connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can be manufactured at a low cost without the need of a slide mold when manufacturing a housing.SOLUTION: A housing 12 of a connector 1 is connected to a substrate 2 via a peg 3. A lateral wall 122 of the housing 12 is provided with a support part 126 for supporting the peg 3. The support part 126 includes: a locking part 1261 which extends in a front-to-rear direction X; and a first bridge 1261-1 and a second bridge 1261-2 which connect the locking part 1261 to the lateral wall 122. Between the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2, there is provided a housing space S. The connector 1 further includes a first space a1 and a second space a2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a board connector is known in which a resin box-shaped housing holding terminals is fixed to a board by pegs (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the board connector described in Patent Document 1, a substantially pocket-shaped press-fit portion opening upward and downward is formed on a side wall of the housing, and the housing is fixed to the board by fixing the lower end of the peg to the board with solder or the like in a state where the peg is press-fitted into the press-fit portion.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the board connector as described above, due to the structure in which the press-fit portion opening in the vertical direction is provided on the side wall of the box-shaped housing opening in the front-rear direction, when resin-molding the housing, for example, a slide mold is required to form the opening in the vertical direction. For this reason, problems such as a reduction in the number of products that can be molded from one mold, which is the number of cavities per mold, and an increase in the number of man-hours for manufacturing the housing may occur, which in turn increases the manufacturing cost of the board connector.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to obtain a connector that can be manufactured at low cost without requiring a slide mold when manufacturing the housing.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objective, the connector is a box-shaped housing that opens to one side in a predetermined direction and accommodates terminals, and is connected to a substrate via a connecting member, wherein the side wall of the housing is provided with a support portion for supporting the connecting member, and the support portion comprises a locking portion that faces the substrate and extends in a predetermined direction at a distance from the side wall, a first bridge that connects the locking portion and the side wall, and a second bridge that is provided at a distance from the first bridge in the predetermined direction and connects the locking portion and the side wall, wherein the first bridge and the second bridge are arranged in positions that do not overlap in the predetermined direction, and comprises a housing space provided between the first bridge and the second bridge, a first space that extends from the first bridge through the housing space and along the second bridge and opens to the other side in the predetermined direction, and a second space that extends from the second bridge through the housing space and along the first bridge and opens to one side in the predetermined direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a connector can be obtained that does not require a slide mold when manufacturing the housing and can be manufactured at low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] An exploded perspective view of a connector, substrate, and peg according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (A) is a perspective view showing the connector and circuit board connected with pegs, and (B) is a magnified view of area A in Figure 2. [Figure 3] (A) is a plan view of the housing, and (B) is a side view of the housing. [Figure 4] (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 3(A), and (B) is a schematic diagram showing the housing in the process of resin molding. [Figure 5] A top view of the housing during the resin molding process. [Figure 6] (A) is a plan view of the connector connected to the circuit board, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Figure 6(A). [Figure 7] A magnified view of area B in Figure 6(B). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The connector 1 will now be described. Connector 1 in this embodiment is a circuit board connector that is connected to a circuit board 2 of an electronic device mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile via a peg 3 (connecting member). In the figure, X, Y, and Z are mutually orthogonal directions. The depth direction of the housing 12, which will be described later, is the front-to-back direction and will be denoted as "front-to-back direction X". One side of the front-to-back direction X will be denoted as "front side X1", and the other side as "rear side X2". The front-to-back direction X is also a predetermined direction in this invention.

[0010] Furthermore, the width direction of the housing 12, which will be described later, will be referred to as the left-right direction, and will be denoted as "left-right direction Y". In addition, one side of the left-right direction Y will be referred to as "left side Y1", and the other side as "right side Y2". Furthermore, the thickness direction of the substrate 2 will be referred to as the height direction, and will be denoted as "height direction Z". In addition, one side of the height direction Z will be referred to as "upper side Z1", and the other side as "lower side Z2". This is merely for the convenience of explanation and does not necessarily coincide with the direction in actual use, nor does it limit the direction in actual use.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, connector 1 comprises a plurality of terminals 11 connected to a circuit board 2, and a housing 12 that houses the terminals 11. Each terminal 11 is formed in an approximately L-shape by bending a metal wire member at approximately right angles in two places, and comprises a circuit board connection portion 111 and a component connection portion 112. The circuit board connection portion 111 is formed at the rear end X2 of the terminal 11 and is connected to the circuit board 2. The component connection portion 112 is formed at the front end X1 of the terminal 11, is inserted into the housing 12, and is connected to the mating terminal of a mating connector (not shown) that fits into the housing 12.

[0012] The housing 12 is a resin box-shaped member that opens to the front X1 (one side in a predetermined direction) and houses the terminal 11, and comprises a bottom wall 121, a side wall 122, an upper wall 123, a rear wall 124, a flange portion 125, and a support portion 126.

[0013] The bottom wall 121 faces the upper surface Z1, which is the mounting surface of the substrate 2, and extends parallel to that surface. The side walls 122 rise from both ends of the bottom wall 121 in the left-right direction Y to the upper surface Z1 and extend in the upper surface Z1 and the front-rear direction X. The top wall 123 extends in the left-right direction Y from the upper end edge of one side wall 122 to the upper end edge of the other side wall 122 and faces the bottom wall 121 in the height direction Z. Multiple concave cutouts 123a are formed in the top wall 123, opening to the upper surface Z1 and the rear surface X2. The cutouts 123a are formed to randomize the orientation of fibers such as glass fibers contained in the resin when the housing 12 is resin molded. By forming these cutouts 123a, the orientation of the fibers is no longer uniform, thus preventing warping of the housing 12 due to the effects of heat, etc.

[0014] The rear wall 124 rises upward Z1 from the rear end edge of the bottom wall 121 and closes the rear X2 of the housing 12. The rear wall 124 has multiple through holes (not shown) that penetrate in the front-rear direction X, through which the terminals 11 are inserted, as shown in Figure 6. The flange portion 125 is provided for purposes such as waterproofing or dustproofing, and is formed around the entire circumference of the opening edge of the housing 12, widening outwards from the opening. On both the left-right direction Y side of the flange portion 125, die-cutting holes 125a that penetrate in the front-rear direction X are formed.

[0015] The mold release hole 125a is connected to the second space a2, which will be described later. The mold release hole 125a is preferably set to dimensions such as 0.5 mm in the left-right direction Y and 1.5 mm in the height direction Z, as shown in Figure 2(B). It is even more preferable that the dimensions be set to prevent solid objects with a diameter of 1 mm or more from entering, taking the IP40 standard into consideration.

[0016] The support portion 126 is a portion that supports the peg 3 serving as a connecting member for connecting the housing 12 to the substrate 2, and is provided on each side wall 122 respectively. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the support portion 126 includes an engaging portion 1261, a first bridge 1261-1, and a second bridge 1261-2. The engaging portion 1261 is formed in a flat plate shape, the lower edge thereof faces the substrate 2 in the height direction Z, and extends in the front-rear direction X with a gap spaced apart from the side wall 122 in the left-right direction Y.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3(B), the portion on the front side X1 of the engaging portion 1261 is a wide portion 1261a having a larger dimension (width dimension) in the height direction Z than other portions. The portion formed as the wide portion 1261a is the portion of the engaging portion 1261 on which the hook portion 32 of the peg 3, which will be described later, is hooked, and the vicinity thereof. The formation of the wide portion 1261a improves the strength for supporting the hook portion 32.

[0018] The first bridge 1261-1 is a member that connects the end portion on the front side X1 of the engaging portion 1261 to the side wall 122, and is formed in a plate shape as shown in FIG. 3(A).

[0019] The second bridge 1261-2 is a member that connects the end portion on the rear side X2 of the engaging portion 1261 to the side wall 122, and as shown in FIG. 3(A), is provided spaced apart from the first bridge 1261-1 in the front-rear direction X, and is formed in a plate shape.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4(A), the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2 are arranged adjacent to each other in the height direction Z. That is, the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2 are arranged at positions that do not overlap in the front-rear direction X. Specifically, the second bridge 1261-2 is arranged on the upper side Z1 relative to the first bridge 1261-1, and the upper surface of the first bridge 1261-1 is located on the same plane as the lower surface of the second bridge 1261-2. Note that the arrangement of the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2 may be reversed. That is, the first bridge 1261-1 may be arranged on the upper side Z1 relative to the second bridge 1261-2. In this case, it is preferable that the lower surface of the first bridge 1261-1 is located on the same plane as the upper surface of the second bridge 1261-2.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4(A), an accommodation space S is formed between the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2 in the front-rear direction X. As shown in FIG. 7, a hook portion 32 of the peg 3, which will be described later, is accommodated in this accommodation space S. Further, as shown in FIG. 4(A), a first space a1 is formed on the lower side Z2 of the second bridge 1261-2, and a second space a2 is formed on the upper side Z1 of the first bridge 1261-1.

[0022] The first space a1 extends from the first bridge 1261-1 through the accommodation space S, along the second bridge 1261-2 on the lower side Z2 of the second bridge 1261-2 in the front-rear direction X, and opens to the rear side X2.

[0023] The second space a2 extends from the second bridge 1261-2 through the accommodation space S, along the first bridge 1261-1 on the upper side Z1 of the first bridge 1261-1 in the front-rear direction X, and opens to the front side X1.

[0024] Next, the circuit board 2 to which the connector 1 is connected will be described. The circuit board 2 is, for example, a printed circuit board in which electronic components are soldered to a board member, and as shown in Figure 1, it includes a pad portion 21 and a terminal connection portion 22. The pad portion 21 is the part to which the fixing portion 33 of the peg 3, which will be described later, is soldered, and is made of copper foil. The terminal connection portion 22 is the part to which the circuit board connection portion 111 of the terminal 11 is connected, and multiple terminal connection portions are formed to correspond to each terminal 11.

[0025] Next, the peg 3 that secures the connector 1 to the circuit board 2 will be described. The peg 3 is formed by bending a metal plate member and, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a flat plate portion 31, a hook portion 32, and a fixing portion 33. The flat plate portion 31 faces the side wall 122 of the housing 12 and extends in the front-rear direction X. The hook portion 32 is formed by folding back from the upper edge of the flat plate portion 31 toward the housing 12. When attached to the housing 12, this hook portion 32 catches on the upper edge of the locking portion 1261 of the support portion 126 and is housed in the housing space S.

[0026] A projection 32a is formed on the wall surface of the hook portion 32 that faces the side wall 122 of the housing 12, projecting toward that wall surface. As shown in Figure 7, when the hook portion 32 is attached to the locking portion 1261, the projection 32a bites into the side wall 122, fixing the peg 3. The fixing portion 33 is the part that is soldered to the pad portion 21 of the substrate 2, and is formed by folding it back toward the opposite side of the hook portion 32, i.e., toward the left-right direction Y outward.

[0027] Next, the molding of the housing 12 of the connector 1 will be described. The housing 12 is molded, for example, by resin molding. In this case, as described above, the housing 12 opens to the front X1, the first space a1 opens to the rear X2, the second space a2 opens to the front X1, and the weight-reducing portion 123a opens to the rear X2. Therefore, the directions of all these openings are aligned in the front-to-back direction X. For this reason, the mold for molding the housing 12 is arranged to open in the front-to-back direction X.

[0028] Figure 4(B) is a schematic diagram showing the housing 12 during resin molding, illustrating the mold for molding the support portion 126. Here, the first mold D1 is closed, extending in the front-rear direction X from the portion where the opening of the first space a1 is formed toward the front X1 to the position where the end of the rear X2 of the first bridge 1261-1 is formed. Then, the second mold D2 is closed, extending in the front-rear direction X from the portion where the second space a2 is formed toward the rear X2 via the portion where the mold release hole 125a is formed to the position where the end of the front X1 of the second bridge 1261-2 is formed.

[0029] Here, since the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2 are not arranged to overlap in the front-to-back direction X, the first mold D1 and the second mold D2 do not interfere with each other in the front-to-back direction X. On the other hand, since the first bridge 1261-1 extends along the second bridge 1261-2, and the second bridge 1261-2 extends along the first bridge 1261-1, the first mold D1 and the second mold D2 are adjacent to each other with a portion overlapping in the height direction Z.

[0030] Figure 5 is a plan view of the housing 12 during resin molding, seen from above Z1, and shows the mold for molding the upper wall 123. Here, multiple third molds D3 are closed, extending in the front-to-back direction X from the point where the opening X2 on the rear side of the weight-reducing portion 123a is formed toward the front side X1, to the position where the end of the front side X1 of the weight-reducing portion 123a is formed.

[0031] Then, with the first mold D1, the second mold D2, and the third mold D3 closed as described above, resin is injected and cooled to solidify. After that, the first mold D1 and the third mold D3 are opened to the rear X2 and the second mold D2 is opened to the front X1 to form the housing 12. At this time, as shown in Figure 4(A), a housing space S is formed in the overlapping portion of the first mold D1 and the second mold D2. Also, as shown in Figure 4(B), the first bridge 1261-1 is formed in the portion surrounded by the front X1 end of the first mold D1 and the lower Z2 end face of the second mold D2. Furthermore, the second bridge 1261-2 is formed in the portion surrounded by the rear X2 end of the second mold D2 and the upper Z1 end face of the first mold D1.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4(A), a first space a1 is formed on the rear side X2 of the first bridge 1261-1, extending along the second bridge 1261-2 via the accommodation space S and opening to the rear side X2. A second space a2 is formed on the front side X1 of the second bridge 1261-2, extending along the first bridge 1261-1 via the accommodation space S and opening to the front side X1.

[0033] Thus, even if the housing 12 is equipped with a first bridge 1261-1, a housing space S, a second bridge 1261-2, etc., the housing 12 can be molded without using a slide mold during molding. In other words, the connector 1 of this embodiment is configured as a slide-less connector that does not require a slide mold for molding the housing 12.

[0034] As described above, according to the embodiment, the connector 1 is a connector 1 in which a box-shaped housing 12 that opens to the front side X1 (one side in a predetermined direction) and houses the terminal 11 is connected to a substrate 2 via a peg 3 (connecting member). The side wall 122 of the housing 12 is provided with a support portion 126 that supports the peg 3. The support portion 126 includes a locking portion 1261 that faces the substrate 2 and extends in the front-rear direction X (a predetermined direction) at a distance from the side wall 122, a first bridge 1261-1 that connects the locking portion 1261 and the side wall 122, and a second bridge 1261-2 that is provided at a distance from the first bridge 1261-1 in the front-rear direction X and connects the locking portion 1261 and the side wall 122. The first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2 are arranged in positions that do not overlap in the front-rear direction X. The connector 1 includes a siding space S provided between the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2, a first space a1 extending from the first bridge 1261-1 through the siding space S along the second bridge 1261-2 and opening to the rear side X2 (the other side in the predetermined direction), and a second space a2 extending from the second bridge 1261-2 through the siding space S along the first bridge 1261-1 and opening to the front side X1 (the one side in the predetermined direction).

[0035] With this configuration, the housing 12 opens to the front X1, the first space a1 opens to the rear X2, and the second space a2 opens to the front X1. Since all of these openings are aligned in the front-to-back direction X, the mold for molding the housing 12 can be configured to open and close in the front-to-back direction X. Depending on the arrangement and shape of the first bridge 1261-1, the second bridge 1261-2, the housing space S, the first space a1, and the second space a2, the first mold D1 and the second mold D2 can be closed in the front-to-back direction X as described above. In this case, with the first mold D1 and the second mold D2 closed, resin is injected and cooled, and by opening the first mold D1 and the second mold D2 in the front-to-back direction X, the housing space S can be molded in the overlapping portion of the first mold D1 and the second mold D2. In addition, the first bridge 1261-1 can be molded in the portion surrounded by the front X1 end of the first mold D1 and the lower Z2 end face of the second mold D2. Furthermore, the second bridge 1261-2 can be formed in the portion enclosed by the rear end X2 of the second mold D2 and the lower upper end Z1 of the first mold D1. In this way, a housing 12 equipped with the first bridge 1261-1, the second bridge 1261-2, and a support portion 126 having a housing space S can be formed without using a slide mold. Therefore, a connector 1 can be manufactured at low cost without requiring a slide mold for the production of the housing 12.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, by providing a flange portion 125 on the housing 12, it is possible to prevent water droplets and dust from entering the housing 12, thereby improving the waterproof and dustproof properties of the connector 1. In addition, even when the flange portion 125 is provided in this way, the flange portion 125 is provided with a mold release hole 125a that communicates with the second space a2, so the mold can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction X through this mold release hole 125a. Therefore, even in the connector 1 with improved waterproof and dustproof properties, a slide mold is not required when manufacturing the housing 12, making it possible to manufacture at low cost.

[0037] Furthermore, the upper surface of the first bridge 1261-1 is positioned on the same plane as the lower surface of the second bridge 1261-2. With this configuration, the positions of the first space a1 and the second space a2 are offset in the height direction Z, so interference between the molds that open and close in the areas where the first space a1 and the second space a2 are formed can be suppressed.

[0038] Furthermore, when attaching the peg 3 to the housing 12, the peg 3 can be fixed to the housing 12 by hooking the hook portion 32 of the peg 3 onto the upper edge of the locking portion 1261. In this case, the peg 3 can be fixed to the locking portion 1261 anywhere within the housing space S that accommodates the hook portion 32, that is, between the first bridge 1261-1 and the second bridge 1261-2. Therefore, compared to the conventional configuration in which the peg is pressed into a roughly pocket-shaped press-fit portion, the degree of freedom in positioning the peg 3 can be improved.

[0039] Furthermore, by providing a wide portion 1261a to the locking portion 1261, the strength of the locking portion 1261 in the area where the hook portion 32 of the peg 3 engages and in its vicinity can be improved. Therefore, the state in which the peg 3 is fixed to the housing 12 can be stably maintained.

[0040] Although embodiments and modified examples of connector 1 have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] a1 first space a2 second space S Containment space X Front-rear direction (predetermined direction) X1 Front side (one side) X2 Rear side (other side) 1 Connector 11 terminals 12 Housing 122 Side wall 126 Support part 1261 Locking part 1261-1 First Bridge 1261-2 Second Bridge 2 circuit boards 3. Pegs (connecting parts)

Claims

1. A connector in which a box-shaped housing that opens on one side in a predetermined direction and houses terminals is connected to a circuit board via a connecting member, The side wall of the housing is provided with a support portion for supporting the connecting member. The support portion comprises a locking portion facing the substrate and extending in a predetermined direction at a distance from the side wall, a first bridge connecting the locking portion and the side wall, and a second bridge provided at a distance from the first bridge in the predetermined direction and connecting the locking portion and the side wall. The first bridge and the second bridge are arranged in positions that do not overlap in the predetermined direction. A storage space provided between the first bridge and the second bridge, A first space extending from the first bridge through the accommodation space along the second bridge and opening to the other side in the predetermined direction, A connector characterized by comprising: a second space extending from the second bridge through the housing space along the first bridge and opening to one side in the predetermined direction.

2. The support portion is provided on the side wall of the housing extending in the predetermined direction, The edge of the opening of the housing is provided with a flange portion that extends outward toward the opening. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the flange portion is provided with a mold release hole that communicates with the second space.

3. The predetermined direction is the front-to-back direction that intersects the height direction, which is the thickness direction of the substrate. The first bridge and the second bridge are formed in a plate shape, The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface of the first bridge is located on the same plane as the lower surface of the second bridge.

4. The predetermined direction is the front-to-back direction that intersects the height direction, which is the thickness direction of the substrate. The first bridge and the second bridge are formed in a plate shape, The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower surface of the first bridge is located on the same plane as the upper surface of the second bridge.

5. The locking portion is formed in the shape of a plate extending in the predetermined direction, The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member has a hook portion that hooks onto the upper edge of the locking portion and is housed in the housing space.

6. The connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking portion has a wider portion than other portions in the portion of the connecting member into which the hook portion of the connecting member engages and in the vicinity thereof.

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