USB outlet

Abstract

To provide a USB outlet that suppresses the misalignment of a printed wiring board.SOLUTION: A USB outlet includes: a first printed wiring board 2 having a first surface on which an USB socket 1 is mounted and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second printed wiring board 4 arranged on a side of the second surface of the first printed wiring board 2; and a housing storing the first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed wiring board 4. A body 5 of the housing 3 includes: at least a pair of coupling protrusions provided on both ends in one direction orthogonal to a vertical direction and protruding outward; and a storage recess opening upward. In the storage recess, recesses opening upward are provided at a top end of each of a pair of inner wall surfaces of the body 5. Engagement protrusions protrude outward in the other direction at each of both ends of the second printed wiring board 4 in the other direction. The second printed wiring board 4 is supported by the body 5 by bringing the engagement protrusions into contact with the inner surface of the respective engagement recesses.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a USB outlet. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, USB outlets have been provided that have a USB socket into which a USB plug is inserted and connected (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] One such USB outlet includes a printed wiring board on which the USB socket is mounted, and a housing that houses the printed wiring board and has a plug insertion hole through which the USB plug is inserted. The USB socket is mounted so that the insertion and removal direction of the USB plug is the thickness direction of the printed wiring board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-82802 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the USB outlets mentioned above, the USB socket could be subjected to pressure from the USB plug, which could cause bending deformation in the printed wiring board.If the plastic deformation (bending) of the printed wiring board progresses through repeated insertion and removal of the USB plug, it could eventually cause problems such as the USB plug getting stuck when inserted or removed.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a USB outlet that can prevent misalignment of the printed wiring board. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The USB outlet of the present invention is a USB outlet to be fixed to an installation surface, and comprises: a first printed wiring board having a first surface on which a USB socket is mounted and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second printed wiring board arranged on the second surface side of the first printed wiring board; a housing having a plug insertion hole through which a USB plug connected to the USB socket is inserted and accommodating the first printed wiring board and the second printed wiring board; and an abutment portion abutting the second surface of the first printed wiring board, the housing having a cover and a body that are coupled to each other in a vertical direction, the body being provided at both ends in one direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and facing outward the cover has at least a pair of coupling protrusions protruding from the first printed wiring board in the one direction and a storage recess that is open upward, the cover is provided at both ends in the one direction and has at least a pair of coupling pieces that sandwich the body in the one direction, one of the pair of coupling pieces has a coupling hole into which one of the pair of coupling protrusions is engaged, and the other of the pair of coupling pieces has a coupling hole into which the other of the pair of coupling protrusions is engaged, the body has a pair of inner wall surfaces that face each other in another direction that is perpendicular to both the one direction and the up-down direction, and a pair of support protrusions protruding upward from the pair of inner wall surfaces, the pair of support protrusions support the second surface of the first printed wiring board, and support the pair of support protrusions from the pair of inner wall surfaces in the storage recess Each At the top ,above The engagement recess is open toward the 2 each and both ends of the second printed wiring board in the other direction are provided. Each of to is in charge The convex and concave parts 2 each The second printed wiring board is supported by the body by bringing the engaging protrusions into contact with the inner surfaces of the engaging recesses. a distance between the two engaging recesses on one of the pair of inner wall surfaces is smaller than a distance between the two engaging recesses on the other inner wall surface; It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, misalignment of the printed wiring board can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1(a) and 1(b) are partially cutaway perspective views of the same, with 1(a) and 1(b) cut at different positions and viewed from opposite directions. [Figure 3] 1(a) and 1(b) are partially cutaway exploded perspective views of the same, and 1(a) and 1(b) are cut at different positions and show the state viewed from opposite directions. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the second printed wiring board is assembled to the body in the same as above. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which the mounting frame is attached to the same. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 1 to 9, this embodiment comprises a printed wiring board 2 (hereinafter referred to as the "first printed wiring board") on which a USB socket 1 is mounted, and a housing 3 that houses the printed wiring board 2 and has a plug insertion hole 30 through which a USB plug (not shown) connected to the USB socket 1 is inserted. The USB socket 1 is mounted on the first printed wiring board 2 so that the direction in which the USB plug is inserted and removed faces the thickness direction of the first printed wiring board 2.

[0012] Hereinafter, the directions ABCDEF in Figure 4 will be referred to as the up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions, respectively. That is, the direction in which the opening of the USB socket 1 into which the USB plug is inserted faces (direction A in Figure 4) will be referred to as the upward direction. The longitudinal direction of the USB socket 1 (the longitudinal direction as seen from above, direction CD in Figure 4) will be referred to as the left / right direction. Furthermore, the lateral direction of the USB socket 1 (the lateral direction as seen from above, direction EF in Figure 4) will be referred to as the front / rear direction. Note that the above directions are defined merely for the convenience of explanation, and in normal use the above-mentioned front / rear direction will be oriented as the up / down direction.

[0013] This embodiment also includes an AC-DC converter that converts AC power input from an external AC power source into DC power of a predetermined voltage and outputs it to the USB plug via the USB socket 1. Since the AC-DC converter described above can be realized using well-known techniques, detailed illustrations and descriptions are omitted. The circuit components that make up the AC-DC converter are separately mounted on the first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed wiring board 4, which is housed and held within the housing 3 and faces the underside of the first printed wiring board 2. The first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed wiring board 4 are electrically connected to each other via appropriate conductive paths 40, such as conductive pins.

[0014] The housing 3 also includes a body 5 and a cover 6 that are joined together in a manner that sandwiches the printed wiring boards 2 and 4 in the thickness direction (vertical direction).

[0015] Two connecting protrusions 51 are arranged side by side on each of the front and rear end faces of the body 5, protruding outward in the front-to-rear direction. Two connecting pieces 61 are arranged downward on each of the front and rear end faces of the cover 6, sandwiching the body 5 in the front-to-rear direction. Each connecting piece 61 is provided with a connecting hole 610, which is a through-hole that penetrates through in the front-to-rear direction, and the connecting protrusions 51 are fitted into each connecting hole 610, thereby connecting the body 5 and the cover 6 to each other.

[0016] The housing 3 is fixed to a construction surface (not shown) such as a wall surface using a mounting frame 7 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 . The mounting frame 7 is rectangular and has a rectangular window hole 71. A rounded rectangular box hole 72 is provided at each end of the mounting frame 7 in the longitudinal direction of the window hole 71, for inserting a box screw that will thread into a recessed box embedded in the construction surface. Furthermore, on both sides of the box hole 72 in the lateral direction of the window hole 71, hook holes 73 are provided for hooking and engaging a clamping metal fitting (not shown) that clamps the panel material between the mounting frame 7 and the construction surface when the construction surface is made of a panel material. Furthermore, four circular direct mounting holes 74 are provided at each of the hook holes 73 on either side of the window hole 71, for inserting a direct mounting screw that will thread into the construction surface. A retaining piece 75 protrudes from each of the two short-side edges of the window hole 71, and each retaining piece 75 has three pairs of mounting holes 76 lined up along the longitudinal direction. Two pairs of mounting protrusions 31 that fit into the mounting holes 76 are provided on both the front and rear surfaces of the housing 3. That is, the housing 3 is joined to the mounting frame 7 by fitting each mounting protrusion 31 into the mounting hole 76.

[0017] The body 5 also has a storage recess 50 that opens upward, and the second printed wiring board 4 is stored in the storage recess 50. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 10, two engaging recesses 52 that are open upward are provided at the upper ends of the inner surfaces of the storage recess 50 that face each other on the left and right. Two engaging protrusions 41 are arranged front to back and protrude outward in the left-right direction at each of the left and right ends of the second printed wiring board 4. Each engaging protrusion 41 abuts against the inner surface of the engaging recess 52, preventing the second printed wiring board 4 from shifting downward or in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the second printed wiring board 4 is supported by the body 5 at each engaging protrusion 41. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 11, two engaging protrusions 62 that are inserted into the engaging recess 52 are arranged front to back and protrude downward at each of the left and right ends of the cover 6. Each of the engaging protrusions 62 of the cover 6 sandwiches the engaging protrusion 41 of the second printed wiring board 4 between itself and the upward inner surface of the engaging recess 52 .

[0018] Here, the distance W1 between the right-side engaging recesses 52 is smaller than the distance W2 between the left-side engaging recesses 52. Furthermore, the distance between the right-side engaging protrusions 62 is approximately equal to the distance W1 between the right-side engaging recesses 52, and the distance between the left-side engaging protrusions 62 is approximately equal to the distance W2 between the left-side engaging recesses 52. Therefore, if, during assembly, a worker attempts to attach the second printed wiring board 4 or the cover 6 to the body 5 in an incorrect orientation that is rotated 180° about an axis parallel to the up-down direction (i.e., the thickness direction of the second printed wiring board 4) with respect to the correct orientation, the engaging protrusions 41, 62 cannot be engaged with the engaging recesses 52. This prevents attachment in the above-mentioned incorrect orientation.

[0019] Furthermore, two electric wire insertion holes 32 are provided on the underside of the body 5, and terminals 8 to which electric wires (not shown) inserted through the electric wire insertion holes 32 are connected are mounted on the underside of the second printed wiring board 4. The terminals 8 are so-called quick-connect terminals that have two locking springs (not shown) that lock the electric wires inserted through the electric wire insertion holes 32 in a one-to-one correspondence with the electric wire insertion holes 32. The terminals 8 also have release buttons 81 that release the lock by pressing each locking spring when pressed from below. The underside of the body 5 is provided with a release hole 33 (see FIG. 10 ) that exposes the release button 81 downward, and the release button 81 can be pressed by inserting a tool (not shown), such as a flat-head screwdriver, into the release hole 33.

[0020] The body 5 also has a partition wall 54 that divides the storage recess 50 into a terminal storage section 501 for storing the terminals 8 and a circuit storage section 502 for storing other circuit components. The wire insertion holes 32 and the release holes 33 each open to the bottom surface of the terminal storage section 501.

[0021] Furthermore, support protrusions 53 protrude upward from both left and right ends of the body 5 to support the first printed wiring board 2 (i.e., to abut against the underside of the first printed wiring board 2, which is the side opposite the side on which the USB socket 1 is mounted). Support recesses 530 that are open in the left and right directions are provided at the upper end of each support protrusion 53. Furthermore, legs 21 protrude outward in the left and right directions on both sides of the left and right ends of the first printed wiring board 2 that sandwich the USB socket 1 in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction) when viewed from above. The legs 21 are housed in the support recesses 530, thereby preventing the first printed wiring board 2 from shifting in the front-rear direction or downward. In other words, the first printed wiring board 2 is supported by the support protrusions 53 of the body 5 at the legs 21.

[0022] Furthermore, an abutment portion 55 is provided at the upper end of partition wall 54, which is inserted into insertion hole 42 provided in second printed wiring board 4 and abuts against the central portion of the underside of first printed wiring board 2 (i.e., near USB socket 1). That is, when a USB plug is connected to USB socket 1, abutment portion 55 abuts against first printed wiring board 2, thereby suppressing bending (deformation) of first printed wiring board 2 that would displace the central portion of first printed wiring board 2 downward relative to leg portion 21.

[0023] According to the above configuration, bending of first printed wiring board 2 when a USB plug is connected is suppressed compared to when contact portion 55 is not provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1 USB socket 2. First printed wiring board 3. Housing 30 Plug insertion hole 55 Contact part

Claims

[Claim 1] A USB outlet fixed to a construction surface, a first printed wiring board having a first surface on which a USB socket is mounted and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second printed wiring board disposed on the second surface side of the first printed wiring board; a housing having a plug insertion hole through which a USB plug to be connected to the USB socket is inserted, the housing accommodating the first printed wiring board and the second printed wiring board; a contact portion that contacts the second surface of the first printed wiring board, the housing has a cover and a body that are coupled to each other in the vertical direction; The body is provided at both ends in one direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, and has at least a pair of coupling protrusions protruding outward and a storage recess opening upward, the cover has at least a pair of connecting pieces provided on both ends in the one direction and sandwiching the body in the one direction; One of the pair of connecting pieces has a connecting hole into which one of the pair of connecting protrusions is engaged, the other of the pair of connecting pieces has a connecting hole into which the other of the pair of connecting protrusions is engaged, the body has a pair of inner wall surfaces facing each other in another direction perpendicular to both the one direction and the up-down direction, and a pair of support protrusions protruding upward from the pair of inner wall surfaces, the pair of support protrusions support the second surface of the first printed wiring board, In the storage recess, two engagement recesses that are open upward are provided at the upper ends of the pair of inner wall surfaces, two engaging protrusions are provided on each of both end portions of the second printed wiring board in the other direction so as to protrude outward in the other direction; the second printed wiring board is supported by the body by abutting the engaging protrusions against the inner surfaces of the engaging recesses, The USB outlet is characterized in that the distance between the two engaging recesses on one of the pair of inner wall surfaces is smaller than the distance between the two engaging recesses on the other inner wall surface.

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