate 53, bending outward in the left-right direction (toward the opposite side from the second plate 54).

[0020] The support member 50 is inserted into the fixing groove 60 from above, for example. The support member 50 is fixed to the fixing groove 60 as shown in Figures 2 and 10. The hook piece 51A is press-fit into the second groove 62. The folded portion 51B is arranged in the recess 64. The folded portion 51B is able to contact the bottom surface (lower surface) of the recess 64. The bent piece 51E and the bulging portion 51F are arranged in the first groove 61. The pressure-receiving surface 55B faces upward (towards the circuit board 12 when assembled to the circuit board 12).

[0021] (Configuration of fixing member) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fixing member 40 is made of metal and is integrally formed. The fixing member 40 has an attachment portion 41 and a fixing portion 42. The attachment portion 41 is attached to the housing 20 via the support member 50. The attachment portion 41 constitutes the upper end portion of the fixing member 40. The attachment portion 41 is formed in a plate shape. An upper plate portion 41A protruding upward in a rectangular plate shape is provided at the center of the upper edge of the fixing portion 41 in the front-to-rear direction. First folded pieces 41B are provided on both the front and rear sides of the upper plate portion 41A of the fixing portion 41. The first folded pieces 41B extend upward and are bent so as to be folded back inward in the left-to-right direction (toward the other fixing member 40 when assembled to the housing 20). A lower plate portion 41C protruding downward in a rectangular plate shape is provided at the center of the lower edge of the fixing portion 41 in the front-to-rear direction. A second folded piece 41D is provided at the lower end of the lower plate portion 41C, and is bent so as to be folded back inward in the left-right direction (the same side as the folded back side of the first folded piece 41B). Side plate portions 41E are provided on both the front and rear sides of the lower plate portion 41C at the lower edge of the mounting portion 41, and protrude downward in a strip-like shape.

[0022] The fixing portion 42 is inserted into a hole 14 provided in the circuit board 12 and fixed thereto. The fixing portion 42 has a pair of hooking pieces 43. The hooking pieces 43 are elastically deformable. The hooking pieces 43 are inserted into the holes 14 of the circuit board 12. The hooking pieces 43 include a base end 43A, a deformed portion 43B, and a hooking portion 43C. The base end 43A extends outward in the left-right direction (opposite the folded side of the first folded piece 41B) from the lower end of the side plate portion 41E and then bends so as to be convex outward in the front-rear direction (opposite the other hooking piece 43). The deformed portion 43B extends downward from the tip (lower end) of the base end 43A. The hooking portion 43C extends from the tip of the deformed portion 43B. The hook portion 43C is curved outward in the front-rear direction (opposite the other hook piece 43) and is convex downward. A third folded piece 43D that is folded upward is provided at the tip of the hook portion 43C.

[0023] The fixing member 40 is assembled to the support member 50 as shown in Figures 2, 10, 12, etc. The left and right edges of the attachment portion 41 are sandwiched in the left-right direction between the outer left-right surfaces of the assembly portion 51 (the sides where the folded portion 51B is folded back) and the folded portion 51B. This allows the fixing member 40 to move up and down relative to the support member 50. The fixing portion 42 (specifically, the pair of hooking pieces 43) is disposed within the through-hole 52. The fixing member 40 is displaceable between a temporary locking position and a full locking position relative to the support member 50. The fixing member 40 shown in Figures 10 and 12 is positioned in the temporary locking position. The second folded portion 41D is recessed inside the bulging portion 51F as shown in Figure 12. The second folded piece 41D interferes with an upper edge 51G of the bulging portion 51F (the upper edge of the cut formed when the bulging portion 51F is formed), and thus is restricted from moving upward.

[0024] The fixing member 40 is displaced to the full-locking position by being pushed downward from the temporary-locking position. For example, the fixing member 40 is displaced from the temporary-locking position to the full-locking position by pushing the upper plate portion 41A downward. The fixing member 40 shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 is in the full-locking position. The lower plate portion 41C of the fixing member 40 is pushed outward in the left-right direction (opposite the protruding direction of the protruding portion 51F) by the second folded piece 41D, and bends outward in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 13, the second folded piece 41D climbs over the protruding portion 51F and hooks onto the upper edge 51H of the through-hole 51D from below. The first folded piece 41B of the fixing member 40 faces the upper edge of the support member 50, including the folded piece 51B, from above so as to be contactable with it. As described above, the fixing member 40 is fixed to the housing via the support member 50.

[0025] (Fixing board connectors to circuit boards) First, the board connector 10 is prepared. Specifically, the terminal fittings 30, the support member 50, and the fixing member 40 are attached to the housing 20. At this time, the fixing member 40 is in the provisionally locked position (see FIGS. 10 and 12). As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal fittings 30 are in a free state, with the connecting portions 34 protruding downward from the housing 20. The through portions 52 of the support member 50 protrude downward from the housing 20.

[0026] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the board connector 10 is placed on the upper surface of the circuit board 12. The through-hole 52 of the support member 50 passes through the hole 14. The through-hole 52 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the circuit board 12. The pressure-receiving surface 55B of the through-hole 52 faces the lower surface of the circuit board 12. The bent piece 51E and the bent portion 55 of the support member 50 are in contact with the upper surface of the circuit board 12. This positions the support member 50 relative to the circuit board 12. The fixing member 40 is in a provisionally locked position as shown in Figures 10 and 12. The pair of hooking pieces 43 are in a free state.

[0027] Next, the fixing member 40 is displaced from the provisional locking position to the full locking position. The hooking portions 43C of the hooking pieces 43 come into contact with the pressure-receiving surface 55B. The pair of hooking pieces 43 elastically deform in directions approaching each other during insertion into the holes 14. The tips of the hooking pieces 43 (the third folded pieces 43D and their base end portions) enter between the lower surface of the circuit board 12 (the edge 16 of the hole 14) and the pressure-receiving portion 55A. The pair of hooking pieces 43 (hooking portions 43C) are fixed by being hooked onto the lower edge 16 of the hole 14 based on a restoring force. Specifically, the hooking pieces 43 come into contact with the lower surface of the circuit board 12 (the lower edge 16 of the hole 14) and the pressure-receiving surface 55B of the through-hole 52 based on the restoring force caused by the elastic deformation of the hooking pieces 43. That is, the support member 50 is tensioned between the lower surface of the circuit board 12 (the lower edge 16 of the hole 14) and the pressure-receiving surface 55B of the through-hole 52. In this way, the hooking piece 43 comes into contact with the lower surface of the circuit board 12 and the pressure-receiving surface 55B of the through-hole 52 based on the restoring force of elastic deformation, thereby pressing the support member 50 in a direction away from the circuit board 12 (the opposite side to the housing 20). Therefore, the housing 20 to which the support member 50 is attached is pressed against the circuit board 12, and the connection portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30 is pressed against the circuit board 12.

[0028] The connecting portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30 is pressed against the circuit board 12 by the restoring force of the elastically deformed elastic portion 33. Therefore, by releasing the fixed state by the fixing member 40, the connecting portion 34 can be easily removed from the circuit board 12. This makes it easy to repair the board connector 10. When the terminal fitting 30 is pressed against the circuit board 12, the elastic portion 33 bends, allowing the connecting portion 34 to wipe against the circuit board 12. Because soldering or press-fitting is not used to connect the terminal fitting 30 to the circuit board 12, damage to the circuit board 12 can be reduced. Furthermore, although multiple terminal fittings 30 are arranged in an array on the board connector 10, the connecting portion 34 of each terminal fitting 30 is pressed against the circuit board 12 by the restoring force of the elastic portion 33, so that a given connecting portion 34 can be prevented from floating above the circuit board 12.

[0029] The pair of hooking pieces 43 elastically deform in directions approaching each other during the insertion process, and are fixed by being caught on the edge 16 of the hole 14 based on their restoring force. In this way, the fixing member 40 is fixed to the housing 20 by utilizing the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the pair of hooking pieces 43, so fixing by soldering or the like is not necessary. Therefore, by elastically deforming the pair of hooking pieces 43 and removing the fixing member 40 from the hole 14, the connector 10 can be easily removed from the circuit board 12.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the multiple terminal fittings 30 are assembled in the housing 20 so as to be aligned along the alignment direction (left-right direction). The pair of fixing members 40 are provided at positions overlapping with the multiple connecting portions 34 in the alignment direction (left-right direction) of the multiple terminal fittings 30. That is, the pair of fixing members 40 are located on an extension of the alignment axis of the multiple connecting portions 34 (a straight line parallel to the left-right direction passing through the multiple connecting portions 34). The pair of fixing members 40 are located at positions overlapping mainly with the elastic portions 33 and connecting portions 34 of the multiple terminal fittings 30 in the alignment direction (left-right direction). This makes it easier to ensure contact pressure of the terminal fittings 30 against the circuit board 12 and makes it less likely for the housing 20 to tilt relative to the circuit board 12, compared to a configuration in which the fixing members 40 are provided at positions offset from the alignment direction of the multiple terminal fittings 30.

[0031] (Effects of this embodiment) As described above, according to the board connector 10 of the present disclosure, the connection portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30 is pressed against the circuit board 12 based on the restoring force of the elastically deformed elastic portion 33, and connected to the circuit board 12, so that it can be more easily removed from the circuit board 12 than connections made by press-fit, soldering, etc.

[0032] According to the board connector 10 of the present disclosure, the pair of hooking pieces 43 elastically deform in directions approaching each other during the insertion process and are fixed by being hooked onto the edge 16 of the hole 14 based on their restoring force. As a result, the fixing member 40 for fixing the housing 20 to the circuit board 12 is fixed to the housing 20 by utilizing the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the pair of hooking pieces 43, eliminating the need for fixing by soldering or the like. Therefore, the board connector 10 can be easily removed from the circuit board 12 by elastically deforming the pair of hooking pieces 43 and removing the fixing member 40 from the hole.

[0033] According to the board connector 10 of the present disclosure, the hooking piece 43 comes into contact with the circuit board 12 and the pressure-receiving surface 55B of the through-hole 52 based on the restoring force caused by the elastic deformation of the hooking piece 43. As a result, the hooking piece 43 comes into contact with the circuit board 12 and the pressure-receiving surface 55B of the through-hole 52 based on the restoring force caused by the elastic deformation, and the support member 50 can be pressed in a direction away from the circuit board 12 (the opposite side to the housing 20). Therefore, the housing 20 to which the support member 50 is attached is pressed against the circuit board 12, and the connection portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30 is pressed against the circuit board 12.

[0034] According to the board connector 10 of the present disclosure, the fixing member 40 is provided at a position that overlaps with the plurality of connecting portions 34 in the alignment direction of the plurality of terminal fittings 30. This makes it easier to ensure contact pressure of the terminal fittings 30 against the circuit board 12 and makes it less likely that the housing 20 will tilt relative to the circuit board 12, compared to a configuration in which the fixing member 40 is provided at a position offset from the alignment direction.

[0035] [Example 2] 14 to 22 are diagrams illustrating a board connector of Example 2. Example 2 does not include a support member, and the configuration of the fixing member is different from Example 1. Other configurations are the same as Example 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0036] A first embodiment of the board connector of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 14 to 22. In this second embodiment, the up and down directions shown in Figures 14 to 22 are defined as upward and downward, respectively. The front and back directions shown in Figures 14, 19, 21, and 22 are defined as forward and backward, respectively. The left and right directions shown in Figures 15, 18, and 20 are defined as left and right, respectively.

[0037] (Connector configuration) A board connector 210 (hereinafter simply referred to as connector 210) of this second embodiment is installed on the board surface (front surface) of a circuit board 12, as shown in Figures 14 and 15. The connector 210 includes a housing 220, terminal fittings 30, and a fixing member 240. The housing 220 can be fitted into a mating housing (not shown).

[0038] (Housing configuration) The housing 220 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. As shown in Fig. 15, the housing 220 has a square tubular hood portion 221 that opens forward. As shown in Fig. 21, the hood portion 221 has a rear wall 222 that extends along the vertical direction, and a fitting portion 223 that protrudes forward from the outer edge of the rear wall 222. As shown in Fig. 21, the rear wall 222 is provided with a plurality of rear wall holes 224 (only one is shown in Fig. 21) that penetrate from front to back. The terminal fitting 30 is attached by being press-fitted into each rear wall hole 24 of the rear wall 22. The fitting portion 23 is square tubular and can be fitted into a mating housing (not shown).

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 , fixing grooves 250 are provided on both the left and right sides of the rear end of the hood portion 21, to which the fixing members 240 are attached. The fixing grooves 250 are open forward and downward. The fixing members 240 are inserted into the fixing grooves 250 from the front side. As shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 , the fixing grooves 250 have an upper groove 251, a central groove 252, and a lower groove 253. The upper groove 251 forms the upper end portion of the fixing groove 250. The upper groove 251 extends in the front-rear direction and is open forward. The upper groove 251 extends from the upper end of the central groove 252 inward in the left-right direction (toward the other fixing groove 250) and is wider in the left-right direction than the central groove 252. The central groove 252 forms the vertical center portion of the fixing groove 250. The central groove 252 is long in the up-down direction and is open forward. A housing-side protrusion 254 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction (opposite the other fixing groove 250) is provided on the wall surface on the inner side of the central groove 252 (on the side of the other fixing groove 250). The lower groove 253 forms the lower end portion of the fixing groove 250. The lower groove 253 is wider in the left-right direction than the upper groove 251 and the central groove 252.

[0040] (Terminal metal fitting configuration) The terminal fitting 30 has the same configuration as the terminal fitting 30 of the first embodiment. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the terminal fitting 30 is configured as a male terminal fitting. The support receiving portion 32 is press-fitted into the rear wall hole 224 of the housing 220 and is supported by the housing 220. The connecting portion 34 is pressed against the circuit board 12 based on the restoring force of the elastic portion 33 that has elastically deformed.

[0041] (Configuration of fixing member) 16 and 17, the fixing members 240 are made of metal and are integrally formed. As shown in Fig. 16, a pair of fixing members 240 are attached to the left and right sides of the housing 220. The fixing members 240 are fixed to the circuit board 12, and fix the housing 220 to the circuit board 12.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 , the fixing member 240 has an attachment portion 241 and a fixing portion 242. The attachment portion 241 is attached to the housing 220. The attachment portion 241 includes a plate portion 261 and an upper edge portion 262. The plate portion 261 is plate-shaped and extends in the up-down and left-right directions. A fixing member-side protrusion 263 that protrudes inward in the left-right direction (toward the other fixing member 240 when attached to the housing 220) is provided slightly below the center of the plate portion 261. The upper edge portion 262 extends inward in the left-right direction (to the same side as the protrusion direction of the fixing member-side protrusion 263) from the upper end of the plate portion 261. A pair of protrusions 264 that protrude in the same direction as the extension direction of the upper edge portion 262 are provided at the tip of the upper edge portion 262. The pair of protrusions 264 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction.

[0043] The fixed portion 242 is inserted into and fixed to a hole 14 provided in the circuit board 12. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 , the fixed portion 242 includes a pair of hooking pieces 271 and an extending portion 272. The hooking piece 271 includes a base end 274, a deformed portion 275, and a hooking portion 276. The base end 274 extends downward from the lower end of the mounting portion 241 (specifically, the plate portion 261). The deformed portion 275 first extends inward in the left-right direction (toward the extending side of the upper edge portion 262) and then bends so as to be convex outward in the front-rear direction (on the opposite side from the other deformed portion 275). The hooking portion 276 extends downward from the tip (lower end) of the deformed portion 275. A slit 275A is provided between the tip (lower end) of the deformed portion 275 and the base end (upper end) of the hooking portion 276. A wide portion 277 that is wider than the other portion (the portion closer to the base end than the tip) is provided at the tip of the hook portion 276. The lower edge of the wide portion 277 is inclined downward and inward in the front-to-rear direction (toward the other hook portion 276).

[0044] The extending portion 272 is provided between the pair of hooking pieces 271. The extending portion 272 extends downward from between the pair of hooking pieces 271 at the lower end of the mounting portion 241 (specifically, the plate portion 261). The extending portion 272 first extends downward, bends inward in the left-right direction (toward the extension side of the upper edge portion 262), and then extends further downward. The tip of the extending portion 272 is located between the pair of hooking pieces 271. The extending portion 272 interferes with the hooking piece 271 that is bent inward in the front-rear direction (toward the other hooking piece 271), thereby preventing the hooking piece 271 from being excessively bent.

[0045] (Fixing structure of fixed member) The fixing member 240 is attached to the housing 220 by being press-fitted into the fixing groove 250 from the front, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 20. The upper edge 262 is press-fitted into the upper groove 251. The pair of protrusions 264 contact a wall surface (rear surface) 251A on the inner side in the left-right direction of the upper groove 251 (on the other upper groove 251 side). The plate portion 261 is press-fitted into the central groove 252. The fixing member side protrusion 263 contacts the housing side protrusion 254. The fixing portion 242 is disposed in the lower groove 253. The lower end side of the fixing member 240 protrudes downward from the lower end surface of the housing 220, as shown in FIG. 21.

[0046] (Fixing board connectors to circuit boards) First, prepare the board connector 210. Specifically, as shown in FIG.

[0047] Next, as shown in FIG. 22 , the board connector 210 is placed on the upper surface of the circuit board 12 so that the pair of hooking pieces 271 are inserted into the holes 14. The pair of hooking pieces 271 elastically deform in directions approaching each other during the insertion process into the holes 14. The lower edge of the wide portion 277 is guided by the hole 14 and enters the hole 14. The wide portion 277 penetrates through the hole 14. The pair of hooking pieces 271 are fixed by being hooked onto the lower edge 16 of the hole 14 based on their restoring force. The wide portion 277 is hooked onto the lower edge 16 of the hole 14, preventing the fixing member 240 from coming out of the hole 14.

[0048] 22, the connecting portion 34 of the terminal fitting 30 is pressed against the circuit board 12 by the restoring force of the elastically deformed elastic portion 33. Therefore, by releasing the fixed state by the fixing member 240, the connecting portion 34 can be easily removed from the circuit board 12.

[0049] The pair of hooking pieces 271 elastically deform in directions approaching each other during the insertion process, and are fixed by being caught on the edge 16 of the hole 14 based on their restoring force. In this way, the fixing member 240 is fixed to the housing 220 by utilizing the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the pair of hooking pieces 271, so fixing by soldering or the like is not necessary. Therefore, by elastically deforming the pair of hooking pieces 271 and removing the fixing member 240 from the hole 14, the connector 210 can be easily removed from the circuit board 12.

[0050] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the examples described above and in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes the equivalent meaning of the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, and is intended to include the following embodiments. In the first embodiment, the terminal fittings 30 are configured as male terminal fittings, but they may also be female terminal fittings. In the first embodiment, the terminal fitting 30 has three bent portions (the first bent portion 33A, the second bent portion 33B, and the third bent portion 33C), but the shape is not limited to this. For example, the terminal fitting 30 may have a bent crank shape. In the second embodiment, the pair of fixing members 240 may be provided at positions overlapping the plurality of connecting portions 34 in the alignment direction (left-right direction) of the plurality of terminal fittings 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10...Board connector 12...Circuit board 14...hole 16...Edge 20…Housing 21...Food section 22…back wall 23...Mating part 24...Back wall hole 30...Terminal fitting 31...Tab section 32...Support receiving part 33...Elastic part 33A…1st bending part 33B…Second bending part 33C...Third bending part 34...Connection 40...Fixing member 41...Mounting part 41A...Upper plate 41B...First folded piece 41C…Lower plate part 41D...Second fold piece 41E…Side plate part 42…Fixed part 43...Hook piece 43A…Proximal end 43B...deformed part 43C...Hook section 43D...Third folded piece 50...Support member 51…Assembly section 51A...hook piece 51B...Folded section 51C…Top edge 51D…Through hole 51E...Bent piece 51F…bulge 51G…Edge 51H…upper edge 52...Penetration section 53...1st board 53A...Arm 54…Second board 55...Bending part 55A...Pressure receiving part 55B...Pressure surface 55C...Bridge section 60…Fixing groove 61…1st groove 62…Second groove 63…3rd groove 64...recess 210...Board connector 220…Housing 221...Food section 222...back wall 223...Mating part 224…Back wall hole 240...Fixing member 241...Mounting part 242…Fixed part 250…Fixing groove 251...Upper gutter 251A...Wall (rear) 252...Central groove 253...Lower gutter 254...Housing side protrusion 261...Plate part 262...Upper edge 263...Fixed member side convex portion 264...protrusion 271...Hook piece 272...Extension part 274...Proximal end 275...Deformed part 275A...Slit 276…Hook part 277…Wide section

Claims

1. A board connector comprising terminal fittings and a housing to which the terminal fittings are attached, the board connector being fixed to a circuit board, The terminal fitting is a support receiving portion supported by the housing; a connection portion connected to the circuit board; an elastic portion provided between the support receiving portion and the connecting portion and capable of elastic deformation; and the connection portion is pressed against the circuit board by a restoring force of the elastic portion that has elastically deformed, a fixing member attached to the housing directly or via another member and fixed to the circuit board, the fixing member fixing the housing to the circuit board; The fixing member is a mounting portion attached to the housing directly or via another member; a fixing portion that is inserted into a hole provided in the circuit board and fixed thereto; and the fixing portion is inserted into the hole and includes a pair of elastically deformable hook pieces; The pair of hooking pieces are elastically deformed in a direction approaching each other during the insertion process, and are fixed by being hooked onto the edge of the hole based on a restoring force, a support member attached to the housing and supporting the fixing member; the support member has a through-portion that passes through the hole and protrudes to the opposite side from the housing, a protruding end of the through-hole is provided with a pressure-receiving surface facing the circuit board; The hooking piece is a board connector that contacts the circuit board and the pressure-receiving surface of the through portion based on a restoring force due to elastic deformation of the hooking piece.

2. A board connector comprising terminal fittings and a housing to which the terminal fittings are attached, the board connector being fixed to a circuit board, The terminal fitting is a support receiving portion supported by the housing; a connection portion connected to the circuit board; an elastic portion provided between the support receiving portion and the connecting portion and capable of elastic deformation; and the connection portion is pressed against the circuit board by a restoring force of the elastic portion that has elastically deformed, a fixing member attached to the housing directly or via another member and fixed to the circuit board, the fixing member fixing the housing to the circuit board; The fixing member is a mounting portion attached to the housing directly or via another member; a fixing portion that is inserted into a hole provided in the circuit board and fixed thereto; and the fixing portion is inserted into the hole and includes a pair of elastically deformable hook pieces; The pair of hooking pieces are elastically deformed in a direction approaching each other during the insertion process, and are fixed by being hooked onto the edge of the hole based on a restoring force, a plurality of the terminal fittings assembled in the housing so as to be aligned along an alignment direction; The fixing member is provided at a position overlapping with the plurality of connecting portions in the alignment direction.

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