JP2010176959A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrical connector wherein connection can stably be maintained even when a large force is applied during connection to a counterpart connector. <P>SOLUTION: The electrical connector 1 includes a terminal 2 connected to the counterpart connector, a housing 3 provided with the terminal 2, a housing cover 4 covering the housing 3, and a latch member 5 which is locked in the counterpart connector. The housing 3 includes a main housing body 31, and a terminal-supporting member 32 which protrudes from the main housing body 31 in a connection direction to support the terminal. The latch member 5 regulates tilting of the main housing body 31 by a supporting extension 53 abutting on a support member cover portion 44 of the housing cover 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector that can be used in a mobile phone, a personal computer, a printer, and the like.

12 to 14 show an example of a conventional electrical connector. An electrical connector 71 shown here includes a terminal 72 connected to the mating connector 100, a housing 73 provided with the terminal 72, and a housing 73. And a latch member 75 that engages with the mating connector 100.
The terminal 72 can contact a terminal (not shown) of the mating connector 100 from the lower surface side.
The housing 73 includes a housing main body 73a and a terminal support portion 73b protruding from the housing main body 73a. A plurality of terminal groove portions 73c in which the terminals 72 are disposed are formed on the upper surface of the terminal support portion 73b (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-172941 A

However, in the electrical connector 71, when an upward force is applied to the main body 71A by applying a force to the cable 6 while being connected to the mating connector 100, as shown by an arrow in FIG. In some cases, 71A tilts, and a momentary interruption may occur in the electrical contact between the terminal of the counterpart connector 100 and the terminal 72.
This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and it aims at providing the electrical connector which can maintain a connection stably, even when big force is applied in the state connected to the other party connector.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal connected to a mating connector, a housing provided with the terminal, a housing cover that covers at least a part of the housing, and a latch that latches to the mating connector. A housing main body, and a terminal support portion that protrudes from the housing main body in a connecting direction to the mating connector to support the terminal, and the latch member is provided in the housing main body. A base extension, a locking extension extending from the base in the connecting direction to the mating connector, and a support extension extending from the base, wherein the locking extension is Extending along the terminal support portion, and can be locked to the mating connector by a locking projection provided at the tip thereof, and the housing cover is formed by the housing A main body cover portion covering at least a part of the main body and a support portion cover portion covering at least a part of the terminal support portion, and when the latch member is applied with a force in a tilt direction on the housing main body The electrical connector is formed so as to restrict the tilting of the housing body by the support extending part coming into contact with the support part cover part.
The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is the fitting projection according to claim 1, wherein a fitting hole is formed in the support portion cover portion, and the supporting extension portion can be fitted in the fitting hole. And the fitting protrusion is formed so as to restrict the movement of the supporting extension portion by the fitting when a force in the tilt direction is applied to the housing body. .
The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is the electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latch member is formed of a metal plate.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the latch member is formed in a plate shape substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the terminal support portion. It is a connector.
The invention according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the electrical connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the support portion cover portion is formed in a cylindrical shape that accommodates the terminal support portion.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the housing cover includes a cover member main body that covers one surface of the housing main body and the support portion cover portion. A first cover member and a second cover member that covers the other surface of the housing body; and on the other surface side of the support portion cover portion, an engaged portion formed on the second cover member. An engagement piece having an engagement protrusion for restricting movement of the first cover member by engagement is formed, and the engagement piece is formed to protrude in the thickness direction of the terminal support portion, and the connection direction An electrical connector extending along the line.

  In the electrical connector according to the present invention, when a force in the tilt direction is applied to the main body portion, the support extension portion of the latch member abuts on the support portion cover portion and restricts the tilt of the housing main body. Therefore, the connection between the terminal and the terminal of the mating connector can be stably maintained.

It is a partial cross section perspective view of 1st Embodiment of the electrical connector of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 from the one surface side. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st cover member of the housing cover of the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 from the other surface side. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is a partial cross section perspective view of 2nd Embodiment of the electrical connector of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st cover member of the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the conventional electrical connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the electrical connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of an electrical connector 1 which is a first embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the electrical connector 1 as viewed from one side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first cover member 41 of the housing cover 4 as viewed from the other surface side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the electrical connector 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electrical connector 1 as viewed from the other side. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the electrical connector 1.
In the following description, the connection direction of the electrical connector 1 with respect to the mating connector 100 (see FIG. 5) may be referred to as the front, and the opposite direction may be referred to as the rear. Further, the upper and lower surfaces refer to the upper and lower surfaces in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connector 1 includes a terminal 2 connected to a mating connector 100 (see FIG. 5) attached to the substrate 102, a housing 3 provided with the terminal 2, and a housing 3. A housing cover 4 that covers at least a part of the housing, and a latch member 5 that engages with the mating connector 100. Reference numeral 6 denotes a cable to which the electrical connector 1 is attached.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the housing 3 includes a housing main body 31 and a plate-like terminal support portion 32 protruding from the housing main body 31.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of terminal groove portions 33 in which the terminals 2 are arranged are formed on the upper surface (one surface) of the terminal support portion 32. The terminal groove portion 33 is formed along the protruding direction of the terminal support portion 32.

The terminal 2 is electrically connected to the mating connector 100 and is provided from the housing main body 31 to the terminal support portion 32, and is connected to a terminal (not shown) of the mating connector 100 at the tip contact portion 21. Touchable.
The contact portion 21 can contact a terminal (not shown) of the mating connector 100 from the lower surface side (see FIG. 14). The terminal 2 can be elastically deformed so that the contact portion 21 can move up and down, and contacts the terminal of the mating connector 100 while being bent downward.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing cover 4 includes a first cover member 41 and a second cover member 42.
The first cover member 41 is made of a metal plate such as stainless steel or copper alloy, and is a cylindrical support that accommodates the cover member main body 43 that covers the upper surface side (one surface side) of the housing main body 31 and the terminal support portion 32. Part cover portion 44.
The 2nd cover member 42 consists of metal plates, such as stainless steel and a copper alloy, and is formed so that the lower surface side (other surface side) of the housing main body 31 may be covered.

The cover member main body 43 and the second cover member 42 of the first cover member 41 constitute a main body cover portion 40 that covers the housing main body 31.
In the illustrated example, the main body cover portion 40 is configured to cover the entire housing main body 31, but may be formed to cover only a part. Moreover, although the support part cover part 44 is formed so that the whole terminal support part 32 may be covered, you may form so that only a part may be covered.
Hereinafter, the housing main body 31, the main body cover portion 40, and the like are referred to as a main body portion 1A, and the terminal support portion 32, the support portion cover portion 44, and the like extending from the main body portion 1A are referred to as an extension portion 1B (see FIG. 2).

A passage port 45 through which the locking extension portion 52 of the latch member 5 passes is formed on the upper surface (one surface) side of the support portion cover portion 44.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base end portion 46 of the support portion cover portion 44 reaches the inside of the housing main body 31.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, a pair of locking pieces 48 formed at intervals in the width direction are provided at the rear end portion of the lower surface (the other surface) of the support portion cover portion 44. It has been. The width direction refers to the A1-A2 direction in FIGS.
In the illustrated example, the locking piece 48 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape extending along the connection direction (the protruding direction of the terminal support portion 32).
In addition, although the locking piece 48 of the example of illustration extends in the protrusion direction of the terminal support part 32, this extending direction is not limited to the example of illustration, What is necessary is just the direction which cross | intersects the said width direction.

The locking piece 48 is formed so as to protrude in the thickness direction of the terminal support portion 32 and is substantially perpendicular to the terminal support portion 32. The protruding direction of the locking piece 48 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be any direction that intersects the terminal support portion 32. The thickness direction refers to the B1-B2 direction in FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the engagement portion 48 is engaged with the upper edge of the front edge 48 a to engage with the periphery of the engaged portion 49 that is an opening formed in the second cover member 42. A mating protrusion 50 is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the latch member 5 has a plate shape made of metal such as stainless steel or copper alloy, and includes a base portion 51 provided in the housing body 31, and an upper portion of the base portion 51. From the lower part of the base 51, the support extension part 53 extended in the said connection direction is extended from the lower part of the base part 51 to the said connection direction (left side in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5).
The locking extension portion 52 extends along the terminal support portion 32 and can be locked to the mating connector by a locking protrusion 54 provided at the tip thereof.

An inner edge 53 a (upper edge) of the supporting extension portion 53 is formed along the outer surface (lower surface) of the supporting portion cover portion 44. In the illustrated example, the inner edge 53 a is in contact with the lower surface of the support portion cover portion 44 over the length direction.
The latch member 5 is formed substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the terminal support portion 32 (horizontal plane direction in FIG. 5). In the example shown in FIG. 5, it is substantially parallel to the paper surface.
The latch member 5 is preferably provided between the upper wall 31 a and the lower wall 31 b of the housing body 31 and is fixed to the housing body 31.
The latch member 5 can be formed of a resin or the like, but a metal is preferable in terms of securing strength.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the support cover portion 44 of the electrical connector 1 is inserted into the mating connector 100, the terminal 2 comes into contact with and electrically connects to the terminal (not shown) of the mating connector 100 from the lower surface side. .
As indicated by the arrow, when the force is applied to the cable 6 and a force in the tilt direction (upward) is applied to the main body portion 1 </ b> A, the supporting extension portion 53 is formed on the base of the supporting portion cover portion 44. The posture is maintained by coming into contact with the lower surface of the end portion 46, thereby restricting the tilting of the housing body 31.
For this reason, the inclination of the main body portion 1A is prevented, and the terminal 2 does not tilt. Therefore, the connection between the terminal 2 and the terminal of the mating connector 100 can be stably maintained.
The tilt direction is a direction in which the main body portion 1A is tilted, and is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. 5, but may be a direction that intersects the connection direction (the protruding direction of the terminal support portion 32).

Moreover, since the support part cover part 44 is cylindrical, it has high rigidity, and even if a force is applied by the support extension part 53, deformation hardly occurs, so that the tilt of the main body part 1 </ b> A can be reliably prevented.
Further, since the terminal support portion 32 is plate-shaped, the bending rigidity in the thickness direction of the support portion cover portion 44 is not so high as compared to the bending rigidity in other directions (for example, the width direction), but the latch member 5 has a plate shape substantially perpendicular to the terminal support portion 32. Therefore, even if a force in the thickness direction of the terminal support portion 32 (for example, the upper side in FIG. 5) is applied, the latch member 5 is not deformed. The tilting of 1A can be reliably prevented.
The formation direction of the latch member 5 is not limited to the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the terminal support portion 32, and may be a direction intersecting the extending direction at an angle other than perpendicular.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a force in the tilt direction is applied to the main body portion 1A, a force in the tilt direction is also applied to the first cover member 41. However, as shown in FIG. Since the protrusion 50 engages with the periphery of the engaged portion 49, the tilting of the first cover member 41 is restricted.
At this time, a large force is applied to the engagement piece 48 by the engaged portion 49, but the engagement piece 48 is formed to protrude in the thickness direction of the terminal support portion 32 and extends along the terminal support portion 32. Therefore, the force in the tilt direction of the main body portion 1 </ b> A acts in the extending direction of the locking piece 48.
Therefore, deformation such as bending does not occur in the locking piece 48, the tilting of the first cover member 41 is prevented, the tilting of the main body portion 1 </ b> A does not occur, and the connection between the terminal 2 and the terminal of the mating connector 100 is further improved. Become stable.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of an electrical connector 61 that is the second embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the electrical connector 61. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the first cover member 41 used for the electrical connector 61. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector 61.
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, in the vicinity of the base end portion 46 of the support portion cover portion 44, a fitting hole 47 into which the fitting protrusion 55 of the latch member 5 is fitted is provided. The fitting holes 47 are respectively formed on one side and the other side in the width direction on the lower surface side of the support portion cover portion 44.

  On the inner edge 53a (upper edge) of the distal end portion of the supporting extension portion 53, a fitting protrusion 55 protruding upward is formed. The fitting protrusion 55 is formed so as to be fitted into the fitting hole 47.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the electrical connector 61, since the fitting protrusion 55 is fitted in the fitting hole 47, relative movement of the supporting extension portion 53 with respect to the supporting portion cover portion 44 is restricted. Even if a force is applied to the main body portion 1A, the tilting is reliably prevented.
Therefore, the connection between the terminal 2 and the terminal of the mating connector 100 is maintained more stably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 61 ... Electrical connector, 2 ... Terminal, 3 ... Housing, 4 ... Housing cover, 5 ... Latch member, 31 ... Housing main body, 32 ... Terminal support part, 40 ... main body cover part, 41 ... first cover member, 42 ... second cover member, 43 ... cover member main body, 44 ... support part cover part, 47 ... fitting hole , 48 ... locking piece, 49 ... engaged portion, 50 ... engaging protrusion, 51 ... base, 52 ... locking extension, 53 ... support extension Protruding part, 54... Locking protrusion, 55.

Claims (6)

A terminal connected to the mating connector, a housing provided with the terminal, a housing cover that covers at least a part of the housing, and a latch member that latches to the mating connector;
The housing has a housing main body and a terminal support portion that supports the terminal by projecting in a connecting direction from the housing main body to the mating connector,
The latch member includes a base provided on the housing body, a locking extension extending from the base in a connecting direction to the mating connector, and a support extension extending from the base. Have
The locking extension portion extends along the terminal support portion, and can be locked to the mating connector by a locking projection provided at the tip thereof.
The housing cover has a main body cover portion covering at least a part of the housing main body, and a support portion cover portion covering at least a part of the terminal support portion;
The latch member is formed to restrict tilting of the housing body when the supporting extension part contacts the support part cover part when a tilting force is applied to the housing body. An electrical connector characterized by being. A fitting hole is formed in the support part cover part,
A fitting projection that can be fitted into the fitting hole is formed in the supporting extension portion,
The said fitting protrusion is formed so that the movement of the said extension part for a support may be controlled by the said fitting, when the force of the inclination direction is applied to the said housing main body. Electrical connector as described in.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the latch member is made of a metal plate.   The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the latch member is formed in a plate shape substantially perpendicular to an extending direction of the terminal support portion.   5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the support portion cover portion is formed in a cylindrical shape that accommodates the terminal support portion. The housing cover includes a first cover member having a cover member main body that covers one surface of the housing main body and the support portion cover portion, and a second cover member that covers the other surface of the housing main body,
On the other surface side of the support portion cover portion, a locking piece having an engaging protrusion for restricting the movement of the first cover member by engaging with an engaged portion formed on the second cover member. Formed,
The said locking piece protrudes and is formed in the thickness direction of the said terminal support part, and is extended along the said connection direction, The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Electrical connector.

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