Connector

Abstract

Lock mechanisms 120 provided in a connector 100 are provided with: spring parts 121; extension parts 122; lock parts 123; operation parts 124; and pressing-load targeted parts 125. The pressing-load targeted parts 125 are provided inside the connector 100 in the extension parts 122. Each of two island parts 107 provided in a housing 101 constituting the connector 100 includes two pressing-load parts 107a. Each of the pressing-load targeted parts 125 faces the corresponding one of the pressing-load parts 107a. When the operation parts 124 are in a non-release position, each of the pressing-load targeted parts 125 comes into contact with the corresponding pressing-load part 107a, and when the operation parts 124 are in a release position, each of the pressing-load targeted parts 125 separates from the corresponding pressing-load part 107a. Thus, it is possible to define the positions of lock parts and operation parts provided by being connected to plate-like spring members which are U-shaped and are the constituent members of the lock mechanism.

Description

connector

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

[0002] Conventionally, connectors have been known in which a mating connector is mated or unmated by moving the mating connector along a third direction (e.g., up-down) perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction (e.g., left-right direction) and a second direction (e.g., front-rear direction), which are perpendicular to each other. Some of these connectors are equipped with a locking mechanism that maintains the mated state between the mating connector and the connector.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a connector equipped with a locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 31 . Specifically, the connector (100) disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes two additional members (400) on each side of the connector (100), for a total of four restriction mechanisms (500). Each of the four restriction mechanisms (500) is a U-shaped plate-like spring member. A protrusion (511) serving as a locking portion is formed on the base side of the elastically deformable spring member, and an operating portion (550) is formed on the tip side of the spring member. An operator can move the protrusion (511) formed on the base side of the spring by operating the operating portion (550) formed on the tip side of the spring. In other words, the protrusion (511) engages with the mating connector to maintain the mated state of the connectors, and the protrusion (511) separates from the mating connector to release the mated state of the connectors. The symbols used in the explanations of the prior art documents are placed in parentheses to distinguish them from the embodiments of the present invention.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-181824

[0005] However, the restricting mechanism (500) as a spring member provided in the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is generally formed by punching a metal plate and then performing a press process or the like. Therefore, it is difficult to precisely control the opening dimension of the U-shaped plate-like spring member (500) during press processing, resulting in unavoidable variations in the opening dimension of the spring member during manufacturing. This U-shaped plate-like spring member is equipped with an operating portion (550) operated by an operator and a protrusion (511) serving as a locking portion. Variations in the opening dimension of the spring member result in variations in the positions of these elements in the connector. In particular, the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a large variation in the position of the operating portion (550) provided at the tip of the spring member.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a connector that has a mechanism including a U-shaped plate-like spring member and an operating portion and a locking portion connected to it, which eliminates variation in the opening dimensions of the U-shaped plate-like spring member and eliminates variation in the positions of the operating portion and the locking portion.

[0007] A connector according to the present invention is a connector in which a mating connector is mated or unmated by moving the mating connector along a third direction that is perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction and a second direction that are perpendicular to each other, the connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of terminals, and two additional members; the housing comprising a terminal holding portion and two island portions; the plurality of terminals are held by the terminal holding portion and are arranged in the first direction on the housing; the two additional members are held by the housing and are located at both ends of the housing in the first direction; each of the two additional members comprises two locking mechanisms that are located so as to face each other in the second direction; each of the two locking mechanisms comprises a spring portion, an extension portion, a locking portion, an operating portion, and a pressed load portion; the spring portion is a plate-like elastic member that is U-shaped when viewed in the third direction and is closed on one side of the outside or inside of the connector in the first direction and is open on the other side of the outside or inside; an outer end of the connector in the first direction is formed as a fixed end, and an inner end of the connector in the second direction of the U-shape is formed as a free end; the extension portion is continuous with the inner end of the connector in the second direction formed as a free end of the U-shaped spring portion and is formed to extend in the first direction, thereby allowing displacement in the second direction by the elastic force of the spring portion; the locking portion is formed on the inner side of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion and has a locking surface facing one of the third directions; the operation portion is located on the outer side of the locking portion of the connector in the first direction of the extension portion and is formed on the inner side of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion; and the operation portion can move between a non-release position and a release position on the outer side of the connector than the non-release position in the second direction, where the operation portion is located when subjected to a pressing operation towards the outside of the connector in the second direction; and the pressed load portion is located on the extension portion between the locking portion and the operation portion in the first directionThe extension portion is provided on the inside of the connector in the second direction, and each of the two island portions has two pressing load portions facing outward from the connector in the second direction and facing away from each other, and each of the pressed load portions faces one of the corresponding pressing load portions in the second direction, and when the operation portion is in the non-release position, each of the pressed load portions is in contact with the corresponding pressing load portion and is subjected to a pressing load toward the outside of the connector in the second direction, and when the operation portion is in the release position, each of the pressed load portions is separated from the corresponding pressing load portion.

[0008] In other words, in the connector according to the present invention, a pressure load portion is provided on the housing, and a pressure-receiving portion is provided on an extension portion on which the locking portion and operating portion are provided, continuous with a spring portion which is a U-shaped plate-like elastic member, and when the unlocking operation is not being performed (i.e., when the operating portion is in the non-release position), the pressure-applying portion constantly contacts and presses the pressure-receiving portion to apply a preload. As a result, when the operating portion is in the non-release position, the opening of the spring is determined by the pressure-applying portion rather than by the natural state of the member, and the positions of the locking portion and operating portion are always defined in predetermined positions by the pressure load portion provided on the housing.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the variation in opening dimensions that occurs during manufacturing of the U-shaped plate-like spring member (the spring portion and extension portion, which are elastic members), which is a component of the locking mechanism that maintains and releases the mated state of connectors, and to provide a connector in which the positions of the locking portion and operating portion connected to the spring member are defined and consistent.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view showing the connector and mating connector of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view showing the connector and mating connector of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the connector and mating connector of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the connector and mating connector of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a right side view showing the connector and mating connector of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector and mating connector of FIG. 2 along line 6-6. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector and mating connector of FIG. 4 along line 7-7. FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view showing the connector of this embodiment with the mating connector removed. FIG. 9 is a lower perspective view showing the mating connector of this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a lower perspective view showing the mating connector of this embodiment in an exploded state. FIG. 11 is an upper perspective view showing the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 12 is an upper perspective view showing the connector of this embodiment in an exploded state. FIG. 13 is an upper perspective view showing an additional member constituting the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 14 is a lower perspective view showing an additional member constituting the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 15 is a top view showing an additional member constituting the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 16 is a bottom view showing an additional member constituting the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 17 is a front view showing an additional member constituting the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the additional member of FIG. 17 along line 18-18. FIG. 19 is a right side view showing the additional member constituting the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 20 is a left side view showing the additional member constituting the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 21 is a front view showing the connector of this embodiment. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 21 along line 22-22. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the connector of this embodiment shown in FIG. 22. Note that FIG. 23 shows a locking mechanism for the additional member installed on the left side of the connector. FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view showing the unlocking jig of this embodiment. FIG. 25 is a front view for explaining how to use the unlocking jig of this embodiment, showing the connector assembly in a state before it is unlocked. In the figure, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are indicated by dashed lines. FIG. 26 is a front view for explaining how to use the unlocking jig of this embodiment, showing the state when the connector assembly is unlocked.In the figure, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are indicated by dashed lines. FIG. 27 is a right side view for explaining how to use the unlocking jig of this embodiment, showing the state when the connector assembly is unlocked. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector, mating connector, and unlocking jig of FIG. 27 along line 28-28. FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector, mating connector, and unlocking jig of FIG. 27 along line 29-29. FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the unlocking jig, connector, and mating connector of this embodiment, showing a perspective view of the connector and mating connector as viewed from above. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the schematic configuration of the connector of Patent Document 1.

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the present invention, a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction are defined, and in the drawings, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are defined for the convenience of explanation. In this specification, the first direction is the left-right direction. In the drawings, the left-right direction is indicated as the X direction. In particular, the right is defined as the +X direction, and the left is defined as the -X direction. Furthermore, in this specification, the second direction is the front-back direction. In the drawings, the front-back direction is indicated as the Y direction. In particular, the front is defined as the +Y direction, and the rear is defined as the -Y direction. Furthermore, in this specification, the third direction is the up-down direction. In the drawings, the up-down direction is indicated as the Z direction. In particular, the up is defined as the +Z direction, and the down is defined as the -Z direction.

[0012] Furthermore, the following embodiments do not limit the inventions according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in each embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0013] 1 to 7, the connector 100 of this embodiment constitutes a connector assembly 10 together with a mating connector 500. In this embodiment, the mating connector 500 is configured as a plug connector, and the connector 100 is configured as a receptacle connector.

[0014] Referring to Figures 1 and 8, in the connector assembly 10 of this embodiment, the mating connector 500 is mated with or removed from the connector 100 by moving the mating connector 500 along a third direction (Z: up-down direction) that is perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction (X: left-right direction) and a second direction (Y: front-back direction) that are perpendicular to each other.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the mating connector 500 of this embodiment includes a mating housing 501 , a plurality of mating terminals 505 , and two mating additional members 510 .

[0016] The mating housing 501 is a member that functions as an insulator, and is made of, for example, a resin material. The mating housing 501 also has a mating terminal holding portion 503, and a plurality of mating terminals 505 are installed in the mating terminal holding portion 503.

[0017] The plurality of mating terminals 505 are made of a conductive metal material and are formed, for example, by punching a metal plate and then performing press processing or the like. The plurality of mating terminals 505 in this embodiment are held by a mating terminal holding portion 503 of the mating housing 501 and are arranged in a direction along the first direction, that is, the left-right direction. The mating housing 501 and the plurality of mating terminals 505 can be integrally formed, for example, by injection molding or the like.

[0018] The two mating additional members 510 are members that are held by the mating housing 501 and are located at both ends of the mating housing 501 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction. In this embodiment, the two mating additional members 510 are attached to the housing 501 by fitting them from below upward (in the +Z direction) into both ends of the housing 501, which includes a plurality of mating terminals 505 that are integrally formed by injection molding or the like. The mating additional members 510 are formed, for example, from a metal material.

[0019] Furthermore, each of the two mating additional members 510 of this embodiment has a locking hole 511 on its front and rear surfaces. That is, the mating connector 500 of this embodiment has one locking hole 511 on each of the front and rear surfaces of the left and right ends, for a total of four locking holes 511. These four locking holes 511 are locked by engagement with locking portions 123 of a locking mechanism 120 of the connector 100, which will be described later, so that the mating state of the mating connector 500 relative to the connector 100 can be maintained.

[0020] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a connector 100 of this embodiment includes a housing 101, a plurality of terminals 105, and two additional members 110.

[0021] The housing 101 is a member that functions as an insulator, and is formed of, for example, a resin material. The housing 101 also includes a terminal holding portion 103 and two island portions 107. A plurality of terminals 105 are installed on the terminal holding portion 103. Meanwhile, the two island portions 107 are formed at positions corresponding to two additional members 110, which will be described later.

[0022] The multiple terminals 105 are made of a conductive metal material and are formed, for example, by punching a metal plate and then performing press processing or the like. In this embodiment, the multiple terminals 105 are held in the terminal holding portion 103 of the housing 101 and are arranged in a direction along the first direction, which is the left-right direction. The housing 101 and the multiple terminals 105 can be integrally formed, for example, by injection molding or the like. In this case, the terminal holding portion 103 is formed simultaneously with the injection molding, so that it is inseparable from the multiple terminals 105. However, the housing 101 in this embodiment may also be formed by previously forming the housing 101 from a resin material and fitting the multiple terminals 105 into the previously formed terminal holding portion 103.

[0023] The two additional members 110 are held by the housing 101 and are located at both ends of the housing 101 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction. In this embodiment, the two additional members 110 are attached to the housing 101 by fitting them from above downward (in the −Z direction) into both ends of the housing 101, which includes a plurality of terminals 105 integrally formed by injection molding or the like. The two additional members 110 and the two island portions 107 described above overlap each other in the left-right direction (X direction). More specifically, regarding this embodiment, the positional range of the island portion 107 in the left-right direction (X direction) is included within the positional range of the corresponding additional member 110. In this embodiment, each additional member 110 has a concave shape that can be fitted from above downward (in the −Z direction) onto the corresponding island portion 107 that protrudes upward (in the +Z direction). That is, the two additional members 110 are attached to the housing 101 by fitting them into the portions including the corresponding island portions 107 on both ends of the housing 101. The additional members 110 are formed of, for example, a metal material.

[0024] Furthermore, each of the two additional members 110 of this embodiment is equipped with a locking mechanism 120 that realizes a locked state by engaging with four locking hole portions 511 of the mating connector 500. Two locking mechanisms 120 are provided for each of the two additional members 110. In other words, the connector 100 is equipped with a total of four locking mechanisms 120, two on each of the left and right ends.

[0025] Next, a detailed configuration of the additional member 110 of the connector 100 equipped with the locking mechanism 120 will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 22. Note that Figures 13 to 20 show the additional member 110 installed on the right side of the connector 100.

[0026] 16, the additional member 110 of this embodiment includes two locking mechanisms 120 positioned to face each other in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction. Each of the two locking mechanisms 120 includes a spring portion 121, an extension portion 122, a locking portion 123, an operating portion 124, and a pressure-bearing portion 125.

[0027] In this example, the spring portion 121 is a portion formed as a plate-like elastic member having a U-shape that is closed on the outside of the connector 100 in the left-right direction (first direction) and open on the inside of the connector 100 in the left-right direction (first direction) when viewed in the up-down direction (third direction). The spring portion 121 has an outer end of the U-shape of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction (second direction) that is connected to and fixed to a portion of the additional member 110 other than the locking mechanism 120 (in this example, a bent portion 112 described later) to form a fixed end, and an inner end of the U-shape of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction (second direction) is formed as a free end.

[0028] The extension portion 122 is a member formed as a free end of the U-shaped spring portion 121 and continuing to the inner end of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction. The extension portion 122 is formed to extend in the left-right direction, which is the first direction, so that it can be displaced in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, by the elastic force of the spring portion 121.

[0029] The locking portion 123 is formed on the inside of the connector 100 in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction of the extension portion 122. As shown in the cross-sectional shape of Fig. 7, the locking portion 123 has an inclined surface 123a formed on the upper side and a locking surface 123b formed on the lower side, which is a flat surface facing downward, which is one of the up-and-down directions, which is the third direction. Therefore, when mating the mating connector 500 with the connector 100, when the mating connector 500 is moved downward in the -Z direction relative to the connector 100, the surface of the mating additional member 510 of the mating connector 500 slides along the slope 123a of the locking portion 123, pushing the locking portion 123, causing the extension portion 122 to be displaced outward in the front-to-back direction, which is the second direction of the connector 100, and then the extension portion 122 is displaced inward in the front-to-back direction, which is the second direction of the connector 100, causing the locking portion 123 to fit into the locking hole portion 511 of the mating additional member 510, thereby achieving a smooth engagement state with the slope 123a of the locking portion 123. Furthermore, once the locking portion 123 is fitted into the locking hole portion 511 of the mating additional member 510, the lower locking surface 123b of the locking portion 123 faces the inner surface of the locking hole portion 155 of the mating additional member 510, and even if the mating connector 500 is moved in a direction (+Z direction) to be removed from the connector 100 while the mating connector 500 and the connector 100 are engaged, the upward movement of the mating connector 500 in the vertical direction, which is the third direction, is restricted by the locking surface 123b abutting against the inner surface of the locking hole portion 511. In other words, the locking surface 123b facing downward, which is one of the vertical directions, which is the third direction of the locking portion 123, restricts the movement of the mating connector 500 in the vertical direction, which is the third direction, and prevents it from being removed from the connector 100.

[0030] 16 , the operating portion 124 is located between the spring portion 121 and the locking portion 123 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction of the extension portion 122, and is formed on the inside of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction of the extension portion 122. The operating portion 124 is also formed to be movable between a non-release position, which is located when no pressing operation is received, and a release position, which is located when a pressing operation is received toward the outside of the connector 100 in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction, and is located further outward of the connector 100 than the non-release position in the front-rear direction, which is the second direction. As for the non-release position and release position of the operating portion 124, as shown in FIG. 7 , the non-release position is a state in which the locking portion 123 is fitted into the locking hole portion 511 of the mating additional member 510, and the release position is a state in which the locking portion 123 moves from the locking hole portion 511 of the mating additional member 510 to the left-right outside of the connector 100 and comes out of the locking hole portion 511 to release the engagement.

[0031] 13 and other drawings, the operation unit 124 is formed with a sliding slope 124a on its upper side. The operation unit 124 is pressed by an unlocking jig 700 (described later) so as to spread outward in the second direction, i.e., the front-to-rear direction. This pressing operation is performed by pressing the pressing legs 701 of the unlocking jig 700 from an upper position downward in the −Z direction, i.e., against the sliding slope 124a of the operation unit 124. In this pressing operation, the pressing legs 701 apply a pressing force while sliding on the surface of the sliding slope 124a of the operation unit 124. Therefore, since the operation unit 124 has the sliding slope 124a, an operational error in which the pressing legs 701 accidentally press down on the operation unit 124 is extremely unlikely to occur, and the pressing legs 701 can smoothly move the operation unit 124 from the non-released position to the released position.

[0032] In the locking mechanism 120 of this embodiment, the operating unit 124 is located on the side closer to the U-shaped spring 121 of the locking mechanism 120 that functions as an elastic member, i.e., on the base side of the elastic deformation of the locking mechanism 120 where the extension 122 is displaced, and the locking unit 123 is located at the tip, so that when the operating unit 124 is pressed to move from the non-released position to the released position, the locking unit 123, which moves in conjunction with the operating unit 124, moves a larger amount of movement than the operating unit 124. In other words, the locking mechanism 120 of this embodiment can set the amount of displacement of the operating unit 124 smaller than in the prior art while ensuring the necessary amount of displacement of the locking unit 123. Therefore, when the connector 100 is viewed in the third direction (up and down), the amount by which the non-release position of the operating unit 124 protrudes in the opposite direction to the release position in terms of the direction of movement, i.e., in the example of this embodiment shown in Figure 15, the amount by which the operating unit 124 protrudes inward in the second direction (front and back direction) from the top plate 111 described below, i.e., the amount by which the operating unit 124 is exposed from the top plate 111 in preparation for receiving a pressing operation, can be set smaller than in the prior art.

[0033] The additional member 110 of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 20 further includes a top plate 111 and a bent portion 112 .

[0034] The top plate 111 is formed in a position that at least partially covers the spring portion 121 and the extension portion 122 when viewed downward in the third direction, which is the up-down direction, and is a member that is formed with an extension parallel to an imaginary plane formed by the first direction, which is the left-right direction, and the second direction, which is the front-to-back direction.

[0035] The bent portion 112 is a curved bent portion that connects the outer end of the connector 100 in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction of the U-shape that constitutes the spring portion 121, to the top plate 111.

[0036] That is, the locking mechanism 120 is formed by connecting the outer end of the U-shaped spring portion 121 in the front-rear direction to the lower end of the bent portion 112 .

[0037] Furthermore, the additional member 110 of this embodiment includes a hold-down 113. As shown in Figures 14, 17, 20, etc., the hold-down 113 is formed contiguous with an end 111a formed on the inside of the connector 100 in the left-right direction, which is the first direction, of the top plate 111, and is a portion formed to extend downward from the end 111a in the -Z direction, which is the downward direction. The hold-down 113 is provided with a soldering portion 113a at the end opposite the connection portion with the end 111a, i.e., at the lower end, and, for example, as shown in Figures 25 and 26, when the underside of the connector 100 is placed on the second circuit board 151, the soldering portion 113a can be soldered to the second circuit board 151. By soldering the soldering portion 113a of the hold-down 113 to the second circuit board 151, the attachment of the additional member 110 to the second circuit board 151 becomes more secure, especially when attempting to remove the mating connector 500, as it is equipped with a locking mechanism 120 to which an upward external force is applied.

[0038] Furthermore, the additional member 110 of this embodiment includes a restricting portion 114. In this example, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, 18, 20, etc., the restricting portion 114 is formed as a portion extending from the top plate 111 toward the vicinity of the extension portion 122, and includes a restricting surface 114a facing downward in the up-down direction (third direction). In other words, the restricting surface 114a is fixed to the top plate 111 and faces downward. On the other hand, with respect to the extension portion 122, the surface of the portion of the extension portion 122 that faces the restricting surface 114a is formed as a regulated surface 122a. When the operating portion 124 is in the non-release position and no upward external force is applied to the locking mechanism 120 including the extension portion 122, the restricting surface 114a and the regulated surface 122a face each other with a gap therebetween. When an upward external force is applied to the extension portion 122 on which the locking portion 123 is formed, such as by forcibly removing the mating connector 500 while the locking portion 123 remains engaged in the locking hole 511 of the mating connector 500, the regulated surface 122a abuts against the restricting surface 114a. When the regulated surface 122a abuts against the restricting surface 114a in this manner, irregular upward movement of the extension portion 122 is strongly restricted by the restricting portion 114. In other words, the restricting portion 114 is configured to more reliably actuate the locking mechanism 120. By including the restricting portion 114 in the additional member 110 of this embodiment, damage to the locking mechanism 120 due to excessive operation can be effectively prevented.

[0039] Note that the locking portion 123 and the regulated surface 122a formed on the extension portion 122 are preferably arranged so that their positions in the X direction (left-right direction) of the extension portion 122, i.e., the first direction, at least partially overlap (see FIG. 13, etc.). The locking portion 123, to which an upward force is applied, and the regulated surface 122a, to which a downward force is applied after hitting the regulating surface 114a, are arranged in overlapping positions in the extension direction of the extension portion 122, i.e., the X direction (first direction), thereby preventing torque and bending stress from occurring in the extension portion 122, making the action of the regulating portion 114 effective, and suitably preventing malfunctions such as breakage of the locking mechanism 120.

[0040] 16 and 22, which is a cross-sectional view of the connector 100 viewed from above in the vertical direction, the pressing load portion 125 included in the locking mechanism 120 of this embodiment is formed inside the connector 100 in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction of the extension portion 122, at a position between the locking portion 123 and the operating portion 124 in the left-to-right direction, which is the first direction of the extension portion 122. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 22, the connector 100 of this embodiment is provided with two locking mechanisms 120 on each of the two additional members 110, for a total of four locking mechanisms 120. Meanwhile, each of the two island portions 107 included in the housing 101 is provided with two pressing load portions 107a facing outward from the connector 100 in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction, and facing away from each other. That is, as is clear from a comparison of Figures 12 and 22, in the connector 100 of this embodiment, each of the four pressure-receiving load portions 125 provided in the locking mechanism 120 is arranged opposite one of the corresponding pressure-receiving load portions 107a in the second direction, that is, the front-to-rear direction.

[0041] When the operating portion 124 is in the non-release position, each of the pressure-receiving portions 125 comes into contact with the corresponding pressure-receiving portion 107a and is configured to receive a pressure load toward the outside of the connector 100 in the second direction, the forward / backward direction (see the state in Figure 22).

[0042] Here, the opening dimension of the tip of the U-shaped spring member including the spring portion 121 and the extension portion 122 in its natural state varies due to control by the press process used to manufacture the additional member 110. In other words, the position of the tip of the extension portion 122, which acts as a free end, far from the spring portion 121 in the front-to-rear direction (the second direction) varies in its natural state when the extension portion 122 is not subjected to an external force. However, as described above, in the present invention, even when the operating portion 124 is in the non-release position, the spring member is not in its natural state, and the pressure-receiving load portion 125 of the extension portion 122 is in contact with the pressing load portion 107a and receives a pressing load as an external force. In other words, even when the operating portion 124 is in the non-release position, the position of the extension portion 122 in the front-to-rear direction (the second direction) is determined by the pressing load portion 107a provided on the housing 101.

[0043] That is, in connector 100 of this embodiment, by providing pressure load portion 107a on housing 101, extension portion 122 elastically supported by spring portion 121 is constantly pressed to apply a preload when the unlocking operation is not performed (i.e., when operating portion 124 is in the non-release position). Therefore, the positions of locking portion 123 and operating portion 124 when the unlocking operation is not performed (i.e., when operating portion 124 is in the non-release position) are always defined at predetermined positions by pressure load portion 107a provided on housing 101, so that the influence of dimensional variations in the opening of the spring member (a U-shaped elastic member including spring portion 121 and extension portion 122) that inevitably occur during the manufacturing of additional member 110 can be eliminated.

[0044] On the other hand, when the operating portion 124 is in the release position, that is, when the operating portion 124 is operated and the locking portion 123 disengages from the locking hole portion 511, each of the two pressed load portions 125 that were in contact with the two pressing load portions 107a of the island portion 107 moves toward the outside of the connector 100 in the second direction, the front-to-rear direction, and moves away from the corresponding pressing load portion 107a.

[0045] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to absorb manufacturing dimensional variations in the opening of the U-shaped plate-like spring member (elastic member), which is a component of the locking mechanism 120 that is responsible for maintaining and releasing the mated state between the connector 100 and the mating connector 500, and in particular, it is possible to realize a connector 100 in which the position of the locking portion 123 in the locked state is determined without variation, so it is possible to provide a connector 100 that can stably achieve a locked state in the mated state between the connector 100 and the mating connector 500.

[0046] The above has described the detailed configuration of the four locking mechanisms 120 provided in the connector 100, two for each of the two additional members 110. Next, the operation when the mating connector 500 is mated with or removed from the connector 100 will be described.

[0047] When mating the mating connector 500 with the connector 100, as shown in FIG. 8 , the mating connector 500 is moved downward in the −Z direction to fit the mating connector 500 into the connector 100. At this time, the surface of the mating additional member 510 of the mating connector 500 slides along the slope 123a of the locking portion 123 as it is pushed into the connector 100, causing the extension portion 122 to temporarily displace outward in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction of the connector 100. Thereafter, the extension portion 122 displaces back inward in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction of the connector 100, causing the locking portion 123 to fit into the locking hole portion 511 of the additional member 510. This action realizes the engagement between the locking hole portion 511 and the locking portion 123 shown in FIG. 7 , achieving a locked state that maintains the engagement between the mating connector 500 and the connector 100.

[0048] An unlocking tool 700 is used to release the locked state between the mating connector 500 and the connector 100. The unlocking tool 700 of this embodiment is shown in Fig. 24. That is, the two additional members 110 provided in the connector 100 each have two locking mechanisms 120, for a total of four locking mechanisms 120, and the four operating parts 124 of these operating parts 124 can be simultaneously operated by this unlocking tool 700.

[0049] The unlocking jig 700 is a vertically elongated cubic member having two pressing legs 701 protruding downward from the lower left and right ends in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the member when it is in an orientation to be used with the connector assembly 10 in which the connector 100 and the mating connector 500 are mated with each other, as shown in FIG. 24 . Each of the pressing legs 701 has a total of two pressing operation surfaces 701a facing outward in the front-to-rear direction (Y direction). In other words, the unlocking jig 700 has a total of four pressing operation surfaces 701a. The unlocking jig 700 is used by moving it downward in the −Z direction from an upper position of the connector assembly 10 in which the mating connector 500 is mated with the connector 100, to change from the state shown in FIG. 25 to the state shown in FIG. 26 . 1 and 2 , when the connector 100 and the mating connector 500 are mated, the gap between the two locking mechanisms 120 provided on each additional member 110 so as to face each other in the front-to-rear direction defines an upwardly open space. Two pressing legs 701 of the unlocking jig 700 are simultaneously inserted from above into each of the two upwardly open spaces, one on each side of the mated connector assembly 10 in the left-to-right direction. At this time, the amount of protrusion of the operating portion 124 into each of the spaces, specifically, the dimension of the operating portion 124 exposed inward in the Y direction (front-to-rear direction) from the top plate 111 when viewed from above along the Z direction, is significantly smaller than in the prior art (see FIG. 15 ). When the unlocking tool 700 is pressed downward in the -Z direction against such a connector assembly 10 as shown in Figure 26, the two pressing legs 701 of the unlocking tool 700 each have two pressing operation surfaces 701a, a total of four of which are provided, which press and spread the operation parts 124, one of which is provided on each of the locking mechanisms 120 of the connector 100, outward in the second direction, that is, the front-to-rear direction, thereby moving each of them from the non-released position to the released position.As a result, extension portion 122 moves outward in the front-to-rear direction, which is the second direction, so as to open with U-shaped spring portion 121 as a fulcrum, and lock portion 123, which is located farther from the fulcrum along extension portion 122 than operation portion 124, moves in conjunction with it in the same direction as operation portion 124 and by an amount greater than the amount of movement of operation portion 124 from the non-release position to the release position. In the start state of this operation, i.e., the state in which connector assembly 10 is waiting for insertion of unlocking tool 700, the amount of operation portion 124 exposed from top plate 111 is small as described above, so that an operational error in accidentally pressing down operation portion 124 or extension portion 122 with pressing leg portion 701 is extremely unlikely to occur. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13 and 15, the exposed portion of the operating unit 124 that is exposed in a small dimension from the top plate 111 is a sliding slope 124a, so when the pressing leg 701 of the lock release jig 700 is pressed against this sliding slope 124a from an upper position downward in the -Z direction, the pressing leg 701 slides on the surface of the sliding slope 124a and presses the operating unit 124 outward in the second direction, the front-to-back direction, so that the pressing leg 701 can smoothly move the operating unit 124 from the non-release position to the release position. In addition, in this embodiment, when the unlocking operation is not being performed (i.e., when the operating unit 124 is in the non-released position), the positions of the locking unit 123 and the operating unit 124 are always defined at predetermined positions by the pressure load portion 107a provided on the housing 101. Therefore, the sliding slope 124a is always exposed by the same amount of protrusion from the top plate 111, and can always stably receive the pressing operation from the pressing leg portion 701 of the unlocking jig 700. Furthermore, the amount of operation (movement) required to move the operating unit 124 to the non-released position is small, so the unlocking operation is improved and more agile compared to the prior art. The movement of the locking unit 123 described above releases the engagement of the locking unit 123 that was fitted into the locking hole 511 of the mating additional member 510. In other words, the locking surface 123b no longer contacts or faces the inner surface of the locking hole 511 in the vertical direction, and the upper part of the locking unit 123 is free to move upward.When the engagement between this lock hole portion 511 and the lock portion 123 is released, i.e., from the state shown in Figure 26, the operator can lift the mating connector 500 upward in the +Z direction, thereby removing the mating connector 500 from the connector 100.

[0050] Here, before the pressing operation surface 701a of the unlocking tool 700 presses the operating part 124, i.e., in the state waiting for the insertion of the unlocking tool 700, the pressure-receiving part 125 comes into contact with the pressing part 107a and receives a pressing load, thereby always defining the position of the operating part 124 at a predetermined position, so that the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism 120 by the unlocking tool 700 can always be performed stably.

[0051] 27 to 30, when the operating portion 124 is pressed by the unlocking jig 700 and moves from the released position to the released position, the connector 100 and the unlocking jig 700 of this embodiment are configured to form three contact surfaces α, β, and γ between them. In this way, by providing multiple contact surfaces α, β, and γ between the connector 100, which receives a pressing force from the unlocking jig 700 in the −Z direction (downward), and the unlocking jig 700, the posture of the unlocking jig 700 in contact with the connector 100 can be stabilized, and problems such as prying of the unlocking jig 700 can be preferably prevented.

[0052] 27 and 28 , the additional member 110 may be provided with a connector-side operation feel imparting portion 115 formed as a convex portion, and the unlocking jig 700 may be provided with a jig-side operation feel imparting portion 705 formed as a corresponding concave portion (a through-hole in this example). As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 , the connector-side operation feel imparting portion 115 and the jig-side operation feel imparting portion 705 of the unlocking jig 700 are preferably formed with dimensions that provide clearance when they fit together. By adopting such a configuration, the operator of the unlocking jig 700 can be given a feeling of operation (a clicking sensation) when the connector-side operation feel imparting portion 115 and the jig-side operation feel imparting portion 705 fit together during the process of operating the operation unit 124 with the unlocking jig 700 and moving the operation unit 124 from the released position to the released position.

[0053] 26, when used with the connector assembly 10, the unlocking jig 700 of this embodiment preferably has an outer shape that does not extend beyond the outer shape of the connector assembly 10 when viewed in the third direction, i.e., the up-down direction. By making the outer shape of the unlocking jig 700 such that it does not extend beyond the outer shape of the connector assembly 10, it is possible to avoid interference with other components installed on the board, for example, and this contributes to improved operability.

[0054] In the embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 22 etc., the spring portion 121 is provided at an outer position in the first direction (left-right direction) of each locking mechanism 120, and when viewed in the third direction (up-down direction), has a U-shape that is closed on the outer side of the connector 100 in the first direction (left-right direction) and open on the inner side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration is also possible in which the orientation of the spring portion 121 is reversed in the first direction (left-right direction) and the spring portion 121 is provided at an inner position in the first direction (left-right direction) of each locking mechanism 120, as in the modified example shown in Fig. 23 (note that Fig. 23 shows the locking mechanism 120 of the additional member 110 installed on the left side of the connector 100). That is, in this modification, when viewed in the third direction (up-down direction), the spring portion 121 has a U-shape that is closed on the inside of the connector 100 and open on the outside in the first direction (left-right direction), but the operating portion 124 is located on the outside of the extension portion 122 in the first direction (left-right direction), the locking portion 123 is located on the inside, and the pressure-bearing portion 125 is located between the operating portion 124 and the locking portion 123, which is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 22 etc. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 23 , the operating portion 124 is located at the tip of the open side of the U-shaped spring member, which effectively stably defines the position of the operating portion 124. Therefore, in this modification, the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism 120 by the unlocking jig 700 can be consistently and stably performed.

[0055] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments.

[0056] For example, the connector assembly 10 consisting of the mating connector 500 and connector 100 of the above-described embodiment is particularly useful when used as a board-to-board connector that electrically connects a first circuit board 551 on which the mating connector 500 is mounted and a second circuit board 151 on which the connector 100 is mounted, as shown in Figures 25 and 26.

[0057] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the mating connector 500 is configured as a plug connector, the connector 100 is configured as a receptacle connector, and the locking mechanism 120 is installed on the connector 100. However, the connector may be either a plug connector or a receptacle connector as long as the locking mechanism according to the present invention exhibits the same effects as in the above-described embodiment. Furthermore, in the present invention, the mating connector and the connector include all types of connectors.

[0058] It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements may also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0059] 10 Connector assembly 100 Connector 101 Housing 103 Terminal holding portion 105 Multiple terminals 107 Island portion 107a Pressing load portion 110 Additional member 111 Top plate 111a End portion 112 Bent portion 113 Hold down 113a Soldering portion 114 Restricting portion 114a Restricting surface 115 Connector side operation feeling imparting portion (convex portion) 120 Locking mechanism 121 Spring portion 122 Extension portion 122a Restricted surface 123 Locking portion 123a Inclined surface 123b Locking surface 124 Operation portion 124a Sliding inclined surface 125 Pressing load portion 151 Second circuit board (board) 500 Mating connector 501 Mating housing 503 Mating terminal holding portion 505: Multiple mating terminals 510: Mating additional member 511: Lock hole portion 551: First circuit board (board) 700: Unlock jig 701: Pressing leg portion 701a: Pressing operation surface 705: Jig side operation feeling imparting portion (recess) α, β, γ: Contact surface (with the unlocking jig)

Claims

1. A connector in which a mating connector is mated or removed by moving the mating connector along a third direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane formed by a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other, the connector comprising a housing, a plurality of terminals, and two additional members, the housing comprising a terminal holding portion and two island portions, the plurality of terminals being held by the terminal holding portion and arranged in the first direction on the housing, the two additional members being held by the housing and positioned at both ends of the housing in the first direction, each of the two additional members comprising two locking mechanisms positioned opposite each other in the second direction, each of the two locking mechanisms comprising a spring portion, an extension portion, a locking portion, an operating portion, and a pressure-bearing portion, the spring portion is a plate-like elastic member having a U-shape that is closed on one side, either the outside or the inside, of the connector in the first direction and open on the other side, when viewed in the third direction, and the outside end of the U-shape of the connector in the second direction is formed as a fixed end, and the inside end of the U-shape of the connector in the second direction is formed as a free end; the extension portion is continuous with the inside end of the connector in the second direction that is formed as the free end of the U-shaped spring portion and is formed extending in the first direction, thereby enabling displacement in the second direction by the elastic force of the spring portion; the locking portion is formed on the inside of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion and has a locking surface facing one of the third directions; the operating portion is located outside the locking portion of the connector in the first direction of the extension portion and is formed on the inside of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion; the operation unit is movable between a non-release position and a release position located on the outer side of the connector in the second direction relative to the non-release position when the operation unit is pressed toward the outer side of the connector in the second direction,The pressure-receiving portion is provided on the inside of the connector in the second direction of the extension portion, at a position between the locking portion and the operating portion in the first direction of the extension portion, each of the two island portions has a total of two pressing load portions facing toward the outside of the connector in the second direction, each of the pressing load portions faces one of the corresponding pressing load portions in the second direction, when the operating portion is in the non-release position, each of the pressing load portions is in contact with the corresponding pressing load portion and is subjected to a pressing load toward the outside of the connector in the second direction, and when the operating portion is in the release position, each of the pressing load portions is away from the corresponding pressing load portion.

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