Connector

Abstract

This connector (10) is provided with a terminal fitting (30) and a housing (11) having an accommodation space (15). The terminal fitting (30) has a main body part (31) accommodated in the accommodation space (15), a fixation part (33) fixed to a circuit board (120), and a spring part (32) extending from the fixation part (33) to the main body part (31). In the accommodation space (15), the body part (31) extends in a first direction from a base end part (53) connected to the spring part (32) to a tip part (59), and can be inclined toward a second direction intersecting the first direction by elastic deformation of the spring part (32). The housing (11) has a stopper part (18) that protrudes into the accommodation space (15) and faces the base end part (53).

Description

Connector

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

[0002] The floating connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a connector device that electrically connects a first substrate and a second substrate. The connector device includes a plug connector, a plug-side contact disposed on the plug connector, a receptacle connector fitted to the plug connector, and a receptacle-side contact disposed on the receptacle connector. The plug connector is provided on the first substrate. The plug-side contact has a contact portion that bends convexly. The receptacle connector is provided on the second substrate. The receptacle-side contact has a holding portion, a lead portion, a contact portion, and an elastic portion. The holding portion is held by the fixed-side housing of the receptacle connector. The lead portion is connected by soldering to the wiring pattern of the second substrate. The contact portion is held by the movable-side housing of the receptacle connector. The contact portion of the receptacle-side contact contacts the contact portion of the plug-side contact. The elastic portion is provided between the holding portion and the contact portion so as to be elastically deformable.

[0003] When the plug connector and the receptacle connector move in position from a predetermined fitting position due to misalignment or the like between the first substrate and the second substrate, the elastic portion elastically deforms following the position movement. Along with this, the movable-side housing moves relatively to the fixed-side housing, and the position movement between the two connectors can be absorbed.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-131161

[0005] For example, if the plug-side contact is connected while being inclined in a direction intersecting the vertical direction with a large fitting force with respect to the receptacle-side contact, the elastic portion may be greatly elastically deformed and the spring elasticity may decrease. If the spring elasticity decreases, problems such as insufficient contact pressure between the contact portions may occur.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of maintaining the spring elasticity of the spring portion of the terminal fitting.

[0007] The connector of this disclosure comprises a terminal fitting and a housing having a housing space, wherein the terminal fitting has a main body portion housed in the housing space, a fixing portion fixed to a circuit board, and a spring portion extending from the fixing portion to the main body portion, the main body portion extending in a first direction from a base end connected to the spring portion to a tip portion in the housing space and being able to tilt in a second direction intersecting the first direction by the elastic deformation of the spring portion, and the housing has a stopper portion protruding into the housing space and facing the base end.

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can maintain the spring elasticity of the spring portion of the terminal fitting.

[0009] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to this embodiment 1, showing a state in which the housing and the mating housing are mated at a predetermined mating position and the main body of the terminal fitting is connected to the mating terminal at a predetermined connection position. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to this embodiment 1, showing a state in which the housing and the mating housing are mated after a positional shift from the predetermined mating position and the main body of the terminal fitting is connected to the mating terminal at an angle from the predetermined connection position. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the housing of the connector according to this embodiment 1, viewed from the lower right. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing of the connector according to this embodiment 1, viewed from the lower left. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the connector according to this embodiment 1, cut in the front-to-rear center of the housing space. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting of the connector according to this embodiment 1, viewed from one side in the front-to-rear direction. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to this embodiment 1, showing a state in which the base end of the main body faces the stopper portion with a gap between them when the housing and the mating housing are mated. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to this embodiment 1, showing a state in which the base end of the main body has descended from the state in Figure 7 and hit the stopper portion. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to this embodiment 1, showing a state in which the main body is tilted and the part to be stopped is in contact with the stopping part. Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connector according to another embodiment, showing a state in which the base end of the main body faces the stopper part.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Disclosure] Embodiments of the Disclosure will be described first by listing them. The connector of the Disclosure comprises (1) a terminal fitting and a housing having a housing space, wherein the terminal fitting has a main body portion housed in the housing space, a fixing portion fixed to a circuit board, and a spring portion extending from the fixing portion to the main body portion, the main body portion extending in a first direction from a base end connected to the spring portion to a tip end in the housing space, and being capable of tilting in a second direction intersecting the first direction by the elastic deformation of the spring portion, and the housing has a stopper portion protruding into the housing space and facing the base end. For example, if the mating terminal is connected to the main body portion with a large mating force in the first direction and tilted in a direction intersecting the first direction, the base end of the main body portion can come into contact with the stopper portion, preventing the main body portion from descending. This prevents excessive elastic deformation of the spring portion and maintains spring elasticity.

[0011] (2) In the connector described in (1) above, it is preferable that the housing has side walls facing each other in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and that the stopper portion is provided on the side wall. According to the configuration in (2) above, there is no need to provide a gap between the side wall and the main body portion that allows for elastic deformation of the main body portion, so the amount of the stopper portion provided on the side wall protruding into the housing space can be kept small. As a result, it becomes easier to ensure the rigidity of the stopper portion.

[0012] (3) In the connector described in (1) or (2) above, the housing preferably has an end wall at the tip in the first direction that faces the tip of the main body, and a terminal insertion opening for receiving the terminal fitting at the base end in the first direction, the side wall has an elastic piece that can be elastically deformed in the third direction, and the stopper portion is provided on the elastic piece. According to the configuration of (3) above, when the main body of the terminal fitting is inserted into the housing space from the terminal insertion opening, even if the main body interferes with the stopper portion, the elastic piece can be elastically deformed in the third direction, thereby allowing the insertion of the main body into the housing space.

[0013] (4) In the connector described in any of (1) to (3) above, it is preferable that the housing has opposing walls that face each other in the second direction, the terminal fitting has a guide portion that extends from the tip portion toward the opposing wall so as to expand outward in the second direction, and the opposing wall has a stopper portion that suppresses the tilting of the main body portion outward in the second direction. According to the configuration of (4) above, even if the main body portion housed in the housing space is tilted significantly outward in the second direction, the tilting of the main body portion is suppressed by the stopper portion, so that the guide portion does not interfere with the opposing wall or the like and deform.

[0014] (5) In the connector described in (4) above, it is preferable that the tip portion has contact portions on both sides of the guide portion, and the contact portions are provided in pairs on the opposing wall at positions corresponding to the contact portions. According to the configuration of (5) above, the contact portions of the tip portion come into contact with the pair of contact portions on both sides of the guide portion, thereby reliably suppressing the tilt of the main body and increasing the reliability of preventing deformation of the guide portion.

[0015] (6) In the connector described in (4) or (5) above, the opposing wall preferably has a relief hole to avoid contact with the guide portion. According to the configuration of (6) above, when the main body is tilted significantly outward in the second direction, the guide portion can enter the relief portion and avoid contact with the opposing wall. In particular, since the opposing wall has a relief hole, it is possible to prevent the main body from becoming larger in the second direction.

[0016] [Details of Embodiments of the Disclosure] Specific examples of the Disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples and is intended to be shown by the claims, with all modifications in the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims being included.

[0017] <Embodiment 1> The connector 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is exemplified as a connector arranged between circuit boards 110 and 120 that face each other in the vertical direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In Embodiment 1, the connector 10 is provided on the lower circuit board 120. The connector 10 is mated with the mating connector 90. The mating connector 90 is provided on the upper circuit board 110. The connector 10 comprises a housing 11 and a terminal fitting 30 housed in the housing 11. The mating connector 90 comprises a mating housing 91 and a mating terminal 95 housed in the mating housing 91. The mating terminal 95 is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 30. Note that the reference numerals X, Y, and Z in Figures 1-6 represent the front, right, and up directions, respectively. In Embodiment 1, the left-right direction is synonymous with the width direction, and the up-down direction is synonymous with the height direction. The concept of direction is for convenience only and does not necessarily coincide with the concept of direction when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown). In this embodiment 1, the vertical direction, the front-back direction, and the left-right direction may also be referred to as the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction, respectively.

[0018] (Mating Housing 91) The mating housing 91 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mating housing 91 has a base wall 92 and a peripheral wall 93. The base wall 92 is positioned facing the upper circuit board 110. The peripheral wall 93 is rectangular and protrudes downward from the outer peripheral edge of the base wall 92.

[0019] (Mating terminal 95) The mating terminal 95 is made of conductive metal and is configured as a tab or busbar. As shown in Figures 1, 7, and 8, the mating terminal 95 is inserted through the base wall 92 and protrudes into the interior of the peripheral wall 93 with its plate surface facing the front-to-back direction. In this first embodiment, a pair of mating terminals 95 are provided spaced apart in the front-to-back direction.

[0020] (Housing 11) The housing 11 is made of synthetic resin and has a box shape overall, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The housing 11 has an end wall 12, a pair of side walls 13, and a pair of side walls 14. The end wall 12 is the upper end wall located at the top of the housing 11. The end wall 12 has a rectangular shape in plan view, which is long in the front-to-back direction relative to the left-to-right direction. Each side wall 13 is the front wall and rear wall that project downward from the front and rear ends of the end wall 12. Each side wall 14 is the left wall and right wall that project downward from the left and right ends of the end wall 12. Each side wall 13 and each side wall 14 are connected to each other at the four corners of the end wall 12.

[0021] The end wall 12, each side wall 13, and each side wall 14 demarcate a pair of front and rear storage spaces 15. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main body 31 of the terminal fitting 30, which will be described later, is housed in each storage space 15. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of front and rear terminal insertion openings 26 for receiving the terminal fitting 30 are opened on the lower end surface of the housing 11. Each terminal insertion opening 26 communicates with each storage space 15, opening the storage spaces 15 to the bottom of the housing 11. Each storage space 15 is separated by a partition wall 16. The upper end of the partition wall 16 is connected to the front and rear center of the end wall 12. The left and right ends of the partition wall 16 are connected to each side wall 14, respectively. The side wall 13 and the partition wall 16 face each other in the front-to-back direction (second direction) via the storage space 15, forming opposing walls. Each side wall 14 faces each other in the left-to-right direction (third direction) via the storage space 15.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the end wall 12 has a pair of mating insertion openings 17 at positions corresponding to each housing space 15. Each mating insertion opening 17 penetrates the end wall 12 in the vertical direction. Each mating insertion opening 17 has a rectangular opening shape that is elongated in the left-right direction relative to the front-rear direction. Each mating terminal 95 is inserted into each housing space 15 through each mating insertion opening 17.

[0023] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the left and right side walls 14 each have a pair of stopper portions 18 (one pair each on the front, back, left, and right sides). As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each stopper portion 18 protrudes into the housing space 15 from the lower end of the inner surface (the surface facing the housing space 15) of each side wall 14. A pair of stopper portions 18 protrudes into each housing space 15. The stopper portions 18 are claw-shaped protrusions from the side walls 14 (elastic pieces 21, which will be described in detail later). As shown in Figure 5, the upper surface of the stopper portion 18 is a stopper surface 18D that is aligned in the left-right and front-back directions. The lower surface of the stopper portion 18 is a sliding surface 18E that slopes inward on the left and right sides as it moves upward away from the terminal insertion opening 26.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each side wall 14 has notches 19 on both the front and rear sides, flanking each stopper portion 18. The portion between the pair of notches 19 in the front-rear direction on each side wall 14 is configured as an elastic piece 21. The stopper portion 18 is projected from the inner surface of the elastic piece 21. As the main body 31 of the terminal fitting 30 is inserted into the housing space 15 from the terminal insertion opening 26, the main body 31 interferes with the stopper portion 18, causing the elastic piece 21 to be elastically deformed outwards to the left and right (outwards in the third direction). Once the main body 31 of the terminal fitting 30 is inserted into the housing space 15, the elastic piece 21 elastically returns to its original position, and the stopper portion 18 is positioned below the main body 31. As shown in Figure 7, the stopper portion 18 faces the base end portion 53 of the main body 31, which will be described later. As shown in Figure 8, the base end 53 of the main body 31 contacts the stopper 18, preventing the main body 31 from falling into the terminal insertion opening 26 towards the circuit board 120.

[0025] In this first embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the stopper portion 18A formed on one side wall 14 (left side in the figure) protrudes into the storage space 15 with a greater protrusion than the stopper portion 18B formed on the other side wall 14 (right side in the figure). As shown in Figure 3, the elastic piece 21A having the stopper portion 18A is partitioned by a notch 19A with a closed lower end. The lower end of each notch 19A is connected to a slit that extends linearly in the front-rear direction and opens in a U-shape in the side view of the side wall 14 together with the slit. As shown in Figure 4, the elastic piece 21B having the stopper portion 18B is partitioned by a notch 19B that opens downward. Each notch 19B extends linearly in the vertical direction and is arranged parallel to each other on the side wall 14.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the front and rear side walls 13 each have an extension portion 22. Each extension portion 22 has a shape in which the lower end of each side wall 13 is extended outward in a stepped manner. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the interior of each extension portion 22 is configured as an extension space 23 for housing the fixing portion 33 of the terminal fitting 30, which will be described later. The extension space 23 of each extension portion 22 is located at the lower end of the front and rear outer sides of the housing space 15 and is open downwards. The upright portion 34 of the fixing portion 33 of the terminal fitting 30, which will be described later, is arranged along the front and rear inner surfaces of the extension space 23.

[0027] The front and rear side walls 13 each have escape holes 24. Each escape hole 24 penetrates in the front-rear direction at the upper end of each side wall 13. Each escape hole 24 is located at the upper end of the front and rear outer sides of the housing space 15 and is open to the front and rear outer sides. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each escape hole 24 has a rectangular opening shape when viewed from the side. Of the housing space 15, the areas on both the front and rear sides, including the escape holes 24, are configured as movable allowable areas 15A. As shown in Figure 2, the movable allowable areas 15A are the parts of the housing space 15 that allow the movement of the main body 31 of the terminal fitting 30.

[0028] As shown in Figures 5 and 9, the housing 11 has stopper portions 28 on both the left and right sides of the upper end of the front and rear side walls 13 and the partition wall 16. The stopper portions 28 are in the shape of a rectangular block (rectangular column) and protrude into the housing space 15 from each of the side walls 13 and partition wall 16. The stopper portions 28 protruding from the front and rear side walls 13 are continuous with the left and right inner surfaces of the relief hole 24 without any steps. Each stopper portion 28 is connected to both the front and rear ends of each side wall 14. In other words, each stopper portion 28 is provided protruding from the four corners of the housing space 15. Each stopper portion 28 is provided so as to contact the stopper portion 42 of the main body portion 31 of the terminal fitting 30, which will be described later.

[0029] (Terminal fitting 30) The terminal fitting 30 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate. As shown in Figure 6, the terminal fitting 30 has a main body portion 31, a spring portion 32, and a fixing portion 33. The fixing portion 33 is positioned with its plate surface facing the front-rear direction. In this embodiment 1, the fixing portion 33 is composed of a double plate portion that overlaps in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the double plate portion of the fixing portion 33 is inserted into the insertion hole 121 of the lower circuit board 120 and fixed to the circuit board 120 by soldering or the like, and is electrically connected to a conductive portion of the circuit board 120 (not shown). The fixing portion 33 also has an upright portion 34 that rises upward from the front-rear inner plate portion of the double plate portion.

[0030] The spring portion 32 is positioned between the main body portion 31 and the fixing portion 33. The spring portion 32 is bent into an S-shape, for example, from the fixing portion 33 to the main body portion 31. The spring portion 32 has an inclined portion 35 that extends downward in the front and rear inward directions from the upper end of the upright portion 34, and a connecting portion 36 that extends upward from the lower end (front and rear inner end) of the inclined portion 35. The upper end of the connecting portion 36 is connected to the base end portion 53 of the main body portion 31. The spring portion 32 is elastically deformable with the upper end of the upright portion 34 as the pivot point. The main body portion 31 is supported (floating supported) in a state in which it can tilt relative to the fixing portion 33 via the spring portion 32.

[0031] The terminal fitting 30 has a plurality of locking protrusions 37 that project outward to the left and right from the upright portion 34. Each locking protrusion 37 protrudes from both the left and right ends of the upright portion 34 at intervals in the vertical direction. Each locking protrusion 37 is press-fitted and locked into the left and right inner surfaces of each expansion portion 22 of the housing 11. The terminal fitting 30 is held in the housing 11 by the locking action of each locking protrusion 37.

[0032] The main body 31 has a rectangular box-shaped section 38. The box-shaped section 38 is positioned to stand upright in the vertical direction from the base end 53 at the lower end to the tip end 59 at the upper end. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, when the main body 31 is housed in the storage space 15, the tip end 59 is positioned opposite the end wall 12. The box-shaped section 38 has front and rear side sections 39 that face each other in the front-rear direction, and left and right side sections 41 that face each other in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 6, the side sections 39 have a rectangular external shape when viewed from the front, which is longer in the vertical direction relative to the left-right direction. The side sections 41 have a rectangular external shape when viewed from the side, which is longer in the vertical direction relative to the front-rear direction. The left-right dimension of the side section 39 is larger than the front-rear dimension of the side section 41. The box-shaped section 38 is formed by bending, for example, from the left side section 41 to the front side section 39, the right side section 41, and the rear side section 39 in that order. The left end of the rear side portion 39 and the rear end of the left side portion 41 interlock in an interlocking manner, thereby maintaining the rectangular tubular shape of the box portion 38. The inside of the box portion 38 serves as a receiving space 43 for receiving the mating terminal 95.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6, the main body 31 has a pair of guide portions 45 that incline and expand outward (outward in the second direction) from the tip 59 of each side portion 39 of the box portion 38 as they go upward. Each guide portion 45 has a rectangular outer shape in side view that is elongated in the left-right direction relative to the vertical direction. The mating terminal 95 is guided into the guide portion 45 and inserted into the receiving space 43.

[0034] Each side portion 39 has a plurality of elastic contact portions 46, 47. Each elastic contact portion 46, 47 is demarcated by a plurality of slits 48, 49, 51 formed by cuts in the side portion 39. Each slit 48, 49, 51 has a plurality (two in this embodiment 1) of first vertical slits 48 arranged horizontally on the left-right side of the widthwise center of the side portion 39, and a pair of second vertical slits 49 arranged on both sides in the widthwise direction, flanking each first vertical slit 48. Each slit 48, 49, 51 also has a horizontal slit 51 that extends horizontally and connects to the upper ends of each of the first vertical slits 48 and each of the second vertical slits 49.

[0035] Each first vertical slit 48 extends vertically and is of the same length as the others. Each second vertical slit 49 also extends vertically and is of the same length as the others. Each second vertical slit 49 extends vertically longer than each first vertical slit 48. The lower end of each second vertical slit 49 is located below the lower end of each first vertical slit 48.

[0036] Each elastic contact portion 46, 47 has, on the side portion 39, a middle elastic contact portion 46 partitioned between the first vertical slits 48 in the left-right direction, and a pair of end elastic contact portions 47 partitioned between the first vertical slit 48 and a second vertical slit 49 adjacent to the first vertical slit 48 in the left-right direction. The upper ends of the middle elastic contact portion 46 and each end elastic contact portion 47 are partitioned by a horizontal slit 51.

[0037] Each elastic contact portion 46, 47 extends upward in a cantilevered manner from the base (root) above the base end 53 to the upper end demarcated by the lateral slit 51 on the side portion 39. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, each elastic contact portion 46, 47 has a contact portion 54 that protrudes toward the receiving space 43 at a position near the upper end. The contact portion 54 is embossed by hammering a part of the elastic contact portion 46, 47 with a press. The mating terminal 95 contacts each contact portion 54 while being sandwiched between the elastic contact portions 46, 47 that are facing each other in the front-rear direction. Before the terminal fitting 30 is connected to the mating terminal 95, the distance between each contact portion 54 in the front-rear direction is smaller than the front-rear thickness of the mating terminal 95.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, each elastic contact portion 46, 47 is inclined to gradually enter the receiving space 43 from the base toward the contact portion 54. Furthermore, each elastic contact portion 46, 47 expands outward and forward as it moves upward from the contact portion 54. The upper end of the side portion 39 has a plurality of protrusions 56 that project toward the receiving space 43. Each protrusion 56 is bulged toward the receiving space 43 by striking a part of the side portion 39 with a press. The lower end of each protrusion 56 is demarcated by a transverse slit 51. Each side portion 39 has a linear pivot point 57 that extends in the left-right direction (third direction) between the lower ends of the second vertical slit 49. Each elastic contact portion 46, 47 is elastically deformable in the front-rear direction (second direction) with the pivot point 57 as the pivot point.

[0039] Furthermore, each side portion 39 has multiple reinforcing portions 58 at a height that overlaps with the pivot point portion 57 in the vertical direction. Each reinforcing portion 58 is embossed and bulges toward the receiving space 43 by hammering a part of the side portion 39 with a press. The reinforcing portions 58 are arranged on the side portion 39 at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0040] Each side portion 39 has abutting portions 42 on both the left and right sides, flanking the base of the lower end of the guiding portion 45 at the tip portion 59. In short, the abutting portions 42 are the upper edges of the side portion 39 and are positioned adjacent to the guiding portion 45. The abutting portions 42 are continuous in the left-right direction at the same height as the upper edges of the side portion 39. When the main body portion 31 is tilted in the second direction while housed in the housing space 15, each abutting portion 42 is capable of abutting against the opposing abutting portion 28 in the second direction.

[0041] (Operation of Connector 10) When assembling the connector 10, the main body 31 of the terminal fitting 30 is inserted into the housing space 15 of the housing 11 through the terminal insertion opening 26. During the insertion process, the tip 59 of the side portion 41 of the main body 31 slides into contact with the sliding surface 18E of the stopper portion 18, and the elastic piece 21 elastically deforms outward to the left and right. Towards the end of insertion, the elastic piece 21 elastically returns to its original shape, and the stopper surface 18D of the stopper portion 18 is positioned opposite the base end portion 53 of the side portion 41 with a gap between them (see Figure 7).

[0042] When the terminal fitting 30 is inserted into the housing space 15, the locking projection 37 engages with the inner surface of the expansion portion 22, and the terminal fitting 30 is held in the housing 11. The main body portion 31 can be housed in the housing space 15 in a floating state without contacting the side walls 13 and 14, etc. The fixing portion 33 of the terminal fitting 30 is inserted into the insertion hole 121 and fixed to the circuit board 120 by soldering or the like. The housing 11 is mounted on the upper surface of the circuit board 120. As shown in Figure 1, when the spring portion 32 is not elastically deformed, the main body portion 31 is positioned in an upright position along the vertical fitting axis in the housing space 15 (see Figure 1).

[0043] For example, when a large vibration force is applied to the connector 10 during transport, the main body 31 tilts into the movable allowable region 15A with the spring portion 32 as a fulcrum, changing from the upright position to an inclined position that intersects the vertical mating axis. The spring portion 32 elastically deforms to enable the inclined position of the main body 31. When the main body 31 tilts significantly into the movable allowable region 15A, as shown in Figure 9, the tip corner of the contact portion 42 of the main body 31 hits the opposing contact portion 28. The contact of the contact portion 42 with the contact portion 28 suppresses further tilting of the main body 31. At the position where the contact portion 42 hits the contact portion 28 and stops, one of the front and rear terminal fittings 30 inserts the upper end of the guide portion 45 into the relief hole 24, avoiding interference with the opposing side wall 13. Furthermore, the terminal fittings 30 on the front and rear sides are positioned so that the upper end of the guide portion 45 is separated from the partition wall 16, thereby avoiding interference with the partition wall 16. This prevents the guide portion 45 from deforming due to interference with the side wall 13 or the partition wall 16.

[0044] When the connector 10 and the mating connector 90 are mated, the upper and lower circuit boards 110 and 120 are brought closer to each other. The mating connector 90 is provided on the upper circuit board 110. As shown in FIG. 1, when the upper and lower circuit boards 110 and 120 are arranged at a predetermined mating position (a position where the connector 10 and the mating connector 90 can be mated face to face), the mating terminal 95 is inserted into the receiving space 43 of the main body 31 from the front and rear central portions of the mating insertion port 17. Then, the mating terminal 95 is sandwiched between the contact portions 54 of the respective elastic contact portions 46 and 47 through between the respective guiding portions 45 and between the respective protrusions 56. Thus, when the contact portions 54 of the respective elastic contact portions 46 and 47 come into contact with the mating terminal 95, the terminal fitting 30 is electrically connected to the mating terminal 95 at a predetermined connection position (a position where the terminal fitting 30 and the mating terminal 95 can be connected face to face). At this time, the respective elastic contact portions 46 and 47 are in a state of being elastically deformed outward in the front and rear directions with the fulcrum portion 57 as a fulcrum. The main body 31 is maintained in an upright posture.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, when the circuit boards 110 and 120 are displaced in a direction parallel to the plane direction of the circuit boards 110 and 120 from the predetermined mating position, for example, when the upper circuit board 110 is displaced to the front or rear side (the front side in the case of FIG. 2) with respect to the lower circuit board 120, the mating terminal 95 is inserted into the receiving space 43 of the main body 31 from an end portion on the front or rear side of the mating insertion port 17. The main body 31 takes an inclined posture inclined to the front or rear side. Also in this case, the mating terminal 95 is sandwiched between the contact portions 54 of the respective elastic contact portions 46 and 47 while being guided between the respective guiding portions 45 and between the respective protrusions 56. The respective elastic contact portions 46 and 47 are elastically deformed outward in the front and rear directions with the fulcrum portion 57 as a fulcrum, and in that state, the contact portions 54 of the respective elastic contact portions 46 and 47 come into contact with the mating terminal 95.

[0046] When the lower circuit board 120 is misaligned to one side relative to the upper circuit board 110, the upper end of the guide portion 45 on the one side becomes the most movable part of the main body 31 of the terminal fitting 30. As described above, when the main body 31 is tilted to its maximum extent to one side, the contact portion 42 contacts the contact portion 28, and the state in which the upper end of the guide portion 45 fits into the relief hole 24 can be maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the upper end of the guide portion 45 from protruding outward from the relief hole 24 in the second direction, and interference between the guide portion 45 and external foreign objects can be avoided.

[0047] Furthermore, for example, when the connector 10 and the mating connector 90 are mated, if the circuit boards 110 and 120 are misaligned from their predetermined mating positions and a large mating force is applied from the mating connector 90 to the connector 10, the spring portion 32 may undergo significant elastic deformation, causing the main body portion 31 to descend while tilting. In contrast, in this embodiment 1, a stopper portion 18 is provided at a position opposite to the base end portion 53 of the main body portion 31. As shown in Figure 8, even if the main body portion 31 descends, the base end portion 53 can hit the stopper surface 18D of the stopper portion 18 before it comes out of the terminal insertion opening 26. When the main body portion 31 hits the stopper surface 18D of the stopper portion 18, further descent of the main body portion 31 is prevented. This prevents the main body portion 31 from sinking, and maintains the state in which the main body portion 31 is housed in the housing space 15. As a result, excessive elastic deformation of the spring portion 32 can also be prevented. Furthermore, this prevents the base end portion 53 of the main body 31 from coming out of the terminal insertion opening 26 and coming into contact with the circuit board 120.

[0048] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a terminal fitting 30 and a housing 11 having an accommodation space 15. The terminal fitting 30 has a main body portion 31 accommodated in the accommodation space 15, a fixing portion 33 fixed to the circuit board 120, and a spring portion 32 extending from the fixing portion 33 to the main body portion 31. In the accommodation space 15, the main body portion 31 extends in the first direction from the base end portion 53 continuous with the spring portion 32 to the tip end portion 59, and can be inclined in the second direction intersecting the first direction by the elastic deformation of the spring portion 32. The housing 11 has a stopper portion 18 protruding into the accommodation space 15 and facing the base end portion 53. According to this, for example, when the mating terminal 95 is connected to the main body portion 31 with a large fitting force in the first direction and inclined in a direction intersecting the first direction, the base end portion 53 of the main body portion 31 can hit the stopper portion 18, and further descent of the main body portion 31 can be prevented. Thereby, excessive elastic deformation of the spring portion 32 can be prevented, the spring elasticity can be maintained, and the durability of the terminal fitting 30 can be improved.

[0049] Further, the housing 11 has side walls 14 facing each other in the third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and the stopper portion 18 is provided on the side walls 14. According to this, since there is no need to provide an interval for allowing elastic deformation of the main body portion 31 between the side wall 14 and the main body portion 31, the amount of protrusion of the stopper portion 18 into the accommodation space 15 can be suppressed to be small, and it becomes easy to secure the rigidity of the stopper portion 18.

[0050] Further, the housing 11 has an end wall 12 facing the tip end portion 59 of the main body portion 31 at the tip end in the first direction, and a terminal insertion port 26 for receiving the terminal fitting 30 at the base end in the first direction. The side wall 14 has an elastic piece 21 that can be elastically deformed in the third direction. The stopper portion 18 is provided on the elastic piece 21. When the main body portion 31 of the terminal fitting 30 is inserted into the accommodation space 15 from the terminal insertion port 26, even if the main body portion 31 interferes with the stopper portion 18, the elastic piece 21 elastically deforms in the third direction, allowing the insertion of the main body portion 31 into the accommodation space 15.

[0051] Furthermore, the housing 11 has a side wall 13 and a partition wall 16 as opposing walls facing each other in a second direction. The terminal fitting 30 has a guide portion 45 that extends from its tip portion 59 so as to expand outward in the second direction toward the side wall 13 and partition wall 16. The side wall 13 and partition wall 16 have a stopper portion 28 that suppresses the tilting of the main body portion 31 outward in the second direction. As a result, even if the main body portion 31 housed in the housing space 15 tilts significantly outward in the second direction, the stopper portion 28 suppresses the tilting of the main body portion 31, thus preventing the guide portion 45 from interfering with the side wall 13 and partition wall 16 and deforming.

[0052] Furthermore, the tip 59 of the main body 31 has contact points 42 on both sides of the guiding portion 45. The contact points 28 are provided in pairs on the side wall 13 and the partition wall 16 at positions corresponding to the contact points 42. By having the contact points 42 of the tip 59 of the main body 31 contact the contact points 28 which are arranged in pairs on both sides of the guiding portion 45, the tilting of the main body 31 can be reliably suppressed, and the reliability of preventing deformation of the guiding portion 45 can be increased.

[0053] Furthermore, since the side wall 13 has a relief hole 24 to avoid contact with the guiding portion 45, interference between the guiding portion 45 and the side wall 13 can be avoided, and the main body portion 31 can be prevented from becoming larger in the second direction.

[0054] [Other Embodiments of the Disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In the first embodiment described above, the upper surface of the stopper portion 18 was configured as a stopper surface 18D that was aligned in the left-right and front-rear directions. In contrast, according to other embodiments, as shown in Figure 10, the upper surface of the stopper portion 18 may be configured as a stopper surface 18F that slopes upward in a reverse tapered manner, moving away from the terminal insertion opening 26 as it goes inward on the left and right sides (towards the protruding tip). The stopper surface 18F of the stopper portion 18, like the stopper surface 18D, is normally positioned at a distance from the base end 53 of the main body portion 31 and can strike the base end 53 of the main body portion 31 when the main body portion 31 is lowered (see the dashed line in Figure 10). In other embodiments, the reverse tapered stopper surface 18F can firmly strike the base end 53 of the main body portion 31.

[0055] In the first embodiment described above, each stopper portion 18 was composed of stopper portions 18A and 18B of different sizes and shapes. In contrast, each stopper portion may be composed of one type of stopper portion that is the same size and shape. In the first embodiment described above, the main body portion 31 was structured so as not to contact the housing 11 when it moved to tilt into the movable allowable area 15A. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the main body portion may contact the housing when it moves to tilt into the movable allowable area. For example, the guide portion may slightly interfere with the side wall, etc., to the extent that a large load is not applied. In the first embodiment described above, the housing 11 had a pair of storage spaces 15 divided front and rear by a partition wall 16. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the housing may have no partition wall and have a single storage space inside. If the housing does not have a partition wall, the front and rear side walls may form opposing walls that face each other in a second direction. In the first embodiment described above, the stopper portion 28 was provided on the side wall 13 or the like in a shape that protruded into the storage space 15. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the stopper portion does not have a special shape such as a protruding shape, and may be part of a wall surface such as a side wall.

[0056] 10...Connector 11...Housing 12...End wall 13...Side wall (opposing wall) 14...Side wall 15...Accommodation space 15A...Movable area 16...Partition wall (opposing wall) 17...Mating insertion opening 18, 18A, 18B...Stopper part 18D, 18F...Stopper surface 18E...Sliding surface 19, 19A, 19B...Notch part 21, 21A, 21B...Elastic piece 22...Expansion part 23...Expansion space 24...Relief hole 26...Terminal insertion opening 28...Restraining part 30...Terminal fitting 31...Main body part 32...Spring part 33...Fixing part 34...Upright part 35...Inclined part 36...Connecting part 37...Locking projection 38...Box part 39...Side part 41...Side part 42...Restrained part 43...Receiving space 45...Induction section 46...Middle elastic contact section (elastic contact section) 47...End elastic contact section (elastic contact section) 48...First vertical slit (slit) 49...Second vertical slit (slit) 51...Horizontal slit (slit) 53...Base end 54...Contact section 56...Protrusion 57...Pivot section 58...Reinforcement section 59...Tip 90...Mating connector 91...Mating housing 92...Base wall 93...Peripheral wall 95...Mating terminal 110...(Upper) circuit board 120...(Lower) circuit board 121...Insertion hole

Claims

1. A connector comprising a terminal fitting and a housing having a housing space, wherein the terminal fitting has a main body portion housed in the housing space, a fixing portion fixed to a circuit board, and a spring portion extending from the fixing portion to the main body portion, the main body portion extending in a first direction from a base end connected to the spring portion to a tip portion in the housing space, and capable of tilting in a second direction intersecting the first direction by the elastic deformation of the spring portion, and the housing has a stopper portion protruding into the housing space and facing the base end.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing has side walls facing each other in a first direction and a third direction intersecting the second direction, and the stopper portion is provided on the side wall.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the housing has an end wall at the tip in the first direction that faces the tip of the main body, and a terminal insertion opening for receiving the terminal fitting at the base end in the first direction, the side wall has an elastic piece that can be elastically deformed in the third direction, and the stopper portion is provided on the elastic piece.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing has opposing walls facing each other in the second direction, the terminal fitting has a guide portion that extends outward in the second direction from the tip toward the opposing wall, and the opposing wall has a stopper portion that suppresses the tilting of the main body outward in the second direction.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the tip portion has contact portions on both sides of the guide portion, and the contact portions are provided in pairs on the opposing wall at positions corresponding to the contact portions.

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the opposing wall has a relief hole to avoid contact with the guide portion.

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