JP6990203B2 - Terminal and electrical connector with the terminal - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a terminal provided in an electric connector to which a mating connector is connected and an electric connector having the terminal.

Such an electric connector is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. The electric connector of Patent Document 1 is mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board, and a flat conductor (FPC) as a mating connector is inserted and removed in the front-rear direction parallel to the mounting surface. The electric connector has a plurality of terminals arranged in the connector width direction (a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the same direction as the width direction of the flat conductor), and a housing for holding the plurality of terminals. is doing.

Two types of terminals are provided, and the two types of terminals (first terminal and second terminal) have different shapes and are arranged alternately in the connector width direction. All types of terminals are made by bending a strip-shaped metal plate member in the plate thickness direction, and the connector width direction (terminal arrangement direction) is the terminal width direction. The first terminal connects the upper arm and lower arm, which face each other in the vertical direction (connector thickness direction) perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit board and extend rearward in parallel with each other, and the front ends of both arms. It has a connecting portion to allow the flat conductor to enter between both arms (upper arm and lower arm) that open rearward.

The upper arm portion is shorter than the lower arm portion, and a contact portion for contact with the flat conductor is formed at the rear end portion of the upper arm portion so as to project downward toward the lower arm portion. The contact portion has a rolled surface (lower surface) facing the lower arm portion as a contact surface, and the contact surface elastically contacts the flat conductor from above. The lower arm portion is formed with a support portion that supports the flat conductor in contact with the contact portion from below at a position corresponding to the contact portion in the front-rear direction. The support portion is provided in a range overlapping the entire contact portion of the upper arm portion in the front-rear direction and the terminal width direction when viewed in the vertical direction.

On the other hand, the second terminal has a crank shape whose overall shape extends in the front-rear direction, and has an arm portion that comes into contact with the flat conductor from above, but the arm portion that supports the flat conductor from below is I don't have it.

Patent No. 6272660

In order to obtain a good electrical conduction state, the terminals are often plated with a highly conductive plating material on the contact surface of the contact portion of the terminals. At this time, an expensive material such as gold is often used for the plating process. Therefore, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the terminal and the electric connector, the range in which the terminal is plated is limited to the contact surface of the contact portion of the terminal, and the plating material is prevented from extending to other than the contact surface. It is desirable to keep the usage to a minimum.

Assuming that in Patent Document 1, when the contact surface (lower surface) of the contact portion formed on the upper arm portion of the first terminal is to be plated, as described above, the support portion of the lower arm portion of the first terminal is to be plated. When viewed in the vertical direction, it overlaps with the entire contact part of the upper arm in the front-back direction and the terminal width direction, so the lower arm becomes an obstacle and plating is sprayed on the contact surface of the contact part from below. It is extremely difficult to apply. Therefore, in order to perform plating on the contact surface of the contact portion of the first terminal, it is usually necessary to immerse the entire first terminal in a plating tank. If the entire first terminal is plated in this way, the plating material will be used for the parts that do not originally need plating, that is, the parts other than the contact surface, and the manufacturing cost of the terminals and the electric connector will increase accordingly. It will be lost.

In view of the present invention, when plating a terminal having two arms parallel to each other, a contact portion formed on one arm portion of the terminal is formed on the other arm portion in the longitudinal direction of both arms portions. Even if it is located within the range of the arm, the other arm should be plated only on the contact part without obstruction, and the amount of plating material used should be kept to the minimum necessary. It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal capable of the above and an electric connector provided with the terminal.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems are solved by the terminal according to the first invention and the electric connector according to the second invention.

<First invention>
The terminal according to the first invention is provided in the electric connector to which the mating connector is inserted forward toward the electric connector and connected.

In such a terminal, in the first invention, the terminal is made of a rolled metal plate, and a strip-shaped metal plate member having the width direction of the mating body perpendicular to the front-rear direction as the terminal width direction is bent in the plate thickness direction. It has two arms that extend backward in parallel with each other and a connecting part that connects the front ends of the two arms, and connects the other arm to each other from the rear. The body is allowed to enter, and one of the two arms is connected to the other by a rolled surface located on the other arm side within a range overlapping the other arm in the front-rear direction. A contact portion capable of contacting the body is formed, and the other arm portion is located at a position overlapping the contact portion of the one arm portion in the anteroposterior direction when viewed in the terminal width direction. A support portion is formed to support the mating connection body in contact with the other arm portion by a rolled surface located on the one arm portion side, and the support portion of the other arm portion is viewed in the plate thickness direction of the support portion. It is characterized in that it is formed with a range that does not overlap with at least a part of the contact portion in the terminal width direction.

In the terminal according to the first invention, the support portion of the other arm portion with respect to at least a part of the contact portion when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the support portion, that is, in the opposite direction between the two arm portions. It is formed with a range that does not overlap in the terminal width direction. With such a configuration, the plating material is applied by spraying, for example, a plating material from the other arm side to the contact surface of the contact portion of one arm in the plate thickness direction. The area to be plated can be limited to the contact surface of the contact portion and its vicinity. As a result, the amount of plating material used can be kept to the minimum necessary.

In the first invention, the support portion of the other arm portion may be formed to have a larger terminal width than the other portion of the other arm portion. By forming the support portion wide in this way, the strength of the support portion itself is improved. Therefore, even if the support portion is formed so as not to overlap with at least a part of the contact portion in the terminal width direction, the support portion may be formed from the contact portion of one arm portion of the other connecting body as a whole. It is possible to sufficiently counter the force received, that is, the force toward the other arm side, to support the other connecting body.

In the first invention, the support portion of the other arm portion has a notch formed in a side edge portion extending in the front-rear direction of the support portion, and depending on the range of the notch portion, the support portion may be at least a part of the contact portion. On the other hand, it may be assumed that a range that does not overlap in the terminal width direction is formed. Further, the support portion of the other arm portion is formed with a hole portion penetrating in the plate thickness direction of the support portion, and depending on the range of the hole portion, the terminal width direction with respect to at least a part of the contact portion. It may be assumed that a non-overlapping range is formed. Further, the support portion of the other arm portion is formed at a position deviated from the other portion in the other arm portion in the terminal width direction, so that the support portion overlaps with at least a part of the contact portion in the terminal width direction. It may be said that a range that does not exist is formed.

<Second invention>
The electric connector according to the second invention is characterized by having a terminal according to the first invention. By providing the terminal according to the first invention in this way in the electric connector, the range in which the terminal is plated can be limited to the contact surface of the contact portion and its vicinity. As a result, the amount of plating material used can be kept to the minimum necessary.

In the present invention, the "coupling body" means a connecting body that is electrically connected to the electric connector, for example, a flat conductor such as an FPC inserted into the electric connector, or fitted to the electric connector. Examples thereof include a mating electrical connector to be connected.

In the present invention, as described above, in the terminal, the support portion of the other arm portion does not overlap with at least a part of the contact portion in the terminal width direction when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the support portion. Since it is formed, the range where the plating treatment is applied by applying the plating material from the other arm side to the contact portion of one arm in the plate thickness direction through this non-overlapping range is the range of the contact portion. It can be fastened to the contact surface and its vicinity. By keeping the amount of plating material used to the minimum necessary, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of terminals and thus electric connectors.

It is a perspective view of the electric connector for a flat conductor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the electric connector for a flat conductor of FIG. 1 from the front side, and shows one 1st terminal, 1st 2nd terminal, a movable member, and 1 metal fitting separated. .. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electric connector for a flat conductor when a movable member is in a closed position, (A) is a cross section at the position of the first terminal, (B) is a cross section at the position of the second terminal, (C). ) Indicates a cross section at the position of the locking portion of the movable member. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electric connector for a flat conductor when a movable member is in an open position, (A) is a cross section at the position of the first terminal, (B) is a cross section at the position of the second terminal, (C). ) Indicates a cross section at the position of the locking portion of the movable member. (A) is a plan view of the electric connector for a flat conductor when the movable member is in the open position, and (B) is a bottom view of the electric connector for a flat conductor of (A). It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electric connector for a flat conductor when a movable member is in a closed position, (A) is a cross section at a position of a first shaft portion of a movable member, and (B) is a second shaft portion of the movable member. The cross section at the position of (C) shows the cross section at the position of the third shaft portion of the movable member. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electric connector for a flat conductor when a movable member is in an open position, (A) is a cross section at a position of a first shaft portion of a movable member, and (B) is a second shaft portion of a movable member. The cross section at the position of (C) shows the cross section at the position of the third shaft portion of the movable member. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electric connector for a flat conductor at the time of integral molding, (A) is a cross section at a position of a first shaft portion of a movable member, and (B) is a position of a third shaft portion of a movable member. The cross section of is shown in the state where the mold is arranged. (A) is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the electric connector for a flat conductor when the movable member is in the open position and viewed from diagonally upward and forward, and (B) is a perspective view when the movable member is in the closed position. It is a cross-sectional view of the cross section of an electric connector for a flat conductor seen from below, and is partially enlarged. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electric connector for a circuit board in a state where the insertion of a flat conductor is completed. C) shows a cross section at the position of the locking portion of the movable member. (A) is a perspective view of the second terminal in the modified example, (B) is a bottom view of the second terminal of (A), (C) is a perspective view of the second terminal in another modified example, and (D) is (D). It is a bottom view of the second terminal of C).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric connector 1 for a flat conductor (hereinafter referred to as “connector 1”) according to the present embodiment. The connector 1 is mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown), and a flat conductor F as a mating connector is inserted and removed with the front-back direction (X-axis direction) parallel to the mounting surface as the insertion / removal direction. It is designed to be connected as possible. The connector 1 electrically conducts the circuit board and the flat conductor F by connecting the flat conductor F. In the present embodiment, in the X-axis direction (front-back direction), the X1 direction is the front and the X2 direction is the rear. Further, the Y-axis direction, which is perpendicular to the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) in the plane parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board (in the XY plane), is defined as the connector width direction, and is perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The Z-axis direction (vertical direction) is the connector thickness direction.

The flat conductor F has a band shape extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and having the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) as the width direction, and a plurality of circuit portions (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction are in the connector width direction. It is arranged and formed. The circuit portion is embedded in the insulating layer of the flat conductor F and extends in the front-rear direction, and reaches the front end position of the flat conductor F. Further, the circuit portion has a connection circuit portion F1 in which only the front end side portion thereof is exposed on the upper surface of the flat conductor F, and can be contacted with the first terminal 20 and the second terminal 30 of the connector 1 described later. It has become. The connection circuit unit F1 has a first connection circuit unit F1A in contact with the first terminal 20 and a second connection circuit unit F1B in contact with the second terminal 30, both of which are displaced in the front-rear direction in the connector width direction. It is located alternately at.

Further, the flat conductor F has cutouts F2 formed on both side edges of the front end side portion, and the rear end edge of the front selvage portion F3 located in front of the cutout portion F2 is a connector to be described later of the connector 1. It functions as a locked portion F3A that engages with the stop portion 45A (see FIG. 10C). Further, the flat conductor F is formed with a rear ear portion F4 protruding outward in the connector width direction from both side edges at a position rearward from the notch portion F2 in a substantially triangular shape. The front end edge of the rear selvage portion F4 extends so as to incline rearward as it goes outward in the connector width direction, and the front end edge abuts from the rear with respect to the positioning surface 16C-2 of the housing 10 described later. Therefore, the flat conductor F is positioned at the regular insertion position in the front-rear direction.

The connector 1 includes a housing 10 made of an electrically insulating material, a plurality of metal first terminals 20 and second terminals 30 (see FIG. 2) arranged and held in the housing 10 by integral molding, and a closed position described later. A movable member 40 made of an electric insulating material that can rotate with respect to the housing 10 between the opening position and the open position, and a metal fitting 50 that is held by the housing 10 by integral molding, and the flat conductor F is rearward. It is designed to be inserted and connected from. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the first terminal 20 and the second terminal 30, both terminals are collectively referred to as "terminals 20 and 30".

Prior to the detailed configuration of the connector 1, first, an outline of the operation of inserting and removing the flat conductor F into the connector 1 will be described. The movable member 40 of the connector 1 rotates between a closed position as a first position for preventing the flat conductor F from being pulled out and an open position as a second position for allowing the flat conductor F to be pulled out. By doing so, it becomes possible to move. Before inserting the flat conductor F into the connector 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the movable member 40 of the connector 1 is parallel to the mounting surface (not shown) of the circuit board and the housing 10. The flat conductor F is allowed to be inserted in the closed position as the first position in which the posture is formed. The flat conductor F abuts on the terminals 20 and 30 at its front edge and elastically displaces the abutting portion of the terminals 20 and 30 so that the flat conductor F can be inserted up to a predetermined position (regular insertion position).

Even after the flat conductor F is inserted and connected, the movable member 40 is maintained in the closed position in the used state of the connector 1, and as will be described later, the locking portion 45A of the movable member 40 and the flat conductor F are maintained. By being positioned so that it can be locked with the locked portion F3A, the flat conductor F is prevented from moving backward (in the X2 direction), and the flat conductor F is prevented from being inadvertently pulled out (FIG. FIG. 10 (C)). Further, when the flat conductor F is pulled out when the connector 1 is not used, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable member 40 is rotated in the upright direction and has an angle with respect to the mounting surface of the circuit board and the housing 10. The locking portion 45A of the movable member 40 is locked to the locked portion F3A of the flat conductor F by being brought to the open position (see FIG. 4C) as the second position forming the standing posture. The state is released, and the movement of the flat conductor F to the rear, that is, the extraction of the flat conductor F is permitted. In the present embodiment, the rotation angle of the movable member 40 from the closed position to the open position is an obtuse angle.

In the present embodiment, the movable member 40 moves between the closed position and the open position only by rotating around the rotation axis extending in the width direction of the connector, but the movable form of the movable member 40 is this. The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the connector may rotate with a slide movement.

Returning to the description of the configuration of the connector 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector 1 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front side, in which one first terminal 20, one second terminal 30, a movable member 40, and one metal fitting 50 are separated. It is shown by. In FIG. 2, the movable member 40 is shown in a posture at the same angle as when it is in the open position. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector 1 when the movable member 40 is in the closed position, and FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector 1 when the movable member 40 is in the open position. In each of 4, (A) is a cross section at the position of the first terminal 20 in the connector width direction, (B) is a cross section at the position of the second terminal 30 in the connector width direction, and (C) is movable in the connector width direction. The cross section of the member 40 at the position of the locking portion 45A described later is shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 has a square frame shape with the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) as the longitudinal direction when viewed from above (FIG. 5 (B)), and is parallel to each other. None A pair of sideways extending in the front-rear direction by connecting the ends of the front frame portion 10A and the rear frame portion 10B extending in the connector width direction and the ends of the front frame portion 10A and the rear frame portion 10B symmetrically in the connector width direction. It has a frame portion 10C.

As seen in FIG. 2, the front frame portion 10A has a lower portion facing the circuit board (not shown), a front base portion 11 extending over a terminal arrangement range in the connector width direction, and a front base portion 11 hanging upward from the front base portion 11. It has a front wall 12 that stands up and is formed over the terminal arrangement range in the connector width direction. The front base portion 11 and the front wall 12 of the front frame portion 10A hold the first terminal 20 and the second terminal 30 in an array by integral molding. The upper surface of the front wall 12 faces the lower surface of the movable member 40 in the closed position so as to be in contact with each other (see FIGS. 3A and 3B), which regulates excessive downward displacement of the movable member 40. It is designed to do. The rear frame portion 10B extends over the terminal arrangement range in the connector width direction, and in combination with the front frame portion 10A, the second terminal 30 is arranged and held by integral molding.

As seen in FIG. 2, the side frame portion 10C includes a plate-shaped side base portion 14 that connects the ends of the front base portion 11 and the rear frame portion 10B in the connector width direction, and the side frame portion 10C in the connector width direction. The side wall 15 located outside the side base 14 and connected to the side base 14, and located inward (on the terminal arrangement range side) in the connector width direction from the side wall 15 and above the side base 14. It has a lateral protrusion 16 that protrudes toward.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side wall 15 has a substantially latter half portion protruding inward in the connector width direction from the other portions, and the substantially latter half portion in the front-rear direction intermediate region is described later. The outer accommodating portion 18A accommodating the first shaft portion 47A and the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40 is formed so as to penetrate in the vertical direction and open inward in the connector width direction.

As seen in FIG. 2, the lateral protrusion 16 has a front regulation protrusion 16A located near the front end of the side base 14 and a rear regulation protrusion 16B located rearward of the front regulation protrusion 16A. Have. When the movable member 40 is brought to the closed position, the space between the front regulation protrusion 16A and the rear regulation protrusion 16B accommodates the regulated protrusion 45B described later of the movable member 40. It has become. Then, at the closed position, the rear surface of the front regulated protrusion 16A can regulate the forward movement of the regulated protrusion 45B, and the front surface of the rear regulated protrusion 16B allows the regulated protrusion 45B to be restricted. It is possible to regulate the movement to the rear.

Further, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the lateral protrusion 16 is formed at a position rearward from the rear regulation protrusion 16B and lower than the front regulation protrusion 16A and the rear regulation protrusion 16B. Also has. The shaft regulation protrusion 16C extends from the rear surface of the rear regulation protrusion 16B toward the rear (X2 direction), and then extends outward in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) toward the rear. .. The upper surface of the shaft regulation protrusion 16C faces the second shaft portion 47B described later of the movable member 40 from below, and the shaft regulation surface 16C restricts the movement of the second shaft portion 47B downward by a predetermined amount or more. It is formed as -1 (see FIG. 6B). Further, the rear surface (inclined surface) of the shaft restricting protrusion 16C abuts on the front end edge (inclined edge) of the rear selvage portion F4 of the flat conductor F inserted into the connector 1, thereby making the flat conductor F. It is formed as a positioning surface 16C-2 that is positioned at a regular insertion position in the front-rear direction.

On the rear end side (X2 side) of the side frame portion 10C, as seen in FIG. 2, when the housing 10 is viewed in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), the rotation shaft portion 47 of the movable member 40 is provided. An accommodating portion 18 accommodating the rotating shaft portion 47 is formed in a range including the rotating shaft portion 47. The accommodating portion 18 is located inside the outer accommodating portion 18A that mainly accommodates the first shaft portion 47A and the third shaft portion 47C, which will be described later, and the outer accommodating portion 18A in the connector width direction. The inner accommodating portion 18B that mainly accommodates the second shaft portion 47B described later, and the fourth shaft portion 47D described later of the movable member 40 located between the outer accommodating portion 18A and the inner accommodating portion 18B in the connector width direction. It has an intermediate accommodating portion 18C for accommodating.

As described above, the outer accommodating portion 18A is formed as a space that penetrates the substantially latter half of the side wall 15 in the front-rear direction in the vertical direction and is open inward in the connector width direction. As seen in FIG. 5B, the outer accommodating portion 18A accommodates the first shaft portion 47A and the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40 (see also FIGS. 6A and 6C). Of the inner wall surfaces forming the outer accommodating portion 18A, the two inner wall surfaces facing each other in the front-rear direction form a surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and the inner wall surface located in the front of the two inner wall surfaces is used. The "front inner wall surface 18A-1" and the rear inner wall surface located behind are referred to as "rear inner wall surface 18A-2" (see FIGS. 6 (A) and 7 (A)).

The inner accommodating portion 18B is formed in a space inside the intermediate accommodating portion 18C described later in the connector width direction and extends between the upper surface of the axial restricting protrusion 16C and the upper surface of the side wall 15 in the vertical direction. ing. As described above, the inner accommodating portion 18B accommodates the second shaft portion 47B of the movable member 40.

The intermediate accommodating portion 18C is formed as a space that penetrates the lateral base portion 14 in the vertical direction at a position between the side wall 15 and the shaft restricting protrusion 16C in the connector width direction. As seen in FIG. 5B, the intermediate accommodating portion 18C accommodates the fourth shaft portion 47D, which will be described later, of the movable member 40. As will be described later, the intermediate accommodating portion 18C pulls out a gate block (not shown) arranged from below for molding the movable member 40 at the time of manufacturing the connector 1 downward after molding the movable member 40. Formed by. On the inner wall surface on the lower end side of the intermediate accommodating portion 18C, a slope 18C-1 that expands the inner width of the intermediate accommodating portion 18C as it goes downward is formed along the peripheral edge of the intermediate accommodating portion 18C (FIG. 5 (B)). Since the slope 18C-1 is formed, the gate block for forming the movable member can be easily removed after the movable member 40 is formed.

The outer accommodating portion 18A and the intermediate accommodating portion 18C communicate with each other, and the outer accommodating portion 18A and the intermediate accommodating portion 18C together form a hole that penetrates the side frame portion 10C in the vertical direction. A penetrating portion is formed (see FIG. 5 (B)).

As seen in FIG. 4A, the housing 10 is formed with a space 17 having a receiving portion 17A, a housing recess 17B, and a bottom hole portion 17C. That is, as can be seen with reference to FIG. 4A, the space 17 is located above the receiving portion 17A and the receiving portion 17A for receiving the flat conductor F inserted forward, and is in a closed position. It has an accommodating recess 17B for accommodating the movable member 40 in the above, and a bottom hole portion 17C located below the receiving portion 17A.

The receiving portion 17A is located above the rear frame portion 10B in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and below the cover plate portion 42 described later of the movable member 40 in the closed position, and is located in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). It is formed from the rear end of the connector 1 to the rear surface of the front wall 12 of the housing 10 and extends between the two lateral protrusions 16 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). The receiving portion 17A is open toward the rear and also open upward, so that the front end side portion of the flat conductor F can be received from the rear. Further, since the receiving portion 17A is opened not only to the rear but also to the upper side, the flat conductor F can be received at the rear portion of the receiving portion 17A even in an oblique posture.

The accommodating recess 17B is located above the receiving portion 17A, communicates with the receiving portion 17A, and is formed between the two side walls 15 in the connector width direction. The accommodating recess 17B is open upward and is capable of accommodating the movable member 40 brought to the closed position. In the front-rear direction, the accommodating recess 17B is formed from a position near the rear end 31B of the second contact arm portion 31 of the second terminal 30, which will be described later, to the front end of the housing 10. In the present embodiment, the accommodating recess 17B is located above the receiving portion 17A, but this "located above" means that the accommodating recess 17B is partially overlapped with the receiving portion 17A in the vertical direction. Including the state of being.

Further, the bottom hole portion 17C is surrounded by a square frame-shaped portion of the housing 10 (a portion composed of a front frame portion 10A, a rear frame portion 10B, and a side frame portion 10C) and is formed in a space penetrating in the vertical direction. ..

In this embodiment, the terminal is composed of two types of first terminal 20 and second terminal 30 having different shapes from each other. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first terminal 20 and the second terminal 30 have different shapes and are arranged alternately in the connector width direction.

As seen in FIG. 2, the first terminal 20 is made by bending a strip-shaped rolled metal plate whose dimension in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) is the terminal width direction in the plate thickness direction. The first terminal 20 has a first contact arm portion 21 that extends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and is located below the first contact arm portion 21 and moves forward. It has a first connecting portion 22 extending in the vertical direction and a first connecting portion 23 extending in the vertical direction to connect the front end of the first contact arm portion 21 and the rear end of the first connecting portion 22, and has a substantially crank shape as a whole. (See also FIG. 3 (A)).

The first contact arm portion 21 of the first terminal 20 extends so as to incline slightly downward toward the rear, and is bent so as to project downward at a position near the rear end. It has a part 21A. When the flat conductor F is inserted into the connector 1, the first contact portion 21A is the first connection circuit portion in the front row of the flat conductor F under the elastic displacement of the first contact arm portion 21 facing upward. It can be contacted with F1A (see FIG. 10 (A)).

The rear end side portion and the first connecting portion 23 of the first connecting portion 22 of the first terminal 20 are integrally molded and held by the front frame portion 10A of the housing 10 (see also FIG. 3A). The front end side portion of the first connection portion 22 of the first terminal 20 extends forward from the front frame portion 10A of the housing 10, and is solder-connected to the circuit portion of the circuit board (not shown) on the lower surface thereof. It has become like.

As seen in FIG. 2, the second terminal 30 is made by bending a strip-shaped rolled metal plate whose dimension in the connector width direction is the terminal width direction and bent in the plate thickness direction, like the first terminal 20. A second contact arm portion 31 that extends in the front-rear direction and can be elastically displaced in the up-down direction, and a second contact arm portion 31 that extends in the front-rear direction at a position below the second contact arm portion 31 and is held by the housing 10 at the front end portion and the rear end portion. The held arm portion 32, the curved second connecting portion 33 extending in the vertical direction and connecting the front ends of the second contact arm portion 31 and the held arm portion 32, and the held arm portion 32 extending rearwardly. The second connection portion 34 is formed.

The second terminal 30 has the second contact arm portion 31 as one arm portion, the held arm portion 32 as the other arm portion, and the second connecting portion 33 as described above, so that the second terminal 30 is rearward (X2 direction). A horizontal U-shaped portion that opens toward the surface is formed (see also FIG. 3B), and as will be described later, the horizontal U-shaped portion enables the reception of the flat conductor F from the rear. At the same time, the second contact arm portion 31 is elastically displaced when the flat conductor F is received, so that the flat conductor F can be pinched between the second contact arm portion 31 and the held arm portion 32.

As seen in FIG. 3B, the second contact arm portion 31 of the second terminal 30 extends so as to incline slightly downward from the upper end of the second connecting portion 33 toward the rear, and is closer to the rear end. It has a second contact portion 31A that is bent and formed so as to project downward at the position of. The second contact portion 31A is located behind the first contact portion 21A of the first terminal 20 (see also FIG. 3B), and is connected to the second connection circuit portion F1B in the rear row of the flat conductor F. It is designed to be connected. Further, the rear end 31B of the second contact arm portion 31 is located behind the rear end 21B of the first contact arm portion 21 of the first terminal 20 (see also FIG. 3B).

The held arm portion 32 of the second terminal 30 extends rearward from the lower end of the second connecting portion 33 in parallel with the second contact arm portion 31 and reaches the position of the rear frame portion 10B of the housing 10. The portion near the rear end of the held arm portion 32 is integrally molded by the rear frame portion 10B of the housing 10. Further, the portion of the held arm portion 32 near the front end and the second connecting portion 33 are held by the front frame portion 10A by integral molding (see also FIG. 3B). That is, as seen in FIG. 3B, the held arm portion 32 is held in the shape of a double-sided beam by the housing 10.

As seen in FIG. 3B, the held arm portion 32 has a front end side portion 32A connected to the second connecting portion 33, a rear end side portion 32B connected to the second connecting portion 34, and front and rear. It has a support portion 32C that is located in a range including the second contact portion 31A of the second contact arm portion 31 in the direction and connects the front end side portion 32A and the rear end side portion 32B.

5 (A) is a plan view of the connector 1 when the movable member 40 is in the open position, and FIG. 5 (B) is a bottom view of the connector 1 of (A). As can be seen in FIG. 5B, the front end side portion 32A has a larger terminal width dimension (dimension in the Y-axis direction) than the second contact arm portion 31 (see also FIG. 5A), and is front and rear. It is formed to have the same width over the entire direction. The rear end side portion 32B is formed with a terminal width dimension smaller than that of the front end side portion 32A.

As seen in FIG. 5B, the support portion 32C is located within the range of the bottom hole portion 17C of the housing 10 in the front-rear direction and the connector width direction. As described above, the support portion 32C is located in the range including the second contact portion 31A of the second contact arm portion 31 in the front-rear direction, and the second contact is made with the flat conductor F connected to the connector 1. The flat conductor F in contact with the second contact portion 31A of the arm portion 31 is supported from below by the rolled surface (support surface) forming the upper surface of the support portion 32C (see FIG. 10B).

As seen in FIG. 5B, the support portion 32C is located so that the side edge on the Y1 side in the connector width direction is further shifted to the Y1 side from the front end side portion 32A, and the opposite is true in the connector width direction. A notch 32C-1 is formed at a position overlapping the second contact portion 31A in the front-rear direction on the side edge portion on the Y2 side located on the side. The terminal width dimension of the support portion 32C is smaller than the terminal width dimension of the front end side portion 32A in the range of the notch portion 32C-1 in the front-rear direction, and is substantially the same as the terminal width dimension of the rear end side portion 32B. Are equal. Further, the terminal width dimension of the support portion 32C is larger than the terminal width dimension of the front end side portion 32A and the rear end side portion 32B in the range other than the notch portion 32C-1 in the front-rear direction. In other words, the maximum terminal width dimension of the support portion 32C is larger than the maximum terminal width dimension of the front end side portion 32A and the rear end side portion 32B.

In the present embodiment, the cutout portion 32C-1 of the support portion 32C is a part of the second contact portion 31A when viewed in the facing direction (vertical direction) between the second contact arm portion 31 and the held arm portion 32. It is formed in a position that overlaps with. In other words, in the support portion 32C, a range that does not overlap with a part of the second contact portion 31A is formed in the range of the notch portion 32C-1. That is, as seen in FIG. 5B, when the second terminal 30 is viewed from below, a part of the second contact portion 31A is exposed within the range of the notch portion 32C-1, and the notch is used. It can be visually recognized through the portion 32C-1.

Therefore, a plating material (for example, gold or the like) may be sprayed from below the held arm portion 32 toward the contact surface (lower surface) of the second contact portion 31A of the second contact arm portion 31 through the notch portion 32C-1. By doing so, the plating material can be applied to the contact surface. By applying the plating material through the notch 32C-1 in this way, the range to which the plating material is applied can be limited to the contact surface of the second contact portion 31A and its vicinity, and thus the amount of the plating material used. Can be kept to the minimum necessary, and the manufacturing cost of the second terminal 30 can be suppressed. The plating material can be applied through the notch 32C-1 at any time before and after the integral molding of the second terminal 30 and the housing 10.

Further, in the present embodiment, the support portion 32C is formed so that the maximum terminal width is larger and wider than the other portions of the held arm portion 32, that is, the front end side portion 32A and the rear end side portion 32B, and the support portion 32C is formed. The strength of itself is increasing. Therefore, in the support portion 32C, even if the cutout portion 32C-1 is formed, the flat conductor F is connected to the connector 1 and the flat conductor F is the second contact portion 31A of the second contact arm portion 31. The flat conductor F can be supported by sufficiently countering the force received from the support portion 32C, that is, the downward force. Further, by providing a circuit portion on the lower surface of the flat conductor F and contacting the support portion 32C to electrically conduct the circuit portion and the support portion 32C, the support portion 32C can be used as a contact portion. It may have a function.

As seen in FIG. 3B, the second connection portion 34 extends rearward from the rear frame portion 10B (see also FIG. 5B), and the circuit board (shown) on the lower surface thereof. It is designed to be solder-connected to the circuit part of (1).

The movable member 40 has a substantially plate-like body portion 41 that extends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), as seen in FIG. 1 showing the movable member 40 in a closed position. It has a ridge portion 46 and a rotation shaft portion 47 formed on the rear end side (X2 side) of the main body portion 41 when the movable member 40 is in the closed position.

As seen in FIG. 1, the main body portion 41 extends over the terminal arrangement range in the connector width direction and has a cover plate portion 42 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) covering the terminals 20 and 30 from above at the closed position. Also referred to), the end arm portion 43 extending rearward at both outer positions of the cover plate portion 42, the connecting portion 44 connecting the front ends of the back plate portion 42 and the end arm portion 43, and the connecting portion 44. It has a locking arm portion 45 extending in a cantilever shape from the rear to the rear (see also FIG. 2).

As seen in FIG. 1, the cover plate portion 42 has a hole portion 42A that communicates with the first groove portion 46A of the ridge portion 46, which will be described later, in the front-rear direction and the connector width direction at the closed position. It is formed so as to penetrate the cover plate portion 42 in the thickness direction of the portion 42 (see also FIG. 3A).

As seen in FIG. 2, the end arm portion 43 has a lower end portion (rear end portion when the movable member 40 is in the open position) when the movable member 40 is in the open position, which will be described later of the rotation shaft portion 47 in the connector width direction. A fourth shaft portion 47A is located between the first shaft portion 47A and the second shaft portion 47B to form a part of the rotating shaft portion 47, and the first shaft portion 47A and the second shaft portion 47B are connected to each other. It is formed as a shaft portion 47D.

The locking arm 45 is forward (FIG. 3) at the lower end (rear end in FIG. 3 (C) where the movable member 40 is in the closed position), as seen in FIG. 2 where the movable member 40 is in the open position. A locking portion 45A projecting downward (downward in 3 (C)) is formed. As shown in FIG. 3C, the locking portion 45A rushes into the receiving portion 17A of the housing 10 from above when the movable member 40 is in the closed position. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the locking portion 45A moves the flat conductor F forward in the process of inserting the flat conductor F in a state where the movable member 40 is in the closed position. It has a guide surface 45A-1 for guiding at the rear, and is capable of being locked from the rear to the locked portion F3A formed on the flat conductor F after the flat conductor F is inserted. It has a retaining surface 45A-2 at the front (see also FIG. 10 (C)).

As seen in FIG. 3C, the guide surface 45A-1 has an inclined surface that inclines downward as the movable member 40 is in the closed position. When the front end portion of the front selvage portion F3 of the flat conductor F in the process of inserting the flat conductor F abuts on the guide surface 45A-1, the locking arm portion 45 receives the contact force and the locking arm portion 45. The 45 forms an elastic arm portion that is easily elastically displaced upward.

Further, the guide surface 45A-1 extends in the vertical direction without being inclined when viewed in the connector width direction, as seen in FIG. 4C, when the movable member 40 is in the open position. In other words, the guide surface 45A-1 forms a surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction at the open position. Since the guide surface 45A-1 extends in the vertical direction at the open position in this way, it becomes possible to pull out the upper mold straight upward after molding the movable member 40, as will be described later.

Further, as seen in FIGS. 3C and 10C, the locking surface 45A-2 is seen in the connector width direction when the movable member 40 is in the closed position, and is not tilted in the vertical direction. Extends to. In other words, the locking surface 45A-2 forms a surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction at the closed position. Therefore, in the closed position, the locking surface 45A-2 is located behind the locked portion F3A of the flat conductor F, and is securely locked to the locked portion F3A from the rear, so that the flat conductor It is possible to prevent the F from being inadvertently removed.

Further, as seen in FIG. 2, the locking arm portion 45 is formed so as to project outward from the locking portion 45A in the connector width direction at a position near the lower end when the movable member 40 is in the open position. It has a regulated protrusion 45B. When the movable member 40 is brought to the closed position, the regulated protrusion 45B enters the space between the front regulation protrusion 16A and the rear regulation protrusion 16B of the housing 10, and the front regulation protrusion 45B enters the space between the front regulation protrusion 16A and the rear regulation protrusion 16B. It is located so that it can abut from the rear with respect to 16A and from the front with respect to the rear regulation protrusion 16B, and is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 1). Further, the regulated protrusion 45B is formed in a range including a part of the locking portion 45A when viewed in the connector width direction, and also plays a role of reinforcing the strength of the locking portion 45A.

A plurality of ridges 46 are formed at positions corresponding to the first terminal 20 in the connector width direction at intervals, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the movable member 40 is covered when the movable member 40 is in the closed position. It protrudes from the lower surface of the rear end portion of the plate portion 42 and extends rearward (see also FIGS. 1 and 2). Each ridge portion 46 is formed with a first groove portion 46A that is recessed from the lower surface (the surface on the receiving portion 17A side) of the substantially front half portion of the ridge portion 46 when it is in the closed position. The first groove portion 46A is formed at a position corresponding to the rear end 21B of the first contact arm portion 21 of the first terminal 20 in the connector width direction and the front-rear direction in a state where the movable member 40 is in the closed position. As seen in 3 (A), the rear end 21B of the first contact arm 21 is accommodated in the closed position (see also FIG. 9 (B)). As seen in FIGS. 3A and 4A, the first groove portion 46A is located corresponding to the hole portion 42A of the cover plate portion 42 and communicates with the hole portion 42A. .. Further, as seen in FIG. 2, it is located substantially below the ridge portion 46 in the open position (substantially the latter half portion in the closed position), that is, below the first groove portion 46A (rearward in the closed position). The portion (partition wall 46C described later) is solid over the entire ridge portion 46 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) (see also FIGS. 9A and 9B).

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the protrusions 46 adjacent to each other are opened at positions corresponding to the rear end 31B of the second contact arm portion 31 of the second terminal 30 in the connector width direction. At the position, a second groove portion 46B extending in the vertical direction (front-back direction in the closed position) over the entire area of the ridge portion 46 is formed (see also FIGS. 3B and 4B). As can be seen in FIG. 3B, the second groove portion 46B is substantially below the lower half portion in the open position (substantially the latter half portion in the closed position), that is, below the first groove portion 46A (rearward in the open position). ), Which accommodates the rear end 31B of the second contact arm portion 31 when the movable member 40 is brought to the closed position (also in FIG. 9B). reference).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the rear end 21B of the first contact arm portion 21 is accommodated in the first groove portion 46A and the second contact arm portion 31 is accommodated in the second groove portion 46B in the state where the movable member 40 is in the closed position. By accommodating the rear end 31B, the inner wall surface of the first groove portion 46A and the inner wall surface of the second groove portion 46B forming a right angle with respect to the connector width direction of the first contact arm portion 21 and the second contact arm portion 31. Inadvertent displacement of each connector in the width direction is regulated. Further, in the process of inserting the flat conductor F into the connector 1, the flat conductor F does not come into contact with the rear end 21B of the first contact arm portion 21 and the rear end 31B of the second contact arm portion 31. It is possible to prevent damage to the terminals 20 and 30 due to buckling or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the portion located behind the first groove portion 46A in the ridge portion 46 (lower in the open position) in the closed position, in other words, the groove shape of the adjacent second groove portion 46B. A portion separating the portions forms a partition wall 46C, and the partition wall 46C is solid over the entire ridge portion 46 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction).

In the present embodiment, the rear end of the second contact arm portion is located on the rear end side of the housing 10 with respect to the rear end of the first contact arm portion, in other words, on the opening side of the receiving portion 17A. At the start of inserting the flat conductor F, that is, immediately after the insertion of the flat conductor F into the rear end opening of the receiving portion 17A is started, the position and orientation of the flat conductor F in the connector width direction are still unstable. Therefore, the rear end of the second contact arm portion is more likely to receive an inadvertent external force from the flat conductor F in the connector width direction than the rear end of the first contact arm portion.

However, in the present embodiment, as described above, the strength of the partition wall 46C itself can be increased by making the partition wall 46C solid and increasing the wall thickness dimension (dimension in the connector width direction) of the partition wall 46C as much as possible. Therefore, even if a large number of terminals 20 and 30 are provided and the distance between the second terminals 30 must be reduced, sufficient strength of the partition wall 46C is ensured. Therefore, the side surface of the partition wall 46C (the surface perpendicular to the connector width direction), in other words, the inner wall surface of the groove-shaped portion of the second groove portion 46B causes the second contact arm portion 31 to be inadvertently displaced in the connector width direction. Can be regulated more reliably.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, at the lower portion of the partition wall 46C of each ridge portion 46 (rear portion when the movable member 40 is in the closed position), both side surfaces in the connector width direction are forward (the movable member 40 is closed). A slope 46C-1 is formed inward in the connector width direction toward the lower side when in the position). As described above, in the present embodiment, since the slope 46C-1 is formed on the partition wall 46C, the rear end 31B of the second contact arm portion 31 of the second terminal 30 is assumed to be in the open position of the movable member 40. Is slightly deviated from the normal position in the connector width direction, but in the rotation process from the open position to the closed position of the movable member 40, the rear end 31B abuts on the slope 46C-1 and slides into contact with the slope 46C-1. , Is surely guided in the second groove portion 46B of the movable member 40. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the rear end 31B from coming into contact with the partition wall 46C and inadvertently deforming the second contact arm portion 31 during the rotation process. Further, since the partition wall 46C is formed with a large wall thickness dimension as described above, sufficient strength of the partition wall 46C is ensured even if the slope 46C-1 is formed on the partition wall 46C.

As described above, the first groove portion 46A communicates with the hole portion 42A of the cover plate portion 42, and as seen in FIGS. 3 (A) and 4 (A), the inner wall surface and the hole of the first groove portion 46A. It forms a flat surface continuously with the inner wall surface of the portion 42A. The continuous inner wall surface of the first groove portion 46A and the hole portion 42A and the inner wall surface of the second groove portion 46B extend straight without tilting in the front-rear direction when the movable member 40 is in the open position when viewed in the connector width direction. (See FIGS. 4A and 4B), when the movable member 40 is in the closed position, it is inclined backward as it goes downward (see FIGS. 3A and 3B).

Therefore, when the movable member 40 and the housing 10 are molded in the same process to manufacture the connector 1, if the movable member 40 is molded in the open position, the movable member 40 can be molded. By moving the mold portion straight in the front-rear direction, the first groove portion 46A and the second groove portion 46B can be easily formed.

Further, as described above, when the movable member 40 is brought to the closed position, the inner wall surface formed by the first groove portion 46A inclines backward as it goes downward when viewed in the connector width direction (FIG. 3 (FIG. 3). A) See). Therefore, in the closed position, the inner wall surface located on the rear side (X2 side) of the inner wall surface of the first groove portion 46A is the first contact arm portion 21 of the first terminal 20 housed in the first groove portion 46A. It will be located away from the rear end 21B. As a result, the interference between the movable member 40 brought from the open position to the closed position and the rear end 21B of the first contact arm portion 21 can be more reliably avoided, and damage to the first contact arm portion 21 can be prevented.

As seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the movable member 40 is in the open position, the first groove portion 46A and the second groove portion 46B of the movable member 40 are the rear ends of the first contact arm portion 21. It is located posterior to 21B and the rear end 31B of the second contact arm 31 (see also FIG. 9A). That is, the rear end 21B and the rear end 31B are not located in the first groove portion 46A and the second groove portion 46B, respectively. Therefore, when the movable member 40 and the housing 10 are molded in the same process to manufacture the connector 1, if the movable member 40 is molded in the open position, the first groove portion 46A and the first groove portion 46A in the mold are formed. The mold portion corresponding to the two-groove portion 46B does not need to have a complicated shape in order to avoid interference with the rear end 21B of the first contact arm portion 21 and the rear end 31B of the second contact arm portion 31, and the first It can have a simple shape corresponding to the groove portion 46A and the second groove portion 46B. As a result, it is possible to secure sufficient strength in the mold portion and avoid damage.

The rotation shaft portion 47 of the movable member 40 has a non-cylindrical surface on the outer peripheral surface around the rotation axis, and extends in the connector width direction at a position including the rotation axis of the movable member 40. It has a shaft portion 47A, a second shaft portion 47B, a third shaft portion 47C, and a fourth shaft portion 47D. As can be seen in FIG. 2, with the movable member 40 in the open position, the first shaft portion 47A protrudes outward in the connector width direction from the fourth shaft portion 47D forming the lower end portion of the end arm portion 43. .. The second shaft portion 47B is located below the locking arm portion 45, and is the lower end portion of the ridge portion 46 and the fourth shaft portion 47D (the lower end portion of the end arm portion 43) located at the end end position in the connector width direction. ) Is connected. The third shaft portion 47C protrudes outward in the connector width direction from the first shaft portion 47A. The fourth shaft portion 47D forms the lower end portion of the end arm portion 43, is located between the first shaft portion 47A and the second shaft portion 47B in the connector width direction, and is located between the first shaft portion 47A and the second shaft portion 47A. It is connected to the biaxial portion 47B. The rotating shaft portion 47 is housed in the housing portion 18 of the housing 10.

6 is a vertical sectional view of the connector 1 when the movable member 40 is in the closed position, and FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the connector 1 when the movable member 40 is in the open position. FIG. 6A in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a connector. The cross section at the position of the first shaft portion 47A in the width direction, (B) is the cross section at the position of the second shaft portion 47B in the connector width direction, and (C) is the cross section of the third shaft portion 47C in the connector width direction. The cross section at the position is shown.

As seen in FIG. 7A, the first shaft portion 47A has a substantially rectangular shape having a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the connector width direction and the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction, as seen in FIG. 7A when the movable member 40 is in the open position. The cross-sectional area thereof is larger than the cross-sectional area of each of the second shaft portion 47B and the third shaft portion 47C. As can be seen in FIG. 7A, in the cross-sectional shape of the first shaft portion 47A, the front surface and the rear surface form a flat surface extending straight without being inclined in the vertical direction, and the upper surface is convexly curved upward. It has a curved surface, and the lower surface is curved downward. Here, the front surface of the first shaft portion 47A at the open position seen in FIG. 7A is the "flat surface 47A-1", the rear surface is the "flat surface 47A-2", and the upper surface is the "curved surface 47A-3". , The lower surface is "curved surface 47A-4".

In the state where the movable member 40 is rotated to the closed position, as seen in FIG. 6 (A), the flat surface 47A-1 (front surface in the open position) and the flat surface 47A-2 (front surface in the open position) of the first shaft portion 47A. The rear surface in the open position) is positioned so as to incline backward as it goes upward, and forms the lower surface and the upper surface of the first shaft portion 47A in the closed position, respectively. Further, the curved surface 47A-3 (upper surface in the open position) and the curved surface 47A-4 (lower surface in the open position) of the first shaft portion 47A form the front surface and the rear surface of the first shaft portion 47A in the closed position, respectively. Eggplant.

As can be seen in FIG. 7B, the second shaft portion 47B has a substantially pentagonal cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the connector width direction when the movable member 40 is in the open position, and its outer circumference thereof. Of the surfaces, the lower surface forms a flat surface that extends straight without being inclined in the front-rear direction, and the front surface of the upper portion of the second shaft portion 47B forms a flat surface that inclines backward as it goes upward. Here, the lower surface of the second shaft portion 47B at the open position seen in FIG. 7B is referred to as a “flat surface 47B-1”, and the front surface of the upper portion is referred to as a “flat surface 47B-2”.

In the state where the movable member 40 is rotated to the closed position, the flat surface 47B-1 (lower front surface in the open position) of the second shaft portion 47B faces upward as shown in FIG. 6 (B). It is positioned so as to incline forward as it becomes, and becomes the rear surface of the second shaft portion 47B. Further, the flat surface 47B-1 (the front surface of the upper portion in the open position) is positioned so as to extend straight without being inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, and becomes the lower surface of the second shaft portion 47B.

As seen in FIGS. 6C and 7C, the third shaft portion 47C is located below the movement restricting portion 51 described later of the metal fitting 50, and moves upward by a predetermined amount or more. It has a function as a movement control unit that receives the regulation of the above movement regulation unit 51.

As seen in FIG. 7C, the third shaft portion 47C has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the connector width direction when the movable member 40 is in the open position, and has a substantially pentagonal shape with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction. It has a shape, and among its outer peripheral surfaces, the upper surface forms a flat surface that extends straight without inclining in the front-rear direction, and the lower rear surface is formed as a flat surface that inclines backward as it goes upward. .. Here, the upper surface of the second shaft portion 47B at the open position seen in FIG. 7C is referred to as a “flat surface 47C-1”, and the rear surface of the lower portion is referred to as a “flat surface 47C-2”. In this open position, as seen in FIG. 7C, the flat surface 47C-1 of the third shaft portion 47C is in contact with the lower surface of the movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50, whereby the movable member 40 is in contact with the lower surface. Is maintained in the open position.

In the state where the movable member 40 is rotated to the closed position, as seen in FIG. 6C, the flat surface 47C-1 (upper surface in the open position) is positioned so as to be inclined forward as it goes upward. It is the front surface of the third shaft portion 47C. Further, the flat surface 47C-2 (the rear surface of the lower portion in the open position) is positioned so as to extend straight without being inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, and becomes the upper surface of the third shaft portion 47C. In this closed position, as seen in FIG. 6C, the flat surface 47C-2 of the third shaft portion 47C is in contact with the lower surface of the movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50, whereby the movable member 40 is in contact with the lower surface. Is kept in the closed position.

In the present embodiment, in the process of rotating the movable member 40 between the closed position and the open position, the third shaft portion 47C is placed on the lower surface while receiving the contact force from the lower surface of the movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50. It slides and rotates. As described above, the third shaft portion 47C has a non-cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and is the third axis from the position of the rotation axis of the movable member 40 (position of the rotation center) when viewed in the connector width direction. The linear distance to the contact position between the portion 47C and the movement restricting portion 51 is not constant in the rotation process of the movable member 40. Therefore, in the rotation process, the position of the third shaft portion 47C in the vertical direction is such that the third shaft portion 47C moves up and down by receiving the contact force from the movement restricting portion 51. That is, the third shaft portion 47C has a function as a so-called cam portion.

In the present embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 6 (A) and 7 (A), the first shaft portion 47A is with the front inner wall surface 18A-1 and the rear inner wall surface 18A-2 of the outer accommodating portion 18A, respectively. It is housed in the outer accommodating portion 18A in a state where a gap in the front-rear direction (hereinafter, referred to as “front-rear direction gap”) is formed between the two. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction gap between the movable member 40 and the front inner wall surface 18A-1 is "C1", and the front-rear direction gap between the movable member 40 and the rear inner wall surface 18A-2 is "C2". (See FIGS. 6 (A) and 7 (A)). As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 6A and 7A, the dimensions of the front-rear gaps C1 and C2 in the closed position are smaller than those of the front-back gaps C1 and C2 in the open position. As described above, the first shaft portion 47A has a shape in which the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 in the closed position are smaller than the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 in the open position.

Further, as seen in FIGS. 6 (B) and 7 (B), the second shaft portion 47B has a vertical gap between the second shaft portion 47B and the shaft regulation surface 16C-1 which is the upper surface of the shaft regulation protrusion 16C. It is housed in the inner accommodating portion 18B in a state where (hereinafter, referred to as "vertical gap") is formed. In the present embodiment, the vertical gap between the movable member 40 and the shaft restricting surface 16C-1 when the movable member 40 is in the closed position is defined as "C3" (see FIGS. 6B and 7B). As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 6 (B) and 7 (B), the dimension of the vertical gap C3 at the closed position is smaller than that of the vertical gap C3 at the open position. As described above, the second shaft portion 47B has a shape in which the vertical gap C3 in the closed position is smaller than the vertical gap C3 in the open position.

The housing 10 and the movable member 40 are so-called simultaneous molded products, and as will be described later, they are molded in the same process when the connector 1 is manufactured. In the present embodiment, the movable member 40 is molded in an open position, and when the housing 10 and the movable member 40 are molded, a part of the mold is vertically formed in the front-rear gaps C1 and C2. (See FIG. 8A), a part of the mold is inserted into the vertical gap C3 in the front-rear direction. As described above, the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 and the vertical-direction gap C3 have larger dimensions at the open position than the dimensions at the closed position, so that the mold portions inserted into the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2. The vertical dimension of the mold portion inserted into the front-rear direction dimension and the vertical direction gap C3 can be increased, and sufficient strength is ensured for these mold portions.

In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 at the position of the first shaft portion 47A when the movable member 40 is in the open position form slits extending vertically in the vertical direction with equal gap dimensions. Further, the vertical gap at the position of the second shaft portion 47B when the movable member 40 is in the open position forms a slit extending linearly in the front-rear direction with an equal gap dimension. Therefore, the shape of the mold portion inserted into each of the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 and the vertical direction gap C3 at the time of molding the movable member 40 can be simplified as a straight shape.

Further, when the connector is used, the movable member 40 is brought from the open position to the closed position, and the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 and the vertical direction gap C3 are smaller than when the movable member 40 is in the open position. Therefore, the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 and the vertical-direction gap C3 are equal to or less than the allowable gap amount, and even if the flat conductor F receives external force in the front-rear direction (insertion / removal direction) and the vertical direction when using the connector, the first shaft portion 47A The backlash in the front-rear direction is suppressed at the position of, and the backlash in the vertical direction is suppressed at the position of the second shaft portion 47B. As a result, the contact state between the flat conductor F and the terminals 20 and 30 is less likely to be adversely affected.

As seen in FIG. 2, the metal fitting 50 is integrally molded by the side wall 15 of the housing 10 at a position corresponding to the outer accommodating portion 18A of the housing 10 and the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40 in the connector width direction. It is being held. The metal fitting 50 is formed by bending a strip piece made of a rolled metal plate in the plate thickness direction, and the rolled surface (plate surface) is formed on the side wall 15 in a posture parallel to the connector width direction. It is being held.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 6 (C) and 7 (C), the metal fitting 50 has a movement restricting portion 51 extending in the front-rear direction and a housing 10 bent downward at the front end of the movement restricting portion 51. The front held portion 52 held by the rear held portion 52, the rear held portion 53 extending like a crank from the rear end of the movement restricting portion 51 and held by the housing 10, and the housing 10 rearward from the rear held portion 53. It has a fixing portion 54 extending to the outside.

As seen in FIGS. 6 (C) and 7 (C), the movement restricting portion 51 is located in the outer accommodating portion 18A of the housing 10, and is located in the front-rear direction, that is, the front inner wall surface 18A of the outer accommodating portion 18A. It extends forward and backward from the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40 in the opposite direction between 1 and the rear inner wall surface 18A-2, and is exposed from the housing 10.

In the present embodiment, the rolling surface (plate surface) of the movement restricting unit 51 is perpendicular to the vertical direction (connector thickness direction), in other words, the vertical direction is the plate thickness direction. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the movement restricting portion 51 is moved up and down as compared with the case where the rolling surface (plate surface) of the plate-shaped movement restricting portion is provided at a right angle to the connector width direction. The directional dimension becomes smaller. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the housing 10 that holds the metal fittings and thus the connector 1 can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the lower surface of the movement restricting portion 51 is located in contact with the upper surface of the third shaft portion 47C (flat surface 47C-1 in the closed position, flat surface 47C-1 in the open position). Alternatively, the lower surface of the movement restricting portion 51 may be formed with a slight gap from the upper surface of the third shaft portion 47C. In this case, the movement restricting unit 51 restricts the upward movement of the third shaft portion 47C by a predetermined amount or more corresponding to the size of the gap.

Further, as seen in FIG. 2, the movement restricting portion 51 is provided at an intermediate position in the outer accommodating portion 18A in the connector width direction. The spaces forming a part of the outer accommodating portion 18A on both sides of the movement restricting portion 51 in the connector width direction are formed so as to have the same width over the entire vertical direction when viewed in the front-rear direction. That is, the space is not shaped so as to become narrower as it goes upward. Therefore, at the time of manufacturing the connector 1, a part of the mold (upper mold M1 described later) can be arranged from above at a position corresponding to the space, and the part of the mold and the movement restricting portion 51 can be arranged. By cooperating with each other, it is possible to integrally mold the metal fitting 50 and the housing 10.

As seen in FIGS. 6 (C) and 7 (C), the front held portion 52 extends through the front bent portion 52A that is bent downward at the front end of the movement restricting portion 51. The entire front held portion 52 is embedded and held by the housing 10 by integral molding.

As seen in FIGS. 6 (C) and 7 (C), the rear held portion 53 extends through the rear upper bent portion 53A bent downward at the rear end of the movement restricting portion 51, and further extends. It extends through the rear lower bending portion 53B that is bent toward the rear, and has a crank shape as a whole. The entire rear held portion 53 is embedded and held by the housing 10 by integral molding.

In this way, the metal fitting 50 is held by the held portions 52 and 53 in the housing 10 by integral molding. Therefore, the contact area between the metal fitting 50 and the housing 10, that is, the area where the metal fitting 50 is held by the housing 10 is larger than that when the metal fitting is press-fitted and held in the housing, and the metal fitting 50 is firmly held by the housing 10. It is being held. As a result, even if the movement restricting portion 51 receives a strong contact force from the third shaft portion 47C when restricting the movement of the third shaft portion 47C, it opposes the corresponding contact force with sufficient strength and the third shaft. The movement of the portion 47C can be regulated more reliably.

In the present embodiment, the bent portion (front bent portion) bent in the plate thickness direction by the front held portion 52 and the rear held portion 53 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “held portions 52, 53” as necessary). Since 52A, the rear upper bending portion 53A, and the rear lower bending portion 53B) are formed, the strength of the held portions 52, 53 itself can be improved. Further, by forming the bent portion in this way, the held portions 52 and 53 held by the housing are lengthened, and the contact area with the housing 10 when integrally molded with the housing 10 is increased. The holding force of the housing 10 can be improved.

The fixed portion 54 extends rearward from the rear held portion 53 in a straight line and extends from the side wall 15. The lower surface of the fixing portion 54 is located at substantially the same height as the lower surface of the housing 10 in FIGS. 6C and 7C, and is fixed to the corresponding portion on the mounting surface of the circuit board by solder connection. It has become so. By providing the fixing portion 54 on the metal fitting 50 in this way, the metal fitting 50 is fixed to the mounting surface of the circuit board by the fixing portion 54, so that the movement restricting portion 51 can move the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40. When regulating, it is possible to counter the contact force received from the third shaft portion 47C with sufficient strength.

Since the movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50 is held by the housing 10 by the held portions 52 and 53 formed on both sides in the front-rear direction with respect to the movement restricting portion 51, the movement restricting portion 51 is a double-sided beam. It is in the shape. Therefore, when the movement restricting portion 51 restricts the movement of the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40, it is possible to counter the contact force received from the third shaft portion 47C with sufficient strength.

The connector 1 having the above configuration is manufactured as follows.

First, the terminals 20, 30 and the metal fittings 50 are placed in a mold (upper mold M1, lower mold M2 and rear mold M3 described later) so that the rolled surfaces of these members are parallel to the connector width direction. ) And hold by the mold. Specifically, the upper mold M1 arranged from above, the lower mold M2 arranged from below, and the rear mold M3 arranged from the rear (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). The first contact arm portion 21 of the one terminal 20, the held arm portion 32 of the second terminal 30, and the movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50 are held.

At this time, at the position of the first shaft portion 47A in the connector width direction, as seen in FIG. 8A, the position corresponding to the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 7A). The mold portion M1A of the upper mold M1 is arranged from above, and the mold portion M2A of the lower mold M2 is arranged from below. Further, at the position of the second shaft portion 47B in the connector width direction, the mold portion of the rear mold M3 (not shown) is located at a position corresponding to the vertical gap C3 (see FIG. 7B) in the front-rear direction. Is placed from behind.

In the present embodiment, since the movable member 40 is molded in the open position, the front-rear direction gaps C1 and C2 are largely secured, and the mold portion M1A of the upper mold M1 and the mold of the lower mold M2 are formed. The mold portion M2A is formed with a thickness dimension (front-back direction dimension) corresponding to the front-back direction gaps C1 and C2. Therefore, it is possible to secure the strength of the mold portions M1A and M2A by the thickness dimension thereof, and it is possible to satisfactorily prevent damage to the mold portions M1A and M2A. Further, since the vertical gap C3 is also largely secured, the mold portion of the rear mold M3 is formed with a thickness dimension (vertical dimension) corresponding to the vertical gap C3. Therefore, it is possible to secure the strength of the mold portion by the thickness dimension thereof, and it is possible to satisfactorily prevent damage to the mold portion.

At the positions of the metal fitting 50 and the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40 in the connector width direction, the upper mold M1 abuts on the upper surface of the entire movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50, as shown in FIG. 8 (B). , The mold portion M2B of the lower mold M2 comes into contact with the lower surfaces of the front end side portion and the rear end side portion of the movement restricting portion 51. As described above, the upper surface and the lower surface of the flat rolled surface of the movement restricting portion 51 are used as contact surfaces with the molds M1 and M2.

In the present embodiment, the lower mold M2 is outside the terminal arrangement range in the connector width direction and overlaps with the space for molding the housing 10 in the mold, specifically, when viewed from below. , A space for molding the movable member (not shown) for molding the movable member 40 in the range corresponding to the intermediate accommodating portion 18C of the housing 10 (see FIG. 5 (B)) in the vertical direction of the lower mold M2. It is formed through the housing. A movable member molding gate block (not shown) for molding the movable member 40 is arranged from below in the movable member molding vacant space. In the movable member molding gate block, the electrically insulating material melted into the space for molding the movable member 40 in the mold is injected from the injection port of the movable member molding gate block.

Further, in any of the molds, a housing molding space (not shown) for molding the housing 10 is formed through the mold at a position different from the movable member molding space. ing. A housing molding gate block (not shown) for molding the housing 10 is arranged in the housing molding vacant space. The housing molding gate block injects the molten electrical insulating material into the space for molding the housing 10 in the mold from the injection port of the housing molding gate block.

Next, the electrically insulating material injected into the mold from each of the movable member molding gate block and the housing molding gate block is cooled and solidified, so that the movable member 40 in an open position with the housing 10 is cooled. And are molded at the same time. At this time, the terminals 20 and 30 and the metal fitting 50 are held by the housing 10 by integral molding. Further, as seen in FIG. 8B, at the position of the metal fitting 50 in the connector width direction, the movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50 is formed in the outer accommodating portion 18A of the housing 10, and the movement thereof is performed. The third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40 is formed in a space surrounded by the lower surface of the restricting portion 51 and the lower mold M2 in a state of being in contact with the lower surface of the movement restricting portion 51.

Next, the gate block for molding the movable member is pulled out from the empty space for molding the movable member, and the gate block for molding the housing is pulled out from the empty space for molding the housing and removed. At this time, the intermediate accommodating portion 18C is formed in the housing 10 by pulling out the movable member molding gate block. Further, the upper mold M1 is moved upward (in the Z1 direction), the lower mold M2 is moved downward (in the Z2 direction), and the rear mold M3 is moved straight in the rear (X2 direction) to remove the mold M1.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the movable member 40 is molded in the open position. Therefore, immediately after molding, the movable member 40 guides the locking portion 45A when viewed in the connector width direction. Surface 45A-1 extends straight in the vertical direction (see FIG. 4C). Therefore, when the upper mold M1 is removed, the upper mold M1 can be removed upward along the guide surface 45A-1, so that the connector 1 is manufactured with the upper mold M1 having a simple shape. be able to.

After removing the molds M1, M2, and M3, the movable member 40 is rotated from the open position to the closed position side, so that the third shaft portion 47C of the movable member 40 is moved to the movement restricting portion 51 of the metal fitting 50. By separating the movable member 40 from the lower surface of the connector 1 and making the movable member 40 movable, the connector 1 is completed in a usable state. The rotation operation of the movable member 40 may be performed at any stage after the molds M1, M2, and M3 are removed, and may be performed by the manufacturer, for example, before the connector 1 is shipped. After the connector is shipped, it may be performed by the user at the start of using the connector.

As described above, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the terminals 20, 30 and the metal fitting 50 are integrally molded at the same time as the housing 10 and the movable member 40, and then the movable member 40 is simply moved between the open position and the closed position. Can be manufactured at. Therefore, it is not necessary to process any of the components of the connector after integral molding, and the connector can be easily manufactured in a small number of steps. In addition, the manufacturing cost of the connector can be suppressed because the number of processes is reduced.

In the present embodiment, the space for molding the movable member of the lower mold M2 is on the lower side in the connector thickness direction (vertical direction) within a range overlapping with the space for molding the housing 10 in the mold. That is, it is formed by opening on the side opposite to the side (upper side) where the movable member 40 is provided. Therefore, when it is not possible to form a space for forming a movable member on the upper side of the mold due to the structure of the mold (such as a shape division position), that is, when a gate block for forming a movable member cannot be arranged on the upper side of the mold. Even so, it is possible to form a movable member molding vacant space on the lower side of the mold and arrange a movable member molding gate block in the movable member molding vacant space to form the movable member 40. Further, since the housing molding gate block is arranged at a position different from the position of the movable member molding gate block, the housing 10 and the movable member 40 can be molded in the same process.

Further, in the present embodiment, the movable member molding gate block is arranged at the position of the intermediate accommodating portion 18C (see FIG. 5B) of the housing 10, and the injection port of the movable member molding gate block is the movable member 40. It is located in the range of the fourth axis portion 47D (see FIG. 5B). Therefore, a so-called injection mark is formed on the surface of the fourth shaft portion 47D, which is the portion where the injection port is located, when the gate block for molding the movable member is removed after the movable member 40 is molded. The injection mark may be formed in the shape of a protrusion protruding from the surface of the fourth shaft portion 47D. In the present embodiment, the injection mark is formed on the fourth shaft portion 47D located outside the range of the receiving portion 17A of the housing 10 in the connector width direction. Therefore, even if the injection mark has a protrusion shape, the injection mark is formed. The mark does not protrude into the receiving portion 17A. As a result, it is possible to prevent the flat conductor F from interfering with the injection mark during and after the flat conductor F is inserted into the receiving portion 17A.

In the present embodiment, when the movable member 40 is formed, the gate block for forming the movable member is arranged at the position of the intermediate accommodating portion 18C outside the terminal arrangement range in the connector width direction. The gate block does not interfere with the terminals 20 and 30. Therefore, the mold has a simple shape in which the space for molding the movable member extends straight toward the space inside the mold (the space for molding the movable member) in the connector thickness direction (vertical direction). It only needs to be formed, and the shape and structure of the mold will not be complicated. Further, the position where the movable member molding gate block is arranged is not limited to the outside of the terminal arrangement range, and may be a position where interference with terminals and metal fittings can be avoided, for example, a position between adjacent terminals. May be.

Next, the connection operation between the connector 1 and the flat conductor F will be described.

First, the first connection portion 22 of the first terminal 20 of the connector 1 and the second connection portion 34 of the second terminal 30 are solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board (not shown), and the fixing portion 54 of the metal fitting 50 is connected. Is soldered to the corresponding part of the circuit board. The connector 1 is attached to the circuit board by soldering the first connection portion 22, the second connection portion 34, and the fixing portion 54.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a flat conductor F extends in the front-rear direction along a mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) behind the connector 1 in a state where the movable member 40 is brought to the closed position. Position it like this. Next, the flat conductor F is inserted forward into the receiving portion 17A of the connector 1.

In the process of inserting the flat conductor F into the receiving portion 17A, the front end of the flat conductor F first abuts on the second contact portion 31A of the second contact arm portion 31 of the second terminal 30 and is subjected to the contact force. By pushing up the second contact portion 31A with a directional component force, the second contact portion 31A is elastically displaced upward. When the flat conductor F is further inserted, the front end of the flat conductor F abuts on the first contact portion 21A of the first contact arm portion 21 of the first terminal 20 and pushes up the first contact portion 21A. Is elastically displaced upward.

As can be seen in FIGS. 10A and 10B, even when the flat conductor F has been inserted, the first contact arm portion 21 of the first terminal 20 and the second contact arm portion of the second terminal 30 are completed. 31 remains elastically displaced. As a result, the first contact portion 21A and the second contact portion 31A are maintained in contact with the first connection circuit portion F1A and the second connection circuit portion F1B (see FIG. 1) of the flat conductor F with contact pressure, respectively. ..

Further, in the process of inserting the flat conductor F into the receiving portion 17A, the front selvage portions F3 located near both ends in the width direction of the flat conductor F are locked on the locking arm portion 45 of the movable member 40. The flat conductor F is guided to a regular insertion position in the vertical direction by abutting and sliding contact with the guide surface 45A-1 of the portion 45A. Further, the front selvage portion F3 elastically displaces the locking arm portion 45 upward by the vertical component of the contact force with the guide surface 45A-1, and brings the locking arm portion 45 to a position where the flat conductor F can be inserted. Further, when the flat conductor F is inserted and the front selvage portion F3 passes through the position of the locking portion 45A, the locking arm portion 45 is displaced downward so as to reduce the amount of elastic displacement and returns to the free state, and is flat. It rushes into the notch F2 of the mold conductor F. As a result, in the state where the flat conductor F as seen in FIG. 10C is inserted, the locked portion F3A of the flat conductor F is in front of the locking surface 45A-2 of the locking portion 45A. It is positioned so that it can be locked to 45A-2, and the flat conductor F is prevented from being pulled out to the rear. It is not essential that the locking arm 45 returns to a completely free state. For example, with the locking arm portion 45 leaving a slight elastic displacement amount, the locking portion 45A rushes into the notch portion F2 of the flat conductor F and is positioned so as to be able to be locked with the locked portion F3A. It is also possible to have a different configuration.

When the flat conductor F in the state shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, that is, in the state of being connected to the connector 1, is intentionally pulled out from the connector 1, the movable member 40 in the closed position is rotated. Move it to the open position (see FIG. 4C). When the movable member 40 is in the open position, the locking portion 45A of the locking arm portion 45 of the movable member 40 is positioned so as to be offset upward from the notch portion F2 of the flat conductor F. That is, the locked state of the locked portion 45A with respect to the locked portion F3A of the flat conductor F is released, and the flat conductor F is allowed to be pulled out to the rear. Then, if the flat conductor F is pulled backward in this state, the flat conductor F can be easily pulled out from the connector 1.

In the present embodiment, the second terminal 30 has a notch 32C-1 formed in the support portion 32C of the held arm portion 32 so that the second contact portion 31A can be plated from below. However, the portion for enabling the plating process from below is not limited to the above-mentioned cutout portion, and can be formed in various shapes.

11A and 11B show a single unit of the second terminal 130 in the modified example, FIG. 11A is a perspective view, and FIG. 11B is a bottom view. In the second terminal 130 in this modification, the hole 132C-1 is formed in the support 132C, and at this point, the second terminal 32C-1 is formed in the support 32C. The configuration is different from 30. Since the second terminal 130 has the same basic shape as the second terminal 30 of the present embodiment except for the support portion 132C, the shape of the support portion 132C will be mainly described here, and the other parts will be described. , A reference numeral of the second terminal 30 of the present embodiment plus "100" is added, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As can be seen in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the support portion 132C of the held arm portion 132 of the second terminal 130 has both side edges thereof as the other portion (front end side portion 132A and the front end side portion 132A) of the held arm portion 132. It is located outside in the terminal width direction (Y-axis direction) from both side edges of the rear end side portion 132B), and the terminal width dimension is larger and wider than the other portions. At an intermediate position in the terminal width direction of the support portion 132C, a hole portion 132C-1 that penetrates the support portion 132C in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) and extends in the front-rear direction is formed.

As seen in FIG. 11B, the hole portion 132C-1 is formed at a position overlapping a part of the second contact portion 131A when the second terminal 130 is viewed from below. In other words, the support portion 132C is formed with a range that does not overlap with a part of the second contact portion 131A in the range of the hole portion 132C-1. That is, when the second terminal 130 is viewed from below, a part of the second contact portion 131A is exposed through the hole portion 132C-1 and is in a visible state.

Therefore, in the second terminal 130, the plating material is sprayed from below the held arm portion 132 through the hole portion 132C-1 toward the contact surface of the second contact portion 131A of the second contact arm portion 131. , The plating material can be applied to the contact surface. As a result, the range in which the plating material is applied can be limited to the contact surface (lower surface) of the second contact portion 131A and its vicinity thereof, so that the amount of the plating material used can be kept to the minimum necessary.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the support portion 132C is formed to be larger and wider in the terminal width direction than the other portions of the held arm portion 132, and the strength of the support portion 132C itself is increased. Therefore, even if the hole 132C-1 is formed in the support 132C, the support 132C receives a force (downward force) received by the flat conductor F from the second contact 131A of the second contact arm 131. ) Sufficiently opposed to the support portion 132C as a whole, and the flat conductor F can be supported from below.

11 (C) and 11 (D) show the second terminal 230 in another modified example as a single unit, (C) is a perspective view, and (D) is a bottom view. The second terminal 230 in this modification forms a range that does not overlap with the second contact portion 231A in the terminal width direction because the entire support portion 232C is positioned with respect to the second contact portion 231A in the terminal width direction. In this respect, the configuration is different from that of the second terminal 30 in the present embodiment, in which the notch 32C-1 of the support portion 32C forms a range that does not overlap with the second contact portion 31A in the terminal width direction. There is. Since the second terminal 230 in the modified example has the same basic shape as the second terminal 30 of the present embodiment except for the held arm portion 232, the shape of the held arm portion 232 will be mainly described here. However, the description of the other parts will be omitted by adding a reference numeral of "200" to the reference numeral at the second terminal 30 of the present embodiment.

As seen in FIGS. 11C and 11D, the held arm portion 232 is bent and extended to one side (Y2 side) in the terminal width direction (Y-axis direction) at two positions in the front-rear direction. It has a crank shape when viewed in the vertical direction. The held arm portion 232 has a support portion 232C formed in a range between two bending positions in the front-rear direction. As seen in FIG. 11D, the support portion 232C is positioned so that the entire support portion 232C is displaced with respect to the second contact portion 231A in the terminal width direction, that is, does not overlap with the second contact portion 231A. Is formed in. That is, when the second terminal 230 is viewed from below, a part of the second contact portion 131A is exposed and can be visually recognized.

Therefore, in the second terminal 230, the plating material is sprayed from below the held arm portion 232 toward the contact surface (lower surface) of the second contact portion 231A of the second contact arm portion 231 to make the contact. Plating material can be applied to the surface. As a result, the range in which the plating material is applied can be limited to the contact surface of the second contact portion 231A and its vicinity thereof, so that the amount of the plating material used can be kept to the minimum necessary.

1 Connector 10 Housing 16C-1 Axis regulation surface 17A Receiving part 18 Accommodating part 18A Outer accommodating part 18A-1 Front inner wall surface 18A-2 Rear inner wall surface 18B Inner accommodating part 18C Intermediate accommodating part 20 First terminal 21 First contact arm 21A 1st contact part 21B rear end 30 2nd terminal 31 2nd contact arm part 31A 2nd contact part 31B rear end 32 held arm part 32C support part 32C-1 notch part 40 movable member 46 ridge part 46A first groove part 46B 2nd groove 47 Rotating shaft 47A 1st shaft 47B 2nd shaft 47C 3rd shaft 47D 4th shaft 50 Metal fittings 51 Movement control part 52 Front held part 52A Front bending part 53 Rear held part 53A Rear upper bending part 53B Rear lower bending part 130 Second terminal 131 Second contact arm 131A Second contact 132 Held arm 132C Support 132C-1 Hole 230 Second terminal 231 Second contact arm 231A Second Contact part 232 Held arm part 232C Support part F Flat conductor C1 Front-back direction gap C2 Front-back direction gap C3 Vertical gap

Claims (3)

At the terminal provided on the electrical connector to which the mating connector is inserted forward toward the electrical connector and connected.
The terminal is made of a rolled metal plate, and the strip-shaped metal plate member having the width direction of the mating body perpendicular to the front-rear direction as the terminal width direction is bent in the plate thickness direction and is parallel to each other. It has two arms extending rearward and a connecting portion connecting the front ends of the two arms, allowing the mating junction to enter between the two arms from the rear.
One of the two arms has a contact portion that can come into contact with the mating body on the rolled surface located on the other arm side within a range that overlaps with the other arm in the front-rear direction. Has been
The other arm portion is located on the one arm portion side of the other arm portion in contact with the contact portion at a position overlapping the contact portion of the one arm portion in the front-rear direction when viewed in the terminal width direction. A support portion supported by the rolled surface located at is formed.
The support portion of the other arm portion has a notch formed in a side edge portion extending in the front-rear direction of the support portion , and when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the support portion , the range of the notch portion allows. A terminal characterized in that a range that does not overlap in the terminal width direction is formed with respect to at least a part of the contact portion. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the support portion of the other arm portion is formed to have a terminal width larger than that of the other portion of the other arm portion. An electric connector comprising the terminal according to claim 1 or 2 .

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