JP2879412B2 - Connector with eject mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector used for connecting a circuit board, an IC memory card, and the like, and more particularly to a connector having an eject function for facilitating detachment of a board, a TC memory card, and the like. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among connectors used for connecting an IC memory card to a printed circuit board, there is a connector having an eject function for facilitating detachment of the board and the IC memory card. FIG. 7 shows an example of a conventional ejector grooved connector. The connector 10 is formed in a substantially U-shape in plan view having sidewall portions 16 and 18 extending substantially perpendicularly to the main portion 14 from both ends of the main portion 14 where the contact pins 12 are implanted. . An L-shaped eject lever 22 is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 20 provided on the side wall 16. Eject lever 22
When the board 26 is mounted on the connector 10, the eject leg 24 arranged substantially parallel to the main portion 14 of the connector 10 abuts on the front edge thereof. The operation lever section 28 of the eject lever 22 is disposed substantially parallel to the side wall section 16 of the connector 10.

On the other hand, a substrate 26
Is provided with a tapered insulator escape portion 30 for allowing the insulator on the side edge of the insulator to escape. In the above configuration, the ejecting operation of the board 26 is performed by urging the operation lever unit 28 of the eject lever 22 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7 and rotating the eject lever 22 in the clockwise direction in FIG. As a result, the front edge of the board 26 is pressed in the detaching direction, and the engagement between the connector 10 and the board 26 is released. At this time, as shown in FIG.
The engagement between the board 26 and the connector 10 can be released with a small operating force due to the lever ratio between the operating lever 4 and the operating lever 28.

In such a conventional connector configuration, the engagement holding force between the board and the connector is obtained only by the frictional force, so that the engagement may be insufficiently held.
Further, in the configuration of the conventional connector shown in FIG. 7, since the reaction force against the insertion force at the time of mounting the board is constant, it is difficult to determine whether the board is inserted at an appropriate insertion position, and the insertion is insufficient. Connection failure and damage to the board and / or connector due to excessive pressing force.

[0005] Other conventional examples of this type of connector are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-226038 and 5-121130. JP-A-5-2260
The connector disclosed in No. 38 is configured such that a plug connector can be detached from a receptacle connector with one touch. In this configuration, after the plug connector is fitted to the receptacle connector, the contacts are joined by moving the plug connector in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, so that the operation of the plug connector in the fitting direction is performed. It is provided with a guide mechanism for converting the movement into a direction perpendicular to the joining direction. Further, the connector is provided with a leaf spring that is provided on the plug connector side and gives the plug connector an elastic force in a detaching direction.

On the other hand, the rotary connection type connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-121130 is designed to improve the mounting density of the connector and facilitate the work of inserting the board. For this reason, in the disclosed connector, a notch concave portion which is opened outward is formed at a predetermined position at one end of the substrate, and the notch is formed at a predetermined position at one end of the connector and corresponding to the notch concave portion. A support shaft is provided to enter the recess, and the notch recess of the substrate is fitted into the support shaft of the connector, and then the support shaft is rotationally connected to the connector side with the support shaft as the rotation center of the substrate.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
No. 38 discloses a connector in which a plug connector is joined to a receptacle connector so that the plug connector can be locked with a single touch and the plug connector can be easily separated from the receptacle connector by the elastic force of a leaf spring. It is necessary to displace the plug connector with respect to the receptacle connector in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction in order to enable the one-touch lock as described above. Space is required, and an increase in the size of the connector device is inevitable.

On the other hand, in the connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-121130, a notch recess formed at one end of the substrate is first engaged with a support shaft when the substrate is mounted, and the substrate is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable. Then, by rotating the board, the other end is engaged with a connector having an eject mechanism, but the holding force between the board and the connector is due to the frictional force between the board edge and the connector. It is hard to say that the engagement between the board and the connector can be maintained sufficiently stably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector with an ejection function that can securely hold a substrate, an IC memory card, and the like with a sufficient holding force. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a click feeling when a proper connection between the connector and the board is obtained at the time of mounting the board, an IC memory card, or the like, thereby fitting the board to the connector. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector with an eject function which can ensure the above.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a connected substrate such as a circuit board or an IC memory card inserted into a connector is provided on one side edge of the connector. An eject mechanism for detaching from the connector is provided, and on the other side edge, an elastic engaging means for elastically engaging with the connected substrate and restricting movement of the connected substrate in the detaching direction is provided. In the connector with an eject mechanism, the connector is formed in a substantially U-shape in plan view having side walls extending substantially perpendicularly to the main portion from both ends of the main portion where the contact pins are implanted. A substantially L-shaped eject mechanism is rotatably attached to a side wall located at one side edge of the connector, and is attached to a side wall located at the other side edge. Is the spring piece An ejecting mechanism, which is formed in the substantially L-shape and is rotatably attached to a side wall portion located at the one side edge of the connector, comprises: An ejecting leg for connecting the ejecting operation force during ejection to the substrate by opposing the edge and an operating lever for inputting the ejecting operation force, and a side wall portion located at one side edge of the connector The operation lever portion includes an approximately semicircular cutout groove formed on a side edge of the connection target substrate. An engaging projection for engaging is provided,
The spring piece that forms the elastic engagement means has a substantially semicircular engaging portion that engages a substantially semicircular cutout groove formed on a side edge of the connected substrate at one end thereof. The base end is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the wall side portion located on the other side edge of the connector, and the spring piece is
A connector with an ejection mechanism is provided, which is a spring piece formed of an elastic metal or a spring piece integrally formed with a side wall portion located on the other side edge of the connector formed by synthetic resin molding.

The eject mechanism is formed in a substantially L-shape, is rotatably mounted on a side wall located at one side edge of the connector, and is opposed to and joined to a front edge of the substrate. An eject leg configured to transmit an ejecting operation force to the substrate at the time of ejection and a fulcrum portion formed continuously with the eject leg, and an eject surface having a rear end surface of the eject leg as a cam surface. The lever and one end thereof are engaged with the fulcrum portion of the eject lever, and are disposed substantially parallel to a side wall portion located at one side edge of the connector, and are parallel to an insertion direction of the connected board by an eject operation force. Move the eject leg by the action of the cam surface,
It is also possible to use an operation lever for performing an ejecting operation of the connected substrate.

In the latter case, the operation lever penetrates slidably in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction, and has a substantially semicircular shape having one end formed on a side edge of the connection substrate. It is possible to provide a lock key that engages with the notch groove.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a connector with an ejection mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the connector 10 is formed of a synthetic resin, and the contact pins 12 are formed similarly to the configuration of the conventional example of FIG.
Are formed in a substantially U-shape in plan view, having side walls 16 and 18 extending substantially perpendicularly to the main part 14 from both ends of the main part 14 in which is implanted. An L-shaped eject lever 22 is provided on the pivot pin 20 provided on the side wall portion 16.
Is rotatably provided. When the board 26 is mounted on the connector 10, the eject leg 24 of the eject lever 22 disposed substantially parallel to the main portion 14 of the connector 10 abuts on the front edge thereof. The operation lever section 28 of the eject lever 22 is disposed substantially parallel to the side wall section 16 of the connector 10. Although not shown, the eject lever 22 is always urged in the illustrated counterclockwise direction by an appropriate spring means.

The eject lever 22 has an engagement projection 34 that fits into a substantially semicircular cutout groove 32 formed on a side edge of the board 26, so that the board 26 engages with the connector 10. In this state, the board 26 is fitted into the cutout groove 32 of the board 26 to prevent the board 26 from falling off.

On the other hand, a spring piece 40 having a substantially semicircular engaging portion 38 is provided in the insulator escape groove 36 on the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 18. In this embodiment, the spring piece 40 is formed of an elastic metal,
The base end is embedded and fixed to the side wall 18 of the connector 10. On the other hand, the substantially semicircular engaging portion 38 is engaged with a substantially semicircular cutout groove 42 formed on a side edge of the substrate 26.

This embodiment is constructed as described above.
When the board is mounted, the board 26 is guided and inserted into both side walls 16 and 18 of the connector 10. When the board 26 is inserted into the connector 10 to a predetermined engagement depth, the engagement protrusion 34 of the eject lever 22 fits into the notch groove 32 on one side edge of the opposed board 26. At the same time, the engaging portion 38 of the spring piece 40 fits into the notch groove 42 on the other side edge of the substrate 26. As a result, the reaction force due to the engagement of the engagement protrusions 34 and the engagement portions 38 of the spring pieces 40 with the notch grooves 32 and 42 is transmitted to the substrate 26 as a click feeling. It becomes possible for the operator to perceive the insertion to the appropriate position. Also,
The board 26 inserted to the proper insertion position is engaged with the engagement protrusion 34 of the eject lever 22 and the engagement portion 3 of the spring piece 40.
Since the holding force due to the engagement of each of the notches 8 with the notch grooves 32 and 42 acts in addition to the frictional engagement force between the board 26 and the connector 10, the engagement between the board 26 and the connector 10 can be reliably held. Becomes

When detaching the board 26 from the connector 10, the operation lever 28 of the eject lever 22 is rotated clockwise. With the rotation of the eject lever 22, the eject leg 24 also rotates clockwise about the pivot point, protrudes from the substrate facing surface of the main portion 14, and presses the front edge of the substrate 26 in the retreating direction. . As a result, the board 26 is pressed rearward and detaches from the connector 10.

FIG. 2 shows a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the same or similar elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the configuration and operation of those elements will be omitted.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is different from the first embodiment in that a spring piece 40 made of an elastic metal is used as the elastic engagement means in the first embodiment. In contrast to the side wall portion 18 of FIG. 10, the present embodiment is different only in that a resin spring piece 50 formed integrally with the side wall portion 18 is used. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

According to the structure of the connector according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained by the structure of the connector according to the first embodiment, in addition to the case where a metal spring piece is attached to the resin connector. , Resin spring piece 50
Can be integrally formed with the connector main body, so that the man-hour for mounting the metal spring piece is not required unlike the metal spring piece, and therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the same or similar elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the configuration and operation of those elements will be omitted. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the eject mechanism is changed from the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the eject lever 60 in this embodiment is the same as the first and second embodiments,
6 is formed by an eject leg 62 that abuts against the front end edge of the substrate 6 and applies an ejecting force in a retreating direction to the substrate 26; ing. The pivot 64 is provided with a pivot pin 66. As shown in FIG. 4, an end surface of the eject lever 60 opposite to the substrate contact surface 68 is formed in a substantially arc shape, and forms a cam surface 70. The operation lever 72 for rotating the eject lever 60 is formed separately from the eject lever 60. The operation lever 72 is slidably inserted into a guide hole 74 formed through the side wall portion 16 of the connector 10, and holds the eject lever 60 and holding pieces 76, 76 formed at the distal end with the eject lever 6.
The eject lever 60 is rotatably supported by engaging with the pivot pin 66 of the fulcrum 64 of the zero. An operation button 78 is integrally provided at an outer end of the operation lever 72. The operation lever 72 is configured to be biased to an initial position protruding outward by biasing means such as a spring (not shown).

In this embodiment constructed as described above, when the operation button is pressed inward at the time of eject operation, the operation lever 72 moves inward. With the inward movement of the operation lever 72, the pivot pins 66 of the eject lever 60 connected to the operation lever 72 by the holding pieces 76, 76 are displaced inward, and the eject lever 60 is rotated by the cam action. Then, an ejecting force in the backward direction of the board 26 is applied to the front edge of the board, so that the connector 10 and the board 2
6 is disengaged.

According to the structure of this embodiment, in addition to the effect achieved by the first embodiment, the rotation of the operation lever is not required for the rotation operation of the eject lever. Since it is not required, it is advantageous for mounting the connector. In the third embodiment, the board 26 is inadvertently pushed by the operation button 78.
A lock mechanism as shown in FIG. 5 can be provided to prevent the connection between the connector 10 and the connector 10 from being inadvertently released. In FIG. 5, a slide lock piece 82 having an arc-shaped end 84 is fitted into a through-hole 80 formed through the operation lever 72, and the arc-shaped end 84 is formed on a side edge of the substrate 26 in a semicircular shape. The sliding operation of the operation lever 72 is restricted by being fitted into the notch groove 32. In this configuration, the slide lock piece 82 can be urged to the lock position by urging means such as a spring (not shown).

The fitting of the slide lock pieces 82 into the notches 32 of the board 26 prevents the operation lever 72 from being inadvertently ejected, and at the same time restricts the movement of the board 26 in the retreating direction. The substrate 26
And the connector 10 can be more reliably held.

At the time of the eject operation, the slide lock piece 82 is retracted as shown in FIG.
2 or by appropriately adjusting the urging force of the urging means for applying an urging force to the slide lock piece 82 so that when an operation force equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied to the operation lever 72, an arc-shaped operation is performed. The slide lock piece is retracted by cam action between the end portion 84 and the semicircular edge of the notch groove 32.

[0026]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, according to the first aspect, when the board is mounted, the board is guided and inserted into the side wall portions located at both ends of the connector, and when the board is inserted into the connector to a predetermined engagement depth, the engagement projection of the eject lever is set. The engaging portion of the spring piece that forms the elastic engagement means is fitted into the notch groove on the other side edge of the substrate while fitting into the notch groove on one side edge of the opposing substrate. As a result, the reaction force due to the engagement of the engagement protrusions and the engagement portions with the notch grooves is transmitted to the substrate as a click feeling, so that the operator perceives that the substrate has been inserted to the appropriate position. It is possible to do. In addition, the holding force due to the engagement of the engagement protrusion of the eject lever and the engagement portion of the spring piece with each notch groove is added to the board inserted into the proper insertion position in addition to the friction engagement force of the board and the connector. Since it acts, it is possible to reliably hold the engagement between the board and the connector. Further, the connector is formed by synthetic resin molding, and the spring piece forming the elastic engagement means is attached to the other side wall of the connector. When integrally formed with the portion, the man-hour for attaching the spring pieces, which is required when attaching a spring piece made of an elastic metal to the connector, is not required, and thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to claim 2, according to claim 1,
In addition to the same effects as described above, the rotation of the eject lever constituting the eject mechanism does not require rotation of the operation lever and does not require clearance on the side of the connector, which is advantageous for mounting the connector. Becomes

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the slide lock piece is fitted into the notch groove of the substrate, thereby preventing the operation lever from being inadvertently ejected, and also restricts the operation of the substrate in the backward direction. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably hold the connection between the board and the connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a board is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a state where the board is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a state where the connector is mounted on a board.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a main part of an eject mechanism of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of an operation lever lock mechanism showing a modification of the connector of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the operation lever lock mechanism of FIG. 5 in an unlocked state.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional connector with an ejection mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 16, 18 Side wall part 22 Eject lever 26 Substrate 32, 42 Notch groove 34 Engagement projection 38 Engagement part 40 Spring piece

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-175180 (JP, A) JP-A-5-121130 (JP, A) JP-A-7-312266 (JP, A) JP-A-8-108 148222 (JP, A) JP-A-7-288153 (JP, A) JP-A-8-203608 (JP, A) JP-A-6-86278 (JP, U) JP-A-6-17144 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 6-88070 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho 59-99380 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho 45-6363 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01R 13/62-13/63 H01R 23/68 H05K 7/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An eject mechanism for detaching a circuit board or an IC memory card or the like inserted from the connector from the connector is provided on one side edge of the connector, and the eject mechanism is provided on the other side edge. In a connector with an eject mechanism, which is provided with an elastic engagement means which elastically engages with a connected substrate and regulates movement of the connected substrate in a detaching direction, the connector has a main body provided with contact pins. From the both ends of the portion, it is formed in a substantially U-shape in plan view having a side wall portion formed to extend substantially perpendicular to the main portion,
A substantially L-shaped eject mechanism is rotatably attached to a side wall portion located on one side edge of the connector, and an elastic member made of a spring piece is provided on a side wall portion located on the other side edge. An engaging mechanism is provided, the eject mechanism is formed in the substantially L-shape, and is rotatably attached to a side wall portion located at the one side edge of the connector.
An eject leg for transmitting an eject operation force at the time of ejection to the substrate by being joined to the front edge of the substrate and an operation lever portion for inputting the eject operation force are provided, and at one side edge of the connector An eject lever is pivotally supported by a pivot pin provided on a side wall portion located on the side wall portion, and the operation lever portion has a substantially semicircular shape formed on a side edge of the connected substrate. An engagement projection is provided for engaging the notch groove, and the spring piece forming the elastic engagement means has a substantially semicircular notch formed at one end thereof at a side edge of the connection-target substrate. The connector has a substantially semicircular engaging portion that engages with the groove, and has a base end fixedly attached to an inner surface of a wall side portion located on the other side edge of the connector. , Spring made of elastic metal Connectorized eject mechanism, characterized in that the side wall portion located on the other side edge of the connector formed by the piece or a synthetic resin molding is integrally molded spring piece. 2. A board to be connected such as a circuit board or an IC memory card inserted into the connector is provided on one side edge of the connector.
An eject mechanism for detaching from the connector is provided, and on the other side edge, an elastic engaging means for elastically engaging with the connected substrate and restricting movement of the connected substrate in the detaching direction is provided. In the connector with an eject mechanism, the connector is formed in a substantially U-shape in plan view having side walls extending substantially perpendicularly to the main portion from both ends of the main portion where the contact pins are implanted. That has been
A substantially L-shaped eject mechanism is rotatably attached to a side wall portion located on one side edge of the connector, and an elastic member made of a spring piece is provided on a side wall portion located on the other side edge. An engagement mechanism is provided, and the ejecting mechanism formed in a substantially L-shape is formed in a substantially L-shape, and is rotatably attached to a side wall located at one side edge of the connector. , Facing the front edge of the substrate,
An eject leg for transmitting an eject operation force upon ejection to the substrate by joining the eject leg and a fulcrum portion formed continuously with the eject leg, and a rear end surface of the eject leg as a cam surface. The configured eject lever has one end engaged with the fulcrum portion of the eject lever, and is disposed substantially parallel to a side wall portion located on one side edge of the connector. A spring piece that moves in a direction parallel to the direction, rotates the eject leg by the action of the cam surface, and performs an eject operation of the connected substrate. Is
At one end thereof, there is provided a substantially semicircular engaging portion which engages with a substantially semicircular cutout groove formed on a side edge of the connection substrate, and a base end thereof is provided on the other side edge of the connector. The spring piece is a spring piece made of a resilient metal or a side wall part located on the other side edge of a connector formed by synthetic resin molding. A connector with an ejection mechanism, which is a spring piece integrally formed with the connector. 3. An operation lever is slidably penetrated in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the operation lever, and has one side end formed in a substantially semicircular cutout groove formed in a side edge of the connection substrate. 3. The connector with an ejection mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising a lock key to be engaged.