JP7562768B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to connectors.

Conventionally, connectors such as board-to-board connectors have been used to electrically connect a pair of parallel circuit boards. Such connectors are attached to each of the opposing surfaces of the pair of circuit boards, and are fitted together to provide electrical continuity (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a conventional connector.

In the figure, 811 is a housing of a connector that is mounted on a circuit board (not shown), and has a pair of elongated protrusions 812 that extend in the longitudinal direction. A number of terminals 861 are attached to the protrusions 812 in a line in the longitudinal direction of the connector.

When the connector is mated with a mating connector (not shown), the protrusions 812 are inserted into a pair of grooves formed in the mating housing of the mating connector. This causes the terminals 861 to come into contact with and become conductive to the mating terminals (not shown) that are mounted side by side in the grooves.

JP 2001-126789 A

However, in the conventional connector, the terminals 861 are formed to be integrated with the housing 811, so when the connector is made smaller, the spacing between the protrusions 812 becomes narrower and the pitch of the terminals 861 becomes narrower, making manufacturing difficult. Usually, the terminals 861 are integrated with the pair of protrusions 812 of the housing 811 by a molding method called overmolding or insert molding, so when the spacing between the protrusions 812 becomes narrower and the pitch of the terminals 861 becomes narrower, it becomes difficult to accurately arrange a large number of terminals 861 in positions corresponding to the pair of protrusions 812 in the mold for the housing 811.

The objective here is to solve the problems of the conventional connectors, narrow the distance between the protrusions to which multiple terminals are attached, and provide a connector that is easy to manufacture, can be miniaturized, and is highly reliable.

To this end, the connector pair includes a first connector including a first housing and a plurality of first terminals attached to the first housing, and a second connector including a second housing and a plurality of second terminals attached to the second housing, the second connector mating with the first connector, wherein each of the first terminals and each of the second terminals includes a contact portion and a board connection portion, the plurality of first terminals are arranged to form a plurality of rows extending in a longitudinal direction of the first housing, the orientations of adjacent first terminals in the longitudinal direction of the first housing are opposite to each other in a width direction of the first housing, the orientations of adjacent first terminals in the width direction of the first housing are the same to each other in a width direction of the first housing, the plurality of second terminals are arranged to form a plurality of rows extending in a longitudinal direction of the second housing, The orientations of adjacent second terminals in the longitudinal direction of the second housing are opposite to each other in the width direction of the second housing, and the orientations of adjacent second terminals in the width direction of the second housing are the same as each other in the width direction of the second housing, a single through hole extending in the longitudinal direction of the first housing and penetrating in the mating direction is formed on the inner side of the first housing in the width direction, the board connection portions of the multiple first terminals that are located on the inner side of the first housing in the width direction are exposed in the through hole and are visible from the mating surface of the first housing, and when the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other, the contact portions of the corresponding first terminals and second terminals and the board connection portions face each other , and the contact portions and board connection portions of each first terminal are located on opposite sides of the first housing in the width direction .

In another connector pair, each of the second terminals further includes a body portion held in the second housing, the body portion being located closer to the board connection portion than the contact portion.

In yet another connector pair, the second housing further includes a cavity extending in the mating direction, and the main body of the second terminal is accommodated within the cavity.

In yet another connector pair, the board connection portion of the second terminal is exposed on the mounting surface of the second housing.

In yet another connector pair, the first terminal is further integrated with the first housing and held in the first housing.

In yet another connector pair, the first and second housings each have reinforcing metal fittings attached to both longitudinal ends.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to narrow the distance between the protrusions to which multiple terminals are attached, making it easier to manufacture, enabling miniaturization, and improving reliability.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first connector according to the first embodiment. 3A to 3C are three-sided views of the first connector according to the first embodiment, in which FIG. FIG. 2 is a first exploded view of the first connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a second exploded view of the first connector in the first embodiment. 4A to 4C are first three-view diagrams of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the first embodiment, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a side view. 1A is a second three-view diagram of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the first embodiment, where (a) is a top view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in (a). 1A and 1B are two-sided views of a pair of half-body portions butted together in the first embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a pair of half-body portions butted together in the first embodiment, where (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the CC arrow in FIG. 7B, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the D-D arrow in FIG. 7B. 1 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before a pair of half portions butted together in the first embodiment are joined with a first reinforcing metal fitting. FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a key portion showing a state just before a pair of half-body portions butted together in the first embodiment are joined with a first reinforcing bracket, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows E-E in FIG. 9, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows F-F in FIG. 9. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the second connector in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first reinforcing metal fitting according to a second embodiment. 11A to 11C are first three-view diagrams of a first reinforcing metal fitting according to a second embodiment, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a side view. 11 is a second three-view diagram of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the second embodiment, where (a) is a top view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line G-G in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line H-H in (a). FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector.

The following describes the embodiment in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first connector in the first embodiment, Figure 2 is a three-sided view of the first connector in the first embodiment, Figure 3 is a first exploded view of the first connector in the first embodiment, Figure 4 is a second exploded view of the first connector in the first embodiment, Figure 5 is a first three-sided view of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the first embodiment, and Figure 6 is a second three-sided view of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the first embodiment. In Figure 2, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a bottom view. In Figure 5, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a side view. In Figure 6, (a) is a top view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in (a).

In the figure, 1 is a first connector, which is one of a pair of board-to-board connectors that are connectors in this embodiment. The first connector 1 is a surface-mount connector that is mounted on the surface of a first board, which is a board not shown in the figure as a mounting member, and is mated with a second connector 101, which is a mating connector described below. The second connector 101 is the other of the pair of board-to-board connectors, and is a surface-mount connector that is mounted on the surface of a second board, which is a board not shown in the figure as a mounting member.

In addition, the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 in this embodiment are preferably used to electrically connect the first board and the second board as substrates, but can also be used to electrically connect other members. The first board and the second board are, for example, printed circuit boards, flexible flat cables (FFC), flexible circuit boards (FPC), etc. used in electronic devices, but may be any type of board.

In addition, in this embodiment, the expressions indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back used to explain the configuration and operation of each part of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are relative, not absolute, and are appropriate when each part of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 is in the position shown in the figure, but if the position changes, they should be interpreted differently depending on the change in position.

The first connector 1 is constructed by joining a pair of left and right half-body parts, i.e., the left half-body part 10A and the right half-body part 10B, with a first reinforcing metal fitting 51 as a reinforcing metal fitting. The left half-body part 10A and the right half-body part 10B are identical members arranged to face each other, and therefore will be described as half-body part 10 when describing them collectively. The left half-body part 10A and the right half-body part 10B each have a gate-shaped shape in a plan view (shape projected onto the X-Y plane), and the space between the joined left half-body part 10A and right half-body part 10B is an elongated groove part 13 that extends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the first connector 1. The groove part 13 is a through hole that is open on the upper and lower surfaces of the first connector 1.

The half body 10 is integrally formed from an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and has a first housing 11 as a connector body having a gate-shaped shape in a plan view. Each first housing 11 includes a long and narrow strip-shaped bottom plate 17 extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the first housing 11, and a first protrusion 12 as a long and narrow protrusion extending in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11, which is integrally formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 17. The first protrusion 12 is a member having a cross section shaped like an upside-down U, and has a curved mating surface 12a located on the upper side (positive Z-axis side), and an outer surface 12b and an inner surface 12c connected to both the left and right sides of the mating surface 12a. The outer surface 12b and the inner surface 12c are a pair of parallel and opposing flat surfaces that extend in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11. In addition, since the dimension in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the first protrusion 12 is shorter than the dimension in the width direction of the bottom plate portion 17, the bottom plate portion 17 protrudes outward in the width direction from the outer surface 12b and the inner surface 12c at the lower end (Z axis negative side end) of the first protrusion 12. In addition, the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 17 is the mounting surface 17a of the first housing 11 that faces the surface of the first board.

A first terminal 61 is provided on each first protrusion 12. The first terminals 61 are provided at a predetermined pitch, and multiple terminals (26 in the example shown in the figure) are provided. The first terminals 61 are integrally formed by punching, bending, or other processes on a conductive metal plate, and have a main body 63 extending in the width direction of the first protrusion 12, a tail 62 connected to one end of the main body 63, a contact portion 65 extending in the vertical direction and connected to the other end of the main body 63 at an approximately 90-degree bend, and an upper end 64 connected to the upper end of the contact portion 65 at an approximately 90-degree bend.

The main body portion 63 is a portion that is embedded in and held by the bottom plate portion 17. The tail portion 62 extends outward in the width direction from the bottom plate portion 17 and is connected by soldering or the like to a connection pad that is connected to a conductive trace of the first board. The conductive trace is typically a signal line. Furthermore, the contact portion 65 is a portion that comes into contact with a second terminal 161 (described below) provided on the second connector 101 when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated, and preferably includes a contact recess 65a that is recessed from the surface.

The first terminal 61 is integrated with the first housing 11 by a molding method called overmolding or insert molding. That is, the first housing 11 is molded by filling an insulating material into a cavity of a mold in which the first terminal 61 has been set beforehand. As a result, the first terminal 61 is attached integrally to the first housing 11 with the lower surfaces of the main body 63 and tail portion 62 exposed to the mounting surface 17a of the bottom plate 17, and the surfaces of the contact portion 65 and upper end portion 64 exposed to the outer surface 12b or inner surface 12c of the first protrusion 12 and the mating surface 12a.

In addition, the first terminals 61 attached to each first protrusion 12 are oriented so that the orientations of adjacent first terminals 61 are opposite to each other in the width direction of the first protrusion 12. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the orientation of the first terminal 61 located at the front end (X-axis positive end) of the first terminals 61 attached to the first protrusion 12 of the left half body portion 10A is oriented so that the tail portion 62 protrudes outward (Y-axis positive side), while the orientation of the first terminal 61 located second from the front end is oriented so that the tail portion 62 protrudes inward (Y-axis negative side). In this way, the first terminals 61 are attached to the first protrusion 12 in an alternating arrangement so that they are oriented in opposite directions, so that the pitch of the tail portions 62 protruding on both sides of the first protrusion 12 is twice the pitch of the first terminals 61. Therefore, connection work by soldering or the like to the connection pad of the first board can be easily performed. In addition, the pitch of the contact portions 65 exposed on the outer surface 12b of the first protrusion 12 and the pitch of the contact portions 65 exposed on the inner surface 12c are also twice the pitch of the first terminals 61.

Note that the first terminal 61 is a member that is integrated with the first housing 11 by a molding method known as overmolding or insert molding, and is therefore not separate from the first housing 11. However, for convenience of explanation, it is depicted in FIG. 4 as if it were separate from the first housing 11.

The first protruding end 18, which is a main body end functioning as a mating guide, is disposed at both longitudinal ends of the first protruding portion 12. The first protruding end 18 is a member connected to both longitudinal ends of each first protruding portion 12, and is formed when the left half body portion 10A and the right half body portion 10B are butted together, that is, when the left and right first housings 11 are butted together. When the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated, the first protruding end 18 functions as an insertion protruding portion that is inserted into the mating recess 122 of the second protruding end 121 of the first connector 101, which will be described later. In addition, a first reinforcing bracket 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18.

The first protruding end 18 is composed of the extended end 14 and end wall 15 of the left and right half body parts 10. The extended end 14 extending in the longitudinal direction is integrally connected to both longitudinal ends of the first convex part 12 of each half body part 10, and the end wall 15 extending in the width direction of the first convex part 12 is integrally connected to each extended end 14. The end wall 15 in the left half body part 10A extends to the right (Y-axis negative direction), and the end wall 15 in the right half body part 10B extends to the left (Y-axis positive direction). In each half body part 10 arranged to face each other on the left and right, the end wall 15 extends toward the other half body part 10. The end surface of the end wall 15 facing the other half body part 10 functions as a joining surface 15d.

Each extension end 14 includes a thick portion 14e that is wide, i.e., thick (large dimension in the Y-axis direction), and a thin portion 14f that is thinner (smaller dimension in the Y-axis direction) connected to the lower side (negative Z-axis side) of the thick portion 14e. The outer surface 14b of the extension end 14 includes an outer convex surface 14b1 corresponding to the thick portion 14e and an outer concave surface 14b2 corresponding to the thin portion 14f. The outer concave surface 14b2 is recessed so as to be located inside the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the first housing 11 more than the outer convex surface 14b1. Since the entire outer surface 14b of the extension end 14 is recessed so as to be located inside the width direction of the first housing 11 more than the outer surface 12b of the first convex portion 12, the outer convex surface 14b1 is also recessed so as to be located inside the width direction of the first housing 11 more than the outer surface 12b of the first convex portion 12.

Each end wall 15 includes a thick portion 15e that is wide, i.e., thick (large dimension in the X-axis direction), and a thin portion 15f that is thinner (small dimension in the X-axis direction) connected to the lower side of the thick portion 15e. The outer surface 15b of the end wall 15 includes an outer convex surface 15b1 corresponding to the thick portion 15e and an outer concave surface 15b2 corresponding to the thin portion 15f. The outer concave surface 15b2 is recessed so as to be located inside the outer convex surface 15b1 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the first housing 11. Since the entire outer surface 15b of the end wall 15 is recessed so as to be located inside the end surface 14d of the extension end 14 in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11, the outer convex surface 15b1 is also recessed so as to be located inside the end surface 14d of the extension end 14 in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11.

Furthermore, each end wall portion 15 includes an inner end portion 15g that protrudes toward the inside in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11 near the connection portion with the extension end portion 14. The inner side surface of the inner end portion 15g, that is, the end wall base inner side surface 15h, is a surface exposed to the recessed groove portion 13 and is a flat surface extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The inner side surface 15c of the end wall portion 15 includes an inner convex surface 15c1 corresponding to the thick portion 15e and an inner concave surface 15c2 corresponding to the thin portion 15f. The inner concave surface 15c2 is recessed so as to be located outside the inner convex surface 15c1 in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11. The entire inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15 is recessed so that it is located further outward in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11 than the inner surface 15h of the end wall base, so the inner convex surface 15c1 is also recessed so that it is located further outward in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 11 than the inner surface 15h of the end wall base.

The end face 14d of the extension end 14 and the end wall base inner side face 15h, which is the inner side face of the inner end 15g, are included in the exposed side faces that are not covered by the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 on the side face of the first protruding end 18. The upper face 14a of the extension end 14 and the upper face 15a of the end wall portion 15 are flush flat faces, but are recessed so as to be located lower (negative Z-axis direction side) than the mating face 12a, which is the upper face of the first protrusion 12.

After the left half body 10A and the right half body 10B are butted together, that is, after the end wall 15 of the left half body 10A and the end wall 15 of the right half body 10B are butted together so that the joining surfaces 15d come into contact with each other, the first reinforcing bracket 51 is attached to cover at least a portion of the extension ends 14 and the end wall portions 15 on both sides and to secure them in place, thereby joining the left half body 10A and the right half body 10B.

The first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is a member integrally formed by punching, bending, or other processing on a metal plate, and includes an upper plate extending in the width direction of the first housing 11, a pair of end wall clamping plates connected to both side edges of the upper plate and clamping the end wall portion 15, and a pair of extension end clamping plates connected to both ends of the upper plate and clamping the extension end portion 14. Specifically, the upper plate includes an end wall upper surface cover portion 57 that covers the upper surface 15a of the end wall portion 15, and an extension end upper surface cover portion 54 that is connected to both left and right ends of the end wall upper surface cover portion 57 and covers the upper surface 14a of the extension end portion 14. The end wall clamping plate also includes an end wall outer surface cover portion 52 and an end wall inner surface cover portion 53 that are connected to the outer edge and inner edge of the end wall upper surface cover portion 57. Furthermore, the extension end clamping plate includes a leg portion 55 connected to the outer end of the extension end upper surface cover portion 54. A tail portion 56 is connected to the lower end of each leg portion 55.

The end wall upper surface cover portion 57 is a band-shaped member that extends generally in the width direction of the first connector 1 and covers most of the upper surfaces 15a of the left and right end wall portions 15 where the coupling surfaces 15d abut against each other.

The end wall outer surface cover portion 52 is a plate member extending generally in the width direction and the up-down direction of the first connector 1, and is connected to the outer edge of the end wall upper surface cover portion 57 by an upper curved portion 52a formed at the upper end. A lower curved portion 52b is formed near the lower end. As shown in Figures 5(c) and 6(c), when viewed from the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the first connector 1, the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 has a roughly S-shape, and the upper curved portion 52a and the lower curved portion 52b are curved in opposite directions. The end wall outer surface cover portion 52 is formed so that it advances inward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 as it goes downward, and the lower curved portion 52b is located more inward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 than the upper curved portion 52a. The lower end of the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 is inclined so as to face outward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1, i.e., so as to be separated from the outer surface 15b of the end wall portion 15. Additionally, the lower end of the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 is located above the lower surface of the tail portion 56 (on the positive Z-axis direction) and is not in contact with the surface of the first board. If necessary, the lower end of the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 can be made to approach or in contact with the surface of the first board. In this case, the connection strength of the first reinforcing bracket 51 to the first board is improved by connecting the lower end of the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 to the connection pad of the first board by soldering or the like.

The end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is a plate member extending generally in the width direction and the up-down direction of the first connector 1, and is connected to the inner edge of the end wall upper surface covering portion 57 by an upper curved portion 53a formed at the upper end. A lower curved portion 53b is formed near the lower end. As shown in FIG. 6(c), when viewed from the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the first connector 1, the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 has a roughly S-shape, and the upper curved portion 53a and the lower curved portion 53b are curved in opposite directions. The end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is formed so that it advances further outward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 as it goes downward, and the lower curved portion 53b is located further outward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 than the upper curved portion 53a. The lower end of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is inclined so as to face the inner side of the first connector 1 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., so as to move away from the inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15. In addition, the lower end of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is located above the lower surface of the tail portion 56 and is not in contact with the surface of the first board. If necessary, the lower end of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 can be made to approach or in contact with the surface of the first board. In this case, the connection strength of the first reinforcing bracket 51 to the first board is improved by connecting the lower end of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 to the connection pad of the first board by soldering or the like.

As shown in FIG. 6(c), in the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 before being attached to the first protruding end 18, the distance between the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is narrowest at the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53. Specifically, if the distance between the inner surface of the upper curved portion 52a of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the inner surface of the upper curved portion 53a of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is L3, and the distance between the inner surface of the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the inner surface of the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is L4, L3 ≧ L4 (preferably L3 > L4). In addition, if the thicknesses (dimensions in the X-axis direction) of the thick portion 15e and the thin portion 15f of the end wall portion 15 are l3 and l4, respectively, as described later, L3 ≧ l3 (preferably L3 > l3). Before the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18, L4<l3, and after attachment, L4>l4.

Due to this relationship, when the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18, the inner surface 52c of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the inner surface 53c of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 butt together to securely sandwich the thick portion 15e of the end wall portion 15. In particular, when L3>l3, the inner surface 52c of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the inner surface 53c of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 sandwich and press the outer convex lower edge 15b3 and the inner convex lower edge 15c3 (see Figure 8), which are the lower edges of the thick portion 15e. This prevents the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 from coming off the first protruding end 18.

Furthermore, the extension end upper surface cover portion 54 is designed to cover most of the upper surface 14a of the left and right extension end portions 14.

The leg 55 is a band-shaped member extending in the vertical direction of the first connector 1, and is connected to the outer end of the extended end upper surface cover 54 by an upper curved portion 55a formed at the upper end. A lower curved portion 55b is formed at the lower end. As shown in Figures 5(a) and (b), when viewed from the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the first connector 1, the leg 55 has a rough S-shape, with the upper curved portion 55a and the lower curved portion 55b curving in opposite directions. The leg 55 is generally inclined downward so as to move inward in the width direction of the first connector 1, with the lower curved portion 55b being located at the innermost position in the width direction of the first connector 1.

As shown in FIG. 6(b), in the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 before being attached to the first protruding end 18, the distance between the left and right leg portions 55 is narrowest at the lower curved portion 55b. Specifically, if the distance between the inner surfaces of the left and right upper curved portions 55a is L1, and the distance between the inner surfaces of the left and right lower curved portions 55b is L2, then L1 ≧ L2 (preferably L1 > L2). Also, if the distance between the outer convex surfaces 14b1 and the outer concave surfaces 14b2 of the left and right extension ends 14 at the first protruding end 18 are l1 and l2, respectively, as described later, then L1 ≧ l1 (preferably L1 > l1). And, before the attachment of the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 to the first protruding end 18, L2 < l1, and after attachment, L2 > l2.

Due to this relationship, when the first reinforcing bracket 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18, the inner surfaces 55c of the left and right legs 55 securely sandwich the thick portion 14e of the extension end 14. In particular, when L1>l1, the inner surfaces 55c of the legs 55 sandwich and press the outer convex lower edge 14b3 (see Figure 8), which is the lower edge of the thick portion 14e. This prevents the first reinforcing bracket 51 from coming off the first protruding end 18.

The tail portion 56 is connected to the tip of the lower curved portion 55b of the leg portion 55 and extends outward in the width direction of the first connector 1. Specifically, the tail portion 56 extends outward in the width direction from the outer surface 14b of the extension end portion 14 and is connected and fixed by soldering or the like to a connection pad (not shown) exposed on the surface of the first board. The connection pad can be connected to a conductive trace, such as a power line.

Next, we will explain how to construct the first connector 1 by connecting the left half body 10A and the right half body 10B with the first reinforcing bracket 51.

Figure 7 is a two-sided view of a pair of half-body parts butted together in the first embodiment, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the pair of half-body parts butted together in the first embodiment, Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the state immediately before the pair of half-body parts butted together in the first embodiment are joined with the first reinforcing metal fitting, and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state immediately before the pair of half-body parts butted together in the first embodiment are joined with the first reinforcing metal fitting. In Figure 7, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a top view, in Figure 8, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows C-C in Figure 7(b) and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows D-D in Figure 7(b), and in Figure 10, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows E-E in Figure 9 and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows F-F in Figure 9.

When constructing the first connector 1, the operator first butts the left half body 10A and the right half body 10B together as shown in FIG. 7. That is, the end wall 15 of the left half body 10A is butted against the end wall 15 of the right half body 10B, and the joining surface 15d at the tip of the end wall 15 of the left half body 10A is brought into contact with the joining surface 15d at the tip of the end wall 15 of the right half body 10A. This forms the first protruding end 18.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the operator positions the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 above the configured first protruding end 18, lowers the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 relatively to the first protruding end 18, and attaches the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 so as to cover at least a part of the extension end 14 and the end wall portion 15 on both sides. In this case, the position of the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is controlled so that the end wall upper surface cover portion 57 faces the upper surface 15a of the left and right end wall portions 15 whose joining surfaces 15d are in contact with each other, the extension end upper surface cover portion 54 faces the upper surface 14a of the left and right extension end portions 14, the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 faces the outer surface 15b of the end wall portion 15, the end wall inner surface cover portion 53 faces the inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15, and the leg portion 55 faces the outer surface 14b of the extension end portion 14.

As described above, in the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 before being attached to the first protruding end 18, the distance between the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is narrowest at the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53. Specifically, if the distance between the inner surface of the upper curved portion 52a of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the inner surface of the upper curved portion 53a of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is L3, and the distance between the inner surface of the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the inner surface of the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is L4, L3 ≧ L4 (preferably L3 > L4). In addition, if the thicknesses (dimensions in the X-axis direction) of the thick portion 15e and the thin portion 15f of the end wall portion 15 are l3 and l4, respectively, L3 ≧ l3 (preferably L3 > l3). Before the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18, L4<l3, and after attachment, L4>l4.

Furthermore, the distance between the left and right legs 55 is narrowest at the lower curved portion 55b. Specifically, if the distance between the inner surfaces of the left and right upper curved portions 55a is L1, and the distance between the inner surfaces of the left and right lower curved portions 55b is L2, then L1 ≧ L2 (preferably L1 > L2). If the distances between the outer convex surfaces 14b1 and between the outer concave surfaces 14b2 of the left and right extension ends 14 at the first protruding end 18 are l1 and l2, respectively, then L1 ≧ l1 (preferably L1 > l1). And, before the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18, L2 < l1, and after attachment, L2 > l2.

Therefore, when the first reinforcing bracket 51 is attached by lowering it relatively to the first protruding end 18, the distance between the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is pushed apart by the end wall portion 15, and the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 are elastically deformed. In addition, the distance between the left and right leg portions 55 is pushed apart by the extension end portion 14, and the left and right leg portions 55 are elastically deformed.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18 and the left half body 10A and the right half body 10B are joined by the first reinforcing metal fitting 51, the end wall 15 is tightened from the front and rear by the springiness of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the extension end 14 is tightened from the left and right by the springiness of the left and right legs 55. Therefore, the end wall 15 is tightened from the front, rear, left and right by the first reinforcing metal fitting 51, and the abutting joining surfaces 15d are in close contact with each other and become one body. As a result, the left half body 10A and the right half body 10B are joined by the first reinforcing metal fitting 51, and the first connector 1 is formed.

In addition, the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, which are spaced apart from each other less than the distance between the outer convex surface 15b1 and the inner convex surface 15c1, are located below the outer convex surface 15b1 and the inner convex surface 15c1. Therefore, when the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is lifted relatively to the end wall portion 15 to be removed, the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 get caught on the step between the outer convex surface 15b1 and the outer concave surface 15b2 and the step between the inner convex surface 15c1 and the inner concave surface 15c2, making removal difficult. In other words, the function of preventing the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 from coming loose is exerted.

Similarly, the lower curved portions 55b of the left and right legs 55, which are spaced apart from each other less than the distance between the left and right outer convex surfaces 14b1, are located below the outer convex surface 14b1. Therefore, when the first reinforcing bracket 51 is lifted relatively to the end wall portion 15 to be removed, the lower curved portions 55b of the legs 55 get caught on the step between the outer convex surface 14b1 and the outer concave surface 14b2, making removal difficult. In other words, the function of preventing the first reinforcing bracket 51 from coming loose is exerted.

In addition, if the distance between the portion of the end wall outer cover 52 near the upper curved portion 52a and the portion of the end wall inner cover 53 near the upper curved portion 53a is narrower than the distance between the outer convex surface 15b1 and the inner convex surface 15c1, the thick portion 15e of the end wall 15 is clamped from both sides by the end wall outer cover 52 and the end wall inner cover 53, so that the end wall 15 of the left half body 10A and the end wall 15 of the right half body 10B are firmly joined.

Similarly, if the distance between the adjacent portions of the upper curved portions 55a on the left and right legs 55 is narrower than the distance between the outer convex surfaces 14b1 of the left and right extension ends 14, the thick portion 14e of the extension end 14 is clamped from both sides by the legs 55, so that the end wall portion 15 of the left half body portion 10A and the end wall portion 15 of the right half body portion 10B are firmly joined.

Furthermore, if the distance between the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 is narrower than the distance between the outer concave surface 15b2 and the inner concave surface 15c2, the thin-walled portion 15f of the end wall portion 15 is sandwiched from both sides by the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, so that the end wall portion 15 of the left half body portion 10A and the end wall portion 15 of the right half body portion 10B are more firmly joined.

Similarly, if the distance between the lower curved portions 55b of the left and right legs 55 is narrower than the distance between the outer concave surfaces 14b2 of the left and right extension ends 14, the thin-walled portion 14f of the extension end 14 is clamped from both sides by the lower curved portions 55b of the legs 55, so that the end wall portion 15 of the left half body portion 10A and the end wall portion 15 of the right half body portion 10B are more firmly joined.

In addition, when the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 has been attached to the first protruding end 18, the upper surface 14a of the extension end 14 and the upper surface 15a of the end wall 15 are recessed so as to be located below the mating surface 12a, which is the upper surface of the first protruding portion 12, so that the upper surfaces of the end wall upper surface cover 57 and the extension end upper surface cover 54 are flush with the mating surface 12a or are recessed below the mating surface 12a. In other words, the upper surfaces of the end wall upper surface cover 57 and the extension end upper surface cover 54 do not protrude from the mating surface 12a.

Furthermore, the entire outer surface 14b of the extension end 14 is recessed so as to be located on the inside of the outer surface 12b of the first protrusion 12 in the width direction of the first connector 1, so that the outer surface of the leg 55 is flush with the outer surface 12b or recessed on the inside of the outer surface 12b in the width direction of the first connector 1. In other words, the outer surface of the leg 55 does not protrude from the outer surface 12b.

Furthermore, the entire outer surface 15b of the end wall portion 15 is recessed so as to be located longitudinally inward of the first connector 1 relative to the end face 14d of the extension end portion 14, so that the outer surface of the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 is flush with the end face 14d or recessed longitudinally inward of the first connector 1 relative to the end face 14d. In other words, the outer surface of the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 does not protrude beyond the end face 14d.

Furthermore, the entire inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15 is recessed so as to be located further outward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 than the inner surface 15h of the end wall base, so that the outer surface of the end wall inner surface cover portion 53 is flush with the inner surface 15h of the end wall base or recessed further outward in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 1 than the inner surface 15h of the end wall base. In other words, the outer surface of the end wall inner surface cover portion 53 does not protrude from the inner surface 15h of the end wall base.

The tail portion 56 connected to the tip of the lower curved portion 55b of the leg portion 55 has a tip that protrudes outward in the width direction of the first connector 1 beyond the outer surface 12b of the first protrusion 12. The lower surface of the tail portion 56 is substantially flush with the lower surface of the tail portion 62 of the first terminal 61 attached to the first protrusion 12 and the mounting surface 17a of the first housing 11.

In addition, the lower end of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower end of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 are located above the lower surface of the tail portion 56, and therefore above the mounting surface 17a of the first housing 11. Therefore, the lower end of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower end of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 do not come into contact with the surface of the first board.

Next, the configuration of the second connector 101 will be described.

Figure 11 is an oblique view of the second connector in the first embodiment, and Figure 12 is an exploded view of the second connector in the first embodiment.

The second connector 101 as the mating connector in this embodiment has a second housing 111 as the mating connector body integrally formed from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. As shown in the figure, the second housing 111 has a roughly rectangular thick plate shape that is roughly a rectangular parallelepiped. The side of the second housing 111 where the first connector 1 is inserted, that is, the mating surface 111a side (Z-axis positive direction side), has a roughly rectangular recess 112 surrounded by a periphery, which fits with the first housing 11. A second protrusion 113 as an island portion that fits with the groove portion 13 is formed integrally with the second housing 111 within the recess 112, and side walls 114 extending parallel to the second protrusion 113 are formed integrally with the second housing 111 on both sides of the second protrusion 113.

The second protrusion 113 and the side wall 114 protrude upward (positive Z-axis direction) from the bottom surface of the recess 112 and extend in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101. As a result, on both sides of the second protrusion 113, a groove portion 112a is formed as part of the recess 112, which is an elongated recess extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the second connector 101.

A groove-shaped second terminal accommodating groove cavity 115a is formed on both side surfaces of the second protrusion 113 and the inner side surface of the side wall portion 114. A hole-shaped second terminal accommodating hole cavity 115b is formed in the second protrusion 113 and the side wall portion 114. The second terminal accommodating groove cavity 115a and the second terminal accommodating hole cavity 115b are connected to each other at the bottom surface of the groove portion 112a and integrated with each other, so when the second terminal accommodating groove cavity 115a and the second terminal accommodating hole cavity 115b are described as a second terminal accommodating cavity 115 in a unified manner, they are described as a second terminal accommodating cavity 115. The second terminal accommodating cavities 115 are arranged at a pitch corresponding to the first terminals 61 and in the corresponding number.

The second terminal 161 is a member integrally formed by punching or other processing a conductive metal plate, and includes a main body 163, a tail portion 162 connected to the lower end of the main body 163, a connection portion 164 extending from near the lower end of the main body 163 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the second connector 101, and a contact portion 165 extending upward (Z-axis positive direction) from the connection portion 164. Note that it is preferable that a contact protrusion 165a protruding toward the main body 163 is formed near the tip of the contact portion 165.

The main body portion 163 is a portion that is press-fitted and held in the second terminal receiving cavity 115b. The tail portion 162 is bent and connected to the lower end of the main body portion 163, extends in the width direction of the second housing 111, and is connected by soldering or the like to a connection pad that is connected to a conductive trace of the second board. The conductive trace is typically a signal line. Furthermore, the contact portion 165 is a portion that contacts the first terminal 61 of the first connector 1 when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are mated, and preferably, the contact protrusion 165a engages with the contact recess 65a formed in the contact portion 65 of the first terminal 61.

The second terminal 161 is inserted into the second terminal accommodating cavity 115 from below the second housing 111 and attached to the second housing 111. As a result, the main body 163 of the second terminal 161 is pressed into and held in the second terminal accommodating hole cavity 115b, the contact portion 165 is accommodated in the second terminal accommodating groove cavity 115a and exposed to the recessed groove portion 112a, and the lower surface of the tail portion 162 is exposed to the mounting surface 111b, which serves as the lower surface of the second housing 111.

In addition, the second terminals 161 attached to each groove 112a are oriented so that the postures of adjacent ones are opposite to each other in the width direction of the groove 112a, similar to the first terminals 61. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the posture of the second terminal 161 located at the front end (X-axis positive end) of the second terminals 161 attached to the groove 112a on the Y-axis positive side is oriented so that the tail portion 162 protrudes in the Y-axis negative direction, while the posture of the second terminal 161 located second from the front end is oriented so that the tail portion 62 protrudes in the Y-axis positive direction. In this way, the second terminals 161 are attached to the groove 112a in an alternating arrangement so that they are oriented in opposite directions, so that the pitch of the tail portions 162 exposed to the mounting surface 111b on both sides of the groove 112a is twice the pitch of the second terminals 161. Therefore, the connection work by soldering or the like to the connection pad of the second board can be easily performed. In addition, the pitch of the contact portion 165 exposed in the groove portion 112a is also twice the pitch of the second terminal 161.

In addition, second protruding ends 121 are arranged on both longitudinal ends of the second housing 111 as fitting guides. Each second protruding end 121 has a fitting recess 122 formed as a part of the recess 112. The fitting recess 122 is a substantially rectangular recess and is connected to both longitudinal ends of each recess groove 112a. In addition, the first protruding end 18 of the first connector 1 is inserted into the fitting recess 122 when the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 are fitted together. In addition, the second protruding end 121 has a reinforcing metal fitting accommodating recess 126. A second reinforcing metal fitting 151 as a mating reinforcing metal fitting is accommodated in the reinforcing metal fitting accommodating recess 126 and attached to the second protruding end 121.

The second reinforcing metal fitting 151 is a member integrally formed by punching, bending, or other processing on a metal plate, and includes a second main body portion 152 extending in the width direction of the second housing 111, a central cover portion 157 connected to the upper end of the second main body portion 152, side cover portions 153 connected to both the left and right ends of the second main body portion 152, a contact side plate portion 154 connected to one side edge of the side cover portion 153, and a tail portion 156 connected to the lower end of the second main body portion 152. The tail portion 156 extends outward in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 101 and is connected and fixed by soldering or the like to a connection pad (not shown) exposed on the surface of the second board. It is preferable that the connection pad is connected to a conductive trace, for example, a power line.

Next, we will explain the operation of mating the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 configured as described above.

Here, the first connector 1 is surface-mounted on the first board by connecting the tail portion 62 of the first terminal 61 by soldering or the like to a connection pad connected to a conductive trace of the first board (not shown), and connecting the tail portion 56 of the first reinforcing bracket 51 by soldering or the like to a connection pad connected to the conductive trace of the first board. Note that the conductive trace connected to the connection pad to which the tail portion 62 of the first terminal 61 is connected is a signal line, and the conductive trace connected to the connection pad to which the tail portion 56 of the first reinforcing bracket 51 is connected is a power line.

Similarly, the second connector 101 is surface-mounted on the second board by connecting the tail portion 162 of the second terminal 161 by soldering or the like to a connection pad connected to a conductive trace of the second board (not shown), and connecting the tail portion 156 of the second reinforcing bracket 151 by soldering or the like to a connection pad connected to the conductive trace of the second board. Note that the conductive trace connected to the connection pad to which the tail portion 162 of the second terminal 161 is connected is a signal line, and the conductive trace connected to the connection pad to which the tail portion 156 of the second reinforcing bracket 151 is connected is a power line.

First, the operator places the mating surface 12a of the first protrusion 12, which serves as the mating surface of the first housing 11 of the first connector 1, opposite the mating surface 111a of the second housing 111 of the second connector 101. When the position of the first protrusion 12 of the first connector 1 matches the position of the corresponding recessed groove 112a of the second connector 101 and the position of the first protruding end 18 of the first connector 1 matches the position of the corresponding mating recess 122 of the second connector 101, the alignment of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 is complete.

In this state, when the first connector 1 and/or the second connector 101 is moved in a direction approaching the mating side, i.e., in the mating direction, the first convex portion 12 and the first protruding end portion 18 of the first connector 1 are inserted into the recessed groove portion 112a and the mating recess 122 of the second connector 101. This completes the mating of the first connector 1 and the second connector 101. Then, the first terminal 61 and the second terminal 161 are electrically connected.

Thus, in this embodiment, the first connector 1 comprises a pair of left and right half body parts 10A and 10B, each of which includes a first housing 11 and a plurality of first terminals 61 attached to the first housing 11, and a first reinforcing bracket 51 that is attached to a first protruding end 18 formed at both ends of the first housing 11 when the first housings 11 of the left and right half body parts 10A and 10B are butted together, and that connects the left and right half body parts 10A and 10B. Each of the first housings 11 includes a first protruding part 12 that extends in its longitudinal direction and holds the first terminals 61, extended end parts 14 connected to both longitudinal ends of the first protruding part 12, and an end wall part 15 that extends from the extended end part 14 toward the mating half body part, and each of the first protruding end parts 18 includes left and right end wall parts 15 that are butted together, and left and right extended end parts 14 from which the end wall parts 15 extend.

This allows the distance between the first housings 11, to which the multiple first terminals 61 are attached, to be narrowed, making it possible to miniaturize the first connector 1. It also makes it easier to manufacture the first connector 1, and improves the reliability of the first connector 1.

The first reinforcing metal fitting 51 includes an end wall upper surface covering portion 57 and an extended end upper surface covering portion 54 as an upper plate extending in the width direction of the first housing 11, an end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and an end wall inner surface covering portion 53 as a pair of end wall clamping plates connected to both side edges of the upper plate and clamping the end wall portion 15, and legs 55 as a pair of extended end clamping plates connected to both ends of the upper plate and clamping the extended end portion 14. The portion 57 faces the upper surface 15a of the end wall portion 15, the extension end upper surface cover portion 54 is connected to both ends of the end wall upper surface cover portion 57 and faces the upper surface 14a of the extension end portion 14, the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 faces the outer surface 15b of the end wall portion 15, the end wall inner surface cover portion 53 faces the inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15, and the leg portion 55 is connected to the outer end of the extension end upper surface cover portion 54 and faces the outer surface 14b of the extension end portion 14. As a result, the end wall portion 15 of the left half body portion 10A and the end wall portion 15 of the right half body portion 10B are firmly connected to each other, the first protruding end portion 18 is reliably formed, and the left half body portion 10A and the right half body portion 10B are reliably connected to each other.

Furthermore, the upper surface 15a of the end wall portion 15 and the upper surface 14a of the extension end portion 14 are recessed from the mating surface 12a of the first protrusion 12, the outer surface 15b of the end wall portion 15 is recessed from the end surface 14d of the extension end portion 14, the inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15 is recessed from the inner surface 15h of the end wall base, the outer surface 14b of the extension end portion 14 is recessed from the outer surface 12b of the first protrusion 12, the end wall upper surface cover portion 57 and the extension end upper surface cover portion 54 do not protrude from the mating surface 12a of the first protrusion 12, the end wall outer surface cover portion 52 and the end wall inner surface cover portion 53 do not protrude from the end surface 14d and the inner surface 15h of the end wall base as the exposed side surface of the first protrusion end portion 18, and the leg portion 55 does not protrude from the outer surface 12b of the first protrusion 12. Therefore, the surface of the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 does not protrude from the surface of the first housing 11.

Furthermore, the end wall portion 15 includes a thick portion 15e and a thin portion 15f connected to the underside of the thick portion 15e, and the extended end portion 14 includes a thick portion 14e and a thin portion 14f connected to the underside of the thick portion 14e, and in the first reinforcing bracket 51 before being attached to the first protruding end portion 18, the distance between the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, which are the closest portions of the end wall clamping plates, is narrower than the distance between the outer surface 15b and the inner surface 15c at the locations corresponding to the thick portion 15e of the end wall portion 15, and the distance between the lower curved portions 55b of the left and right legs 55, which are the closest portions of the extended end clamping plates, is narrower than the distance between the outer surfaces 14b at the locations corresponding to the thick portions 14e of the extended end portion 14. As a result, when the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is attached to the first protruding end 18, the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 are pushed apart, and the left and right legs 55 are also pushed apart. Therefore, when the attachment of the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 to the first protruding end 18 is completed, the end wall outer surface covering portion 52 and the end wall inner surface covering portion 53 exert their springiness to tighten the end wall portion 15 from the front and back, and the left and right legs 55 exert their springiness to tighten the extension end 14 from the left and right. Therefore, the end wall portion 15 is tightened from the front, back, left and right by the first reinforcing metal fitting 51, and the abutting joining surfaces 15d are in close contact with each other and become integrated, so that the first protruding end 18 is reliably formed.

Furthermore, the outer surface 15b of the end wall portion 15 includes a step between the outer convex surface 15b1 corresponding to the thick portion 15e and the outer concave surface 15b2 corresponding to the thin portion 15f, the inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15 includes a step between the inner convex surface 15c1 corresponding to the thick portion 15e and the inner concave surface 15c2 corresponding to the thin portion 15f, and the outer surface 14b of the extension end portion 14 includes a step between the outer convex surface 14b1 corresponding to the thick portion 14e and the outer concave surface 14b2 corresponding to the thin portion 14f. As a result, even if an upward external force is applied to the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 attached to the first protruding end portion 18, the lower curved portion 52b of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52, the lower curved portion 53b of the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the lower curved portion 55b of the leg portion 55 get caught on the step, making it difficult to remove the first reinforcing metal fitting 51. This reliably prevents the first reinforcing bracket 51 from coming loose.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that components having the same structure as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. Also, descriptions of the same operations and effects as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the second embodiment, Figure 14 is a first three-sided view of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the second embodiment, and Figure 15 is a second three-sided view of the first reinforcing metal fitting in the second embodiment. In Figure 14, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a side view, while in Figure 15, (a) is a top view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line G-G in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line H-H in (a).

The first reinforcing metal fitting 51 in this embodiment includes a hemispherical protrusion 58 formed on the end wall outer surface covering portion 52, the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the leg portion 55 as a locking protrusion. The protrusion 58 is formed to engage with the step between the outer convex surface 15b1 and the outer concave surface 15b2 of the end wall portion 15, the step between the inner convex surface 15c1 and the inner concave surface 15c2, and the step between the outer convex surface 14b1 and the outer concave surface 14b2 of the extension end portion 14 when the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is attached to the first protruding end portion 18. Therefore, when the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 is lifted relatively to the end wall portion 15 to be removed, the protrusion 58 engages with the step, making removal difficult. In other words, the function of preventing the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 from coming off is exerted.

The protrusions 58 are formed by expanding a portion of the metal plate constituting the end wall outer surface covering portion 52, the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the leg portion 55 through processing such as pressing, and are formed so as to protrude in a semi-spherical shape from the inner surfaces of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52, the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the leg portion 55. Note that recesses 58a are formed on the outer surfaces of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52, the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the leg portion 55 at positions corresponding to each protrusion 58 as a result of the metal plate expanding to form the protrusions 58.

The protrusion 58 is formed in at least one location on each of the end wall outer surface covering portion 52, the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the leg portion 55, but may be formed in two or more locations as necessary. In addition, it is desirable that the position of the protrusion 58 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is such that the upper surface 58b of the protrusion 58 abuts against the step when the attachment of the first reinforcing bracket 51 to the first protruding end portion 18 is completed.

Thus, in this embodiment, the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 includes protrusions 58 formed on the end wall outer surface covering portion 52, the end wall inner surface covering portion 53, and the leg portion 55, which engage with the steps. As a result, even if an upward external force is applied to the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 attached to the first protruding end portion 18, the protrusions 58 engage with the steps included in the outer surface 15b and inner surface 15c of the end wall portion 15 and the outer surface 14b of the extension end portion 14, making it more difficult to remove the first reinforcing metal fitting 51. This more reliably prevents the first reinforcing metal fitting 51 from coming loose.

Note that the disclosure of this specification describes features related to preferred and exemplary embodiments. Various other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will naturally occur to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the disclosure of this specification. For example, the staggered arrangement of the terminals does not have to be regular. Furthermore, the arrangement of the terminals does not have to be the same on the left and right halves. Furthermore, the left and right halves do not have to be line-symmetrical.

This disclosure can be applied to connectors.

1 First connector 10A Left half body part 10B Right half body part 11 First housing 12 First convex parts 12a, 111a Fitting surfaces 12b, 14b, 15b Outer surfaces 12c, 15c Inner surfaces 13, 112a Concave groove part 14 Extension end part 14a, 15a Upper surface 14b1, 15b1 Outer convex surface 14b2, 15b2 Outer concave surface 14d End surface 14e, 15e Thick wall portion 14f, 15f Thin wall portion 15 End wall portion 15c1 Inner convex surface 15c2 Inner concave surface 15d Joining surface 15g Inner end portion 15h Inner surface of end wall base 17 Bottom plate portions 17a, 111b Mounting surface 18 First protruding end portion 51 First reinforcing metal fittings 52 End wall outer covering portions 52a, 53a, 55a Upper curved portions 52b, 53b, 55b Lower curved portions
53 End wall inner surface cover portion 54 Extension end upper surface cover portion 55 Leg portion 56, 62, 156, 162 Tail portion 57 End wall upper surface cover portion 58 Protrusion 58a, 112 Recess 58b Surface 61 First terminal 63, 163 Body portion 64 Upper end portion 65, 165 Contact portion 65a Contact recess 101 Second connector 111 Second housing 113 Second protruding portion 114 Side wall portion 115 Second terminal accommodating cavity 115a Second terminal accommodating groove cavity 115b Second terminal accommodating hole cavity 121 Second protruding end portion 122 Fitting recess 126 Reinforcing metal fitting accommodating recess 151 Second reinforcing metal fitting 152 Second main body portion 153 Side cover portion 154 Contact side plate portion 157 Central cover portion 161 Second terminal 164 Connection portion 165a Contact protrusion portion 811 Housing 812 Convex part 861 Terminal

Claims (6)

(a) a connector pair comprising: a first connector including a first housing and a plurality of first terminals attached to the first housing; and a second connector including a second housing and a plurality of second terminals attached to the second housing, the second connector mating with the first connector,
(b) each of the first terminals and each of the second terminals includes a contact portion and a substrate connection portion;
(c) the first terminals are arranged to form a plurality of rows extending in a longitudinal direction of the first housing, and the orientations of the first terminals adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the first housing are opposite to each other in a width direction of the first housing, and the orientations of the first terminals adjacent to each other in the width direction of the first housing are the same as each other in the width direction of the first housing,
(d) the second terminals are arranged to form a plurality of rows extending in a longitudinal direction of the second housing, and the orientations of the second terminals adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the second housing are opposite to each other in a width direction of the second housing, and the orientations of the second terminals adjacent to each other in the width direction of the second housing are the same as each other in the width direction of the second housing,
(e) a single through hole is formed on an inner side in a width direction of the first housing, the through hole extending in a longitudinal direction of the first housing and penetrating in a fitting direction;
( f ) among the board connection portions of the plurality of first terminals, a board connection portion located on an inner side in a width direction of the first housing is exposed in the through hole and is visible from a fitting surface of the first housing,
( g ) A connector pair characterized in that, when the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other, the contact portions of corresponding first terminals and second terminals and the board connection portions face each other , and the contact portions and board connection portions of each first terminal are located on opposite sides of the first housing in the width direction . The connector pair according to claim 1, wherein each of the second terminals includes a body portion held in the second housing, the body portion being located closer to the board connection portion than the contact portion. The connector pair according to claim 2, wherein the second housing includes a cavity extending in the mating direction, and the main body of the second terminal is accommodated within the cavity. The connector pair according to claim 2, wherein the board connection portion of the second terminal is exposed on the mounting surface of the second housing. The connector pair according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal is integral with the first housing and is held in the first housing. The connector pair according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first housing and the second housing each have reinforcing metal fittings attached to both longitudinal ends.

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