Multi-stage connector

Abstract

To provide a multi-stage connector suitable for mass production of multi-stage connectors which employs insert molding.SOLUTION: A multi-stage connector C has: a first terminal group 1 comprised of a plurality of metal pin terminals T1 arranged in a row; a second terminal group 2 comprised of a plurality of metal pin terminals T2 arranged in a row separately from the first terminal group; a first support member 3 that supports the first terminal group; a second support member 4 that supports the second terminal group; and a junction portion 5. The junction portion 5 integrally joins the first support member 3 and the second support member 4, consequently the metal pin terminals T1 and T2 configuring the first and second terminal groups 1 and 2, respectively are brought into such a state that the metal pin terminals T1 and T2 are aligned in longitudinal and transverse directions as a whole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a multistage connector used for connecting wires in electronic devices, and is particularly suitable for mass production of multistage connectors by employing insert molding. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as a multistage connector used for connecting wires of electronic devices, for example, the multistage connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

[0003] Referring to Figure 4 and paragraph 0002 of Patent Document 1, the multi-stage connector of Document 1 has a structure in which multiple metal pin terminals (terminals 521, 522) are arranged in two upper and lower stages on one support member (rear wall 502 of connector housing 501), and each metal pin terminal (terminals 521, 522) is press-fit into a corresponding hole (press-fit hole 503) in the support member.

[0004] However, as mentioned above, the multi-stage connector of Patent Document 1 employs a structure in which metal pin terminals (terminals 521, 522) are press-fitted into corresponding holes (press-fit holes 503) in the support member. This requires a process of press-fitting multiple metal pin terminals in addition to the process of molding the support member, which results in dimensional variations in the metal pin terminals after press-fitting, making it unsuitable for mass production of multi-stage connectors.

[0005] Incidentally, one possible method for manufacturing such a multi-stage connector is to use insert molding to integrally mold two upper and lower stages of metal pin terminals (terminals 521, 522) and the support member (rear wall 502 of connector housing 501) that supports them (hereinafter referred to as the "insert molding method").

[0006] In this insert molding application method, in order to improve workability, multiple metal pin terminals (terminals 521, 522) are connected by connecting parts in the upper and lower rows during insert molding, and the connecting parts are cut and removed after insert molding, making the metal terminal pins (terminals 521, 522) in the upper and lower rows electrically independent. Therefore, dimensional variations like those in press-fitted metal pin terminals as described above are unlikely to occur.

[0007] However, with the insert molding method described above, immediately after insert molding, the metal pin terminals (terminals 521, 522) and the aforementioned connecting portions are stacked in two layers, one above the other, so that when cutting or removing the two layers of connecting portions, a cutting table must be placed between the two layers of connecting portions, and the connecting portions cannot be cut or removed simply and easily, and therefore the method is not suitable for mass production of multi-stage connectors using insert molding. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-159594 A (Press-fitting of metal pin terminal) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multistage connector suitable for mass production of multistage connectors by employing insert molding. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multi-stage connector used for wiring connections of electronic devices, comprising: a first terminal group consisting of a plurality of first metal pin terminals arranged in a row along a horizontal direction; a second pin terminal group consisting of a plurality of second metal pin terminals arranged in a row along a horizontal direction separately from the first terminal group; a first support member that supports the first terminal group; a second support member that supports the second terminal group; and a connector that integrally joins the first support member and the second support member to form the first and second terminal groups. and a joint portion that sets the plurality of first and second metal pin terminals in a state where they are aligned in the vertical and horizontal directions as a whole, and the joint portion has a structure in which a recess and a protrusion formed on each joint surface of the first and second support members are fitted together, and a first engaging claw extending in a direction intersecting the joint surface is provided on one side in the horizontal direction of the first support member, and a first claw hook portion is provided on the other side, and a first engaging claw is provided on one side in the horizontal direction of the second support member when the first support member and the second support member are joined together. If A second claw hooking portion is provided on which the claw can hook, and on the other side is a second engaging claw that extends in a direction intersecting the joining surface and hooks onto the first claw hooking portion in the joined state, and when the concave portion and the convex portion engage with each other, the relative movement between the first support member and the second support member in the direction separating the joining surfaces is restricted, and the relative movement between the first support member and the second support member along the joining surfaces is prevented, and when the first engaging claw hooks onto the second claw hooking portion and the second engaging claw hooks onto the first engaging claw, the relative movement between the first support member and the second support member in the direction separating the joining surfaces is prevented.

[0011] In the present invention, joint condition In this embodiment, the second connector part element consisting of the second metal pin terminal and the second support member is a connector part element consisting of the first metal pin terminal and the first support member 3. Along the lateral direction The structure may be characterized by being inverted from left to right.

[0013] In the present invention, A first metal pin terminal and the first support member No. 1 and the connector element , The second metal pin terminal and the second support member Second Connector Element and teeth, each The device may be characterized in that it is manufactured by insert molding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] In the present invention, the specific configuration of the multi-stage connector is such that the first support member and the second support member are joined together at a joint, as described above. Therefore, before joining, the first connector component element is separated into a first connector component element consisting of a first terminal group and the first support member, and a second connector component element consisting of a second terminal group and the second support member. Furthermore, since both the first terminal group in the first connector component element and the second terminal group in the second connector component element consist of a plurality of metal pin terminals arranged in a single row, the structure of the multi-stage connector provides only one row of the plurality of metal pin terminals and the connecting portions connecting them immediately after the first and second connector elements are manufactured by insert molding. Therefore, the work of cutting and removing the connecting portions in one row is simpler and easier than the conventional work of cutting and removing the connecting portions in two rows, as there is no need to interpose a cutting table between the connecting portions in the two rows, and thus a multi-stage connector suitable for mass production by insert molding can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view of a multi-stage connector to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view thereof. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of a first connector part element that constitutes the multi-stage connector of FIG. 1; FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a plan view of a first terminal group (before insert molding) that constitutes the multi-stage connector of FIG. 1. [Figure 4](a) is a front view of the first connector part element manufactured by insert molding, (b) is a top view of the same element, (c) is a bottom view of the same element, (d) is a back view of the same element, (e) is a left side view of the same element, (f) is a right side view of the same element, and (g) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow A in (a). [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-stage connector of FIG. 1 mounted on a substrate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Fig. 1(a) is a perspective view of a multi-stage connector to which the present invention is applied, and Fig. 1(b) is an exploded perspective view thereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first connector component element constituting the multi-stage connector of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a first terminal group (before insert molding) constituting the multi-stage connector of Fig. 1. Fig. 4(a) is a front view of the first connector component element manufactured by insert molding, Fig. 4(b) is a top view of the element, Fig. 4(c) is a bottom view of the element, Fig. 4(d) is a back view of the element, Fig. 4(e) is a left side view of the element, Fig. 4(f) is a right side view of the element, and Fig. 4(g) is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow A in Fig. 4(a).

[0018] <<Overview of multi-stage connectors>> Referring to Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the multi-stage connector C of Figure 1 has, as its structural elements, (1) a first terminal group 1 consisting of a plurality of metal pin terminals T1 arranged in a row, (2) a second terminal group 2 consisting of a plurality of metal pin terminals T2 arranged in a row separately from the first terminal group 1, (3) a first support member 3 that supports the first terminal group 1, (4) a second support member 4 that supports the second terminal group 2, and (5) a joint portion 5 that joins the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 together so that the metal pin terminals T1, T2 that make up the first and second terminal groups 1, 2 are aligned vertically and horizontally as a whole.

[0019] <<Details of the first terminal group 1 and the second terminal group 2>> Referring to FIG. 2, each of the metal pin terminals T1 constituting the first terminal group 1 is partially embedded in the first support member 3, and one end of the metal pin terminal T1 protruding from the first support member 3 (in the example of FIG. 2, the longer end extending downward from the first support member 3 in the figure) is configured to function as a male terminal to be mated with a female terminal not shown, and the other end of the metal pin terminal T1 (in the example of FIG. 2, the shorter end extending upward from the first support member 3 in the figure) is configured to be used as a connecting terminal to be connected and fixed to a circuit board 11 (see FIG. 5) by soldering.

[0020] The metal pin terminals T2 constituting the second terminal group 2, like the metal pin terminals T1 constituting the first terminal group 1, are configured to be partially embedded in the second support member 4, and one end functions as a male terminal and the other end is used as a connecting terminal.

[0021] <<Details of the first support member 3, the second support member 4, and the joint 5>> The first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are both made of resin and have a joining surface 5A, and are configured so that the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are joined together by joining the respective joining surfaces 5A, 5A facing each other.

[0022] The mating surfaces 5A of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are provided with recesses 6 and protrusions 7. As specific embodiments of the recesses 6 and protrusions 7, the multi-stage connector C in Fig. 1 employs (1) a configuration in which such recesses 6 and protrusions 7 are provided side by side, one on each of the mating surfaces 5A, and (2) a configuration in which the protrusions 7 of the first support member 3 fit into the recesses 6 of the second support member 4, and the recesses 6 of the first support member 3 fit into the protrusions 7 of the second support member 4, thereby joining the first support member 3 and the second support member 4.

[0023] The set of recessed portions 6 and protruding portions 7 arranged side by side on the joining surface 5A as described above is not limited to one set, and can be increased as needed. Furthermore, the recessed portions 6 and protruding portions 7 as means for joining the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are one embodiment, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are joined by a structure or means other than the recessed portions 6 and protruding portions 7 (for example, adhesion).

[0024] The first support member 3 has an engaging claw 8 on one of its left and right sides and a hooking portion 9 on the other (see FIGS. 4(a) to 4(f)). The second support member 4 is similarly provided with an engaging claw 8 and a hooking portion 9. In the multi-stage connector C of FIG. 1, when the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are joined, the engaging claw 8 of the first support member 3 hooks into the hooking portion 9 of the second support member 4, and the engaging claw 8 of the second support member 4 hooks into the engaging claw 8 of the first support member 3, thereby strengthening the connection between the first support member 3 and the second support member 4.

[0025] <<Method for manufacturing connector component elements C1 and C2>> The multi-stage connector C in Figure 1 is composed of two separate and independent connector component elements C1 and C2, namely, the first connector component element C1 consisting of a first metal pin terminal T1 and a first support member 3 that supports it, and the second connector component element C2 consisting of a second metal pin terminal T2 and a second support member 4.

[0026] As a specific method for manufacturing the first and second connector part elements C1 and C2, the multi-stage connector C of FIG. 1 employs insert molding.

[0027] The insert molding of the first connector part element C1 is performed by using a mold (not shown) with a cavity corresponding to the shape of the first support member 3, filling the cavity of the mold with resin to mold the first support member 3, and setting the first terminal group 1 at a predetermined position within the cavity, thereby molding the first terminal group 1 so that the multiple metal pin terminals T1 constituting the first terminal group 1 and the first support member 3 are structurally integrated. The same applies to the second connector part element C2.

[0028] 1, the second connector part element C2 is configured to have a shape that is a left-right inversion of the first connector part element C1 when the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are joined together. Therefore, the second connector part element C2 can be manufactured using the same mold as the first connector part element C1, and only one mold is required.

[0029] In the multi-stage connector C of Fig. 1, when the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are joined, the second connector part element C2 has a shape obtained by flipping the first connector part element C1 left and right. Therefore, even if the first connector part element C1 and the second connector part element C2 are manufactured using the same mold, (1) the convex portion 7 of the first support member 3 can be fitted into the concave portion 6 of the second support member 4, and the concave portion 6 of the first support member 3 can be fitted into the convex portion 7 of the second support member 4. In addition, the engaging claw 8 of the first support member 3 can be hooked onto the hook portion 9 of the second support member 4, and the engaging claw 8 of the second support member 4 can be hooked onto the hook portion 9 of the first support member 3.

[0030] Referring to Figure 3, the multiple metal pin terminals T1 constituting the first terminal group 1 are arranged in a horizontal row, with only one end of each terminal connected by a connecting portion 10. In this connected state, the first terminal group 1 (2) is set in a predetermined position within the cavity of the mold described above, and insert molding is performed to obtain a connector component element C1 with a connecting portion as shown in Figures 4(a) to 4(g). Finally, by cutting along a cut line passing near the boundary between the connecting portion 10 and the metal pin terminals T1, the connecting portion 10 is removed, and the metal pin terminals T1 (T2) become electrically independent. The same applies to the second terminal group 2.

[0031] <Examples of multi-stage connector usage> FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the multistage connector of FIG. 1 mounted on a substrate.

[0032] The multi-stage connector C of the embodiment described above is used for wiring connections of electronic devices, and specifically, is mounted on the circuit board of the electronic device as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, the other ends (the aforementioned shorter ends) of the metal pin terminals T1, T2 are connected and fixed to the circuit board by soldering as connecting terminals, and the one ends (the aforementioned longer ends) of the metal pin terminals T1, T2 function as male terminals that fit into female terminals.

[0033] In the multi-stage connector C of the embodiment described above, as a specific configuration, as mentioned above, a configuration is adopted in which the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are joined together at the joint 5. Therefore, before joining, the connector is separated into a first connector part element C1 consisting of a first terminal group 1 and a first support member 3, and a second connector part element C2 consisting of a second terminal group 2 and a second support member 4. Both the first terminal group 1 in the first connector part element C1 and the second terminal group 2 in the second connector part element C2 are composed of a plurality of metal pin terminals T1, T2 arranged in a single row. Therefore, due to the structure, immediately after the first and second connector part elements C1, C2 are manufactured by insert molding, there is only one row of connecting portions 10 connecting the metal pin terminals T1, T2, corresponding to the single row. Therefore, the work of cutting and removing the single row of connecting portions does not require the need to interpose a cutting table between the two upper and lower rows of connecting portions as in the conventional method. This can be done simply and easily compared to the conventional work of cutting and removing two upper and lower rows of connecting portions, and is suitable for mass production by adopting insert molding.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and many modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 First terminal group 2 Second terminal group 3 First support member 4 Second support member 5 Joint 5A joint surface 6 recess 7 Convex part 8 Engagement claw 9 Claw hook 10 Joint 11 Circuit Board C Multi-stage connector C1 First connector component element C2 Second connector part element T1 metal pin terminal T2 Metal pin terminal

Claims

1. A multi-stage connector used for wiring connections of electronic devices, a first terminal group consisting of a plurality of first metal pin terminals arranged in a row along the horizontal direction; a second terminal group consisting of a plurality of second metal pin terminals arranged in a row along the horizontal direction separately from the first terminal group; a first support member that supports the first terminal group; a second support member that supports the second terminal group; a joint portion that joins the first support member and the second support member together, and that sets the first and second metal pin terminals that constitute the first and second terminal groups in a state where they are aligned vertically and horizontally as a whole by the joining, the joint portion has a structure in which a recess and a protrusion formed on each joint surface of the first and second support members are fitted together, A first engaging claw extending in a direction intersecting the joint surface is provided on one lateral side of the first support member, and a first claw hook portion is provided on the other lateral side, a second hook portion is provided on one lateral side of the second support member, and the first engaging claw is hooked onto the second hook portion when the first support member and the second support member are joined together; and a second engaging claw is provided on the other lateral side, extending in a direction intersecting the joining surface and being hooked onto the first hook portion when the first support member and the second support member are joined together; By fitting the recessed portion and the protruding portion together, relative movement between the first support member and the second support member in a direction in which the joining surfaces move apart is restricted, and relative movement between the first support member and the second support member along the joining surfaces is prevented, The first engaging claw is caught by the second claw hook portion, and the second engaging claw is caught by the first engaging claw, thereby preventing relative movement between the first support member and the second support member in a direction in which the joining surfaces move away from each other. A multi-stage connector characterized by:

2. In the joined state, the second connector element consisting of the second metal pin terminal and the second support member has a structure obtained by inverting the left and right along the lateral direction of the first connector element consisting of the first metal pin terminal and the first support member.

2. The multi-stage connector according to claim 1.

3. A first connector element consisting of the first metal pin terminal and the first support member, and a second connector element consisting of the second metal pin terminal and the second support member are each manufactured by insert molding.

2. The multi-stage connector according to claim 1.

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