JP5817504B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector configured to hold a signal transmission medium inserted into a connector main body by a lock portion.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrical connector for electrically connecting a signal transmission medium such as a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) to a circuit wiring board has been widely used in various electric devices. The electrical connector is mounted such that the connector main body rises from the surface of the circuit wiring board via, for example, a board connection leg (hold down) joined to the circuit wiring board, and is provided on the connector main body of the electrical connector. A signal transmission medium is inserted inward from the insertion opening, and electrical connection is made.

  Among such electrical connectors, when a signal transmission medium is inserted, a reaction force is generated from a contact or the like. In a so-called non-Zif type electrical connector, the signal transmission medium is inserted toward the inside. In the terminal portion on the insertion side, a positioning portion made of, for example, a notch-shaped recess is formed, and a locking portion provided on the electric connector side engages with a positioning portion provided on the signal transmission medium side. Therefore, an automatic lock mechanism that often maintains the insertion state of the signal transmission medium is often employed.

  On the other hand, in recent years, in this type of conventional electrical connector described in Patent Document 1 below, a contact pressure between a contact group held in the connector and each land portion of a signal transmission medium (FPC) is obtained. A configuration is being adopted in which a lock lever that prevents a signal transmission medium from falling off even with a small contact load is attached without using a slider. However, in such a configuration, since the lock portion provided in the connector main body is formed by a separate member, the entire connector tends to be expensive due to an increase in the number of parts. In addition, since the lock portion is engaged with the signal transmission medium by its own weight, there is a problem that a sufficient holding force for the signal transmission medium cannot be obtained.

  Further, in the conventional connector having another configuration described in Patent Document 2 below, the FPC is elastically pressed and supported by reinforcing metal fittings attached to both ends of the housing and soldered to the circuit wiring board. A configuration has also been proposed in which the elastic support piece is provided to prevent the signal transmission medium (FPC) from being displaced. However, since the direction of the pressing force by the elastic support piece and the soldered part of the reinforcing bracket are misaligned, repeated release of the lock part many times will cause local problems with respect to the printed wiring board and the insulating housing. As a result, a continuous action force is continuously applied, and each member or joint portion is damaged, which affects the mounting state of the electrical connector, and the electrical connection may become unstable. .

JP 2001-196130 A JP 2003-100370 A

  Therefore, the present invention has a simple configuration and satisfactorily holds the signal transmission medium inserted in the insulating housing while reducing the load on the printed wiring board in the unlocking operation for the signal transmission medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that can be made to operate.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electrical connector according to the present invention is used by being mounted on a printed wiring board, and has lock portions on both side portions in the plate width direction of a signal transmission medium inserted into an insulating housing. The signal transmission medium is held by engaging the signal transmission medium, while the engagement state of the lock part is shifted to the release state by operating the lock release operation part, and the signal transmission medium is removed. In the electrical connector, the unlock operation portion is configured to be pushed and moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction of the signal transmission medium and substantially parallel to the printed wiring board, In conjunction with the pushing movement of the unlocking operation part, the lock is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to both the pushing movement direction of the unlocking operation part and the insertion / removal direction. An unlocking conversion mechanism for moving the lock unit, wherein the unlocking conversion mechanism includes an elastically displaceable lock arm unit that integrally connects the unlocking operation unit and the lock unit, and a lock thereof. A release guide portion that defines a direction of elastic displacement of the arm portion in a predetermined direction, and the release guide portion extends in a direction that is relatively inclined with respect to a pushing movement direction of the lock release operation portion. The unlocking guide surface with which a part of the lock arm part slides when the unlocking operation part is pushed in, and the other part of the lock arm part comes into contact with the lock when the unlocking operation part is pushed in And a release restricting surface that defines the final position of the arm portion.

  In such a configuration, the operation of releasing the lock portion is performed by pushing and moving the lock release operation portion in a direction substantially parallel to the printed wiring board. Therefore, the printed wiring board is locally moved during the unlocking operation. The printed circuit board, the insulating housing, and each joint portion are not damaged. In particular, when a part of the lock arm portion slides on the release guide surface, the elastic displacement of the lock arm portion is performed smoothly and stably, and the final elastic displacement state of the lock arm portion is relative to the release restriction surface. Since it is stably held by the surface contact, the engagement state of the locking lock portion with respect to the signal transmission medium is reliably performed.

  In this case, the lock arm portion includes a folded portion formed so as to be bent at an acute angle in a middle portion integrally connecting the unlock operation portion and the lock portion, and the folded portion. However, it is desirable that the lock release operation portion is configured to be in sliding contact with the release guide surface when pushed.

  According to such a configuration, when the folded portion provided in a part of the lock arm portion having the lock portion comes into contact with the guide surface of the release guide portion, the lock portion of the lock portion is guided by the guiding action of the curved surface of the folded portion. Moves smoothly.

  In this case, the release guide surface and the release restriction surface of the release guide portion include a pair of opposed inclined surfaces that form a wedge-shaped space that can accommodate the folded portion of the lock arm portion, and the pair of opposed inclined surfaces. So that the angle θ1 formed by the release guide surface and the release restriction surface is smaller than the acute folding angle θ2 of the folded portion in the non-operating state before the unlocking operation portion is pushed. It is desirable to set (θ1 <θ2).

  According to such a configuration, when the unlocking operation is performed, the folded portion of the lock arm portion having the large opening angle θ2 is pushed into the wedge-shaped space of the releasing guide portion having the small opening angle θ1, thereby Since the lock arm portion is elastically displaced so that the opening angle of the folded portion is compressed, the lock portion is moved, so that the lock portion is moved in addition to the guide action by the inclined surface of the release guide portion described above. Furthermore, it is performed smoothly.

  Further, in the present invention, the unlocking operation portion, the lock arm portion, and the lock portion include a lock member that integrally extends in a cantilever shape, and the lock member includes the insulating member. It is desirable to be fixed to the housing. Furthermore, in the present invention, it is desirable that a substrate connection portion soldered to the printed wiring board is integrally provided on the lock member.

  According to such a configuration, the lock release operation unit, the lock release conversion mechanism, and the board connection unit are realized with a simple configuration.

  In addition, it is desirable that a pair of the unlocking operation portions in the present invention is disposed so as to face each other at both outer portions sandwiching the signal transmission medium in the plate width direction.

  According to such a configuration, for example, by pressing the pair of unlocking operation parts in a direction to be close to each other so as to be sandwiched between the fingertips of the operator, the unlocking part can be reliably released with an easy operation. Done.

  As described above, the electrical connector according to the present invention is configured to push and move the unlocking operation unit that releases the locking unit with respect to the signal transmission medium in a direction substantially parallel to the printed wiring board, Equipped with a lock release conversion mechanism that moves the lock unit in conjunction with the pushing movement of the unlock operation unit, enabling unlock operation that pushes and moves the unlock operation unit in a direction approximately parallel to the printed circuit board As described above, the local load on the printed wiring board during the unlocking operation is eliminated and the possibility of damage to the printed wiring board, the insulating housing, and the joint portion can be avoided. While holding the signal transmission medium inserted in the inside well, the signal transmission medium at the time of unlocking operation It is possible to reduce the load on the printing wiring board, the reliability of the electrical connector can be enhanced inexpensive and significantly.

It is an appearance perspective explanatory view showing the state just before inserting a signal transmission medium in the electric connector concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the front upper part side. FIG. 2 is an external perspective explanatory view showing the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 from the upper rear side. FIG. 2 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a state after the signal transmission medium is inserted into the electrical connector shown in FIG. It is front explanatory drawing of the electrical connector shown by FIG. FIG. 5 shows the electrical connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a state in which a lock disclosure operation is performed from the state shown in FIG. 5. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory view showing the structure of the lock member used for the electrical connector shown by FIGS. 1-6 from the back side. FIG. 8 is an external perspective explanatory view showing the structure of the lock member shown in FIG. 7 from the front side. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory view showing the single-piece | unit structure of the insulation housing used for the electrical connector shown by FIGS. It is longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing along the XX line in FIG. It is longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing along the XI-XI line in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an electrical connector mounted on a circuit wiring board will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  An electrical connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 11 is a so-called non-diff (mounted) circuit wiring board (not shown) constituting a part of an electronic circuit on the electrical product side. Non-Zif) type electrical connector, and the electrical connector 10 has an elongated insulating housing 11 disposed so as to rise from the surface of the circuit wiring board disposed substantially horizontally. .

  In the following, it is assumed that the surface of the circuit wiring board (not shown) extends in a horizontal state, the direction in which the insulating housing 11 rises from the surface of the circuit wiring board is “upward”, and the rising direction of the insulating housing 11 is The opposite direction is “downward”. In addition, the elongated extending direction of the insulating housing 11 is referred to as a “connector longitudinal direction”, and a direction perpendicular to both the “connector longitudinal direction” and the “vertical direction” is referred to as a “connector longitudinal direction”.

[Insulating housing]
An insertion opening 11a into which a signal transmission medium PB such as a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) to be described later is inserted is formed on the upper end surface, which is an end portion on the rising side of the insulating housing 11 described above. It is formed so as to form an elongated slit shape along the longitudinal direction. Then, the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium PB is disposed in a state in which the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium PB is directed downwardly so as to be substantially orthogonal to the surface of the circuit wiring board (not shown) above the insertion opening 11a. 3, 10, and 11), and the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium PB is moved downward, so that the inside of the electrical connector 10, more specifically the hollow interior of the insulating housing 11, from the insertion opening 11 a. The terminal portion of the signal transmission medium PB is inserted into the terminal.

  According to the insertion structure from above the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB, when the signal transmission medium PB is inserted into the insertion opening 11a of the insulating housing 11, the insertion opening 11a and the signal transmission medium The positional relationship with the PB is easily observed from above, so that the signal transmission medium PB can be inserted easily and accurately, and the state after the signal transmission medium PB is inserted is well secured.

[About conductive contacts]
A plurality of conductive contacts (conductive terminals) 12, 12,... Are attached to the above-described insulating housing 11 in a multipolar shape along the longitudinal direction of the connector of the insulating housing 11 with a predetermined pitch interval. Yes. Each of these conductive contacts 12 is made of a metal member bent so as to have a substantially L-shaped side surface as shown in FIG. 10, and is inserted into the electrical connector 10 as described above. The contact portion 12a that contacts the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB is provided at the upper end portion. The main body portion of each of the conductive contacts 12 extends downward from the contact portion 12a described above, and is bent at a substantially right angle at the lower end portion contacting the circuit wiring board (not shown), and the back surface in the connector front-rear direction. It extends to the side (the right side in FIG. 10). And the connection terminal part 12b is provided in the extension edge part to the back side of the conductive contact 12, and the connection terminal part 12b is the conductive path for signals formed in the circuit wiring board (illustration omitted) mentioned above. It is designed to be soldered together.

[About locking members]
Furthermore, a pair of lock members (hold-down) 13, 13 formed by bending a thin plate-like metal member into a predetermined shape are disposed at both ends of the insulating housing 11 in the connector longitudinal direction. Each of the lock members 13 is attached to both end portions of the insulating housing 11 in the connector longitudinal direction, and the base mounting plates 13a constituting the base portions of the lock members 13 are connected to both ends of the electrical connector 10 in the longitudinal direction. It is attached to cover the part from the outside.

  The base mounting plate 13a of the lock member 13 rises substantially perpendicular to the surface of the circuit wiring board (not shown) so as to come into contact with the back surface side (right end surface side in FIG. 11) of the insulating housing 11. Placed in. A first fixing piece 13a1 is formed in a cantilevered manner in a portion where the base mounting plate 13a covers the back side of the insulating housing 11, and above the first fixing piece 13a1. The second fixing piece 13a2 is bent at the upper edge portion of the base mounting plate 13a located at a position so as to be substantially U-shaped in a plane. Further, as will be described later, the lock member 13 extends so as to wrap around the connector front side (left end surface side in FIG. 11), and a third fixing piece 13a4 is provided at the extended end portion. (See FIG. 8). Then, the entire locking member 13 is fixed by engaging or press-fitting the engaging portions including the first, second and third fixing pieces 13a1, 13a2 and 13a4 into a part of the insulating housing 11. Has been.

  In addition, the lower edge portion of the base mounting plate 13a of the lock member 13 described above is bent so as to have a substantially U-shape in a plane corresponding to both end portions of the insulating housing 11 in the longitudinal direction. A lower edge portion of the base mounting plate 13a that is bent in a letter-shape is mounted so as to cover both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11 from the outer side. A pair of the lower edge portion of the base mounting plate 13a facing the connector front-rear direction is bent at a substantially right angle from the lower edge portion of the base mounting plate 13a in the front-rear direction of the connector and protrudes. Board connecting portions 13a3 and 13a3 are integrally connected. These board connection parts 13a3 and 13a3 are soldered on the surface of a circuit wiring board (not shown), thereby supporting the entire electrical connector 10 or ground connection.

  Further, the lock release operation portion 13b and the lock arm portion 13c are integrally connected to the above-described base mounting plate 13a of the lock member 13 so as to form an oscillating member that can be elastically displaced. The unlocking operation portion 13b and the lock arm portion 13c are formed of a series of elastic band members, and the unlocking operation portion 13b is connected to the connector from the back side portion (the right end surface portion in FIG. 10) of the base mounting plate 13a. It extends in a cantilever shape so that it bends at a substantially right angle toward the front side (left side in FIG. 10), and a connection part with the base mounting plate 13a that is the fundamental part of the cantilever structure is used as a fulcrum. The unlocking operation unit 13b is configured to elastically swing in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the printed wiring board.

  Thus, the unlocking operation portion 13b extending in a substantially L-shape from the base mounting plate 13a extends along both longitudinal end surfaces of the insulating housing 11 and the front end surface of the insulating housing 11 (FIG. 10). The left end surface of the insulating housing 11 is gradually separated from the end surface of the insulating housing 11 toward the connector front side (left side in FIG. 10) from the connecting portion with the base mounting plate 13a. It is extended. That is, this unlocking operation part 13b is formed in a shape that protrudes slightly inclined from both longitudinal end faces of the insulating housing 11 toward the outer side, and the inclined protruding part of the unlocking operation part 13b is As will be described later, it is elastically displaced so as to be pushed inwardly of the insulating housing 11 by the operator's pressing operation. Therefore, the unlocking operation unit 13b according to the present embodiment is substantially orthogonal to the connector vertical direction, which is the insertion / removal direction of the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB, and substantially parallel to the printed wiring board. It is configured to be pushed and moved in the direction so that the unlocking operation is performed.

  Further, as described above, the unlocking operation portion 13b extends to the vicinity of the front end surface (left end surface in FIG. 10) of the insulating housing 11, and further from the front end portion of the unlocking operation portion 13b, the insulating housing 11, a lock arm portion 13c made of an elastic band-like member that bends and extends at a substantially right angle toward the inner side in the longitudinal direction of 11. The lock arm portion 13c extends through a predetermined length inward in the connector longitudinal direction along the front end surface of the insulating housing 11, and then, via a folded portion 13c1 formed to be bent so as to form an acute angle. The end portion of the lock arm portion 13c extends from the folded portion 13c1 toward the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11.

  Here, the folded-back portion 13c1 provided in the lock arm portion 13c is formed to be bent so as to form a substantially U-shaped plane, and as described above, toward the outer side end in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11. Although it has reversed and extended, the folding | turning part 13c1 at that time has the open angle (theta) 2 which makes an acute angle shape in the non-operation state before pushing-in movement of the lock release operation part 13b mentioned above. Then, when the unlocking operation is performed by the pushing movement of the unlocking operation unit 13b described above, the folded portion 13c1 is moved inward (connector center side) in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11. ing.

[About the lock section]
Further, the lock arm portion 13c extends obliquely toward the both end sides of the insulating housing 11 via the above-described folded portion 13c1, and the swing end portion which is a tip portion on the extension side of the lock arm portion 13c. Is provided with a lock portion 13d for holding a signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB.

  The lock portion 13d is engaged with the positioning portion PBa formed in the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB, and is formed in the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB. It is provided corresponding to the positioning part PBa. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 in particular, the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium PB is formed from a notch-shaped recess at both side edge portions in the plate width direction (connector longitudinal direction) of the signal transmission medium PB. When the signal transmission medium PB is inserted into the electrical connector 10, that is, the insertion passage extending downward through the insertion opening 11a, the electrical connector 10 side is formed. The locking portion 13d provided in the engaging portion engages with the positioning portion PBa provided on the signal transmission medium PB side, and the insertion state of the signal transmission medium PB is maintained by the engaging action of the locking portion 13d with respect to the positioning portion PBa. It is like that.

  The lock portion 13d at this time is formed from a plate-like member that enters the positioning portion PBa of the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB described above, and the rocking end of the lock arm portion 13c described above. From the portion, the signal transmission medium PB is bent and formed so as to protrude rearward (to the right in FIG. 11) inward of the insertion path. The front end portion of the locking portion 13d in the protruding direction is formed to have a so-called hook shape, and the inclined guide side is inclined from the lower end edge having a longer protruding length to the upper end edge having a shorter protruding length. The shape is extended.

[Unlock conversion mechanism]
On the other hand, as described above, the turn-back portion 13c1 provided in the middle portion of the lock arm portion 13c moves the lock portion 13d in the release direction in conjunction with the lock release operation by the pushing movement of the lock release operation portion 13b. Part of the unlocking conversion mechanism. The unlocking conversion mechanism further includes a release guide portion 14 that forms a space that can accommodate the folded portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c, and a release guide surface that forms the release guide portion 14 as will be described later. 14a and the release restricting surface 14b, the lock arm portion 13c is displaced by the sliding contact guide action of the turnback portion 13c1, and the opening degree of the turnup portion 13c1 is reduced by the pushing action of the wedge-shaped space formed by the release guide portion 14. Thus, the lock portion 13d is moved in the release direction.

  More specifically, the release guide portion 14 is formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11, and extends inward in the same direction from an opening formed on the outer end surface in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11. And is recessed so as to form a wedge-shaped passage. Of the passage wall surface forming the release guide portion 14, the release guide surface 14a and the release restricting surface 14b facing the connector front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 5 and 6) can accommodate the above-described folded portion 13c1. The release guide surface 14a and the release restricting surface 14b, which form a pair of opposed inclined surfaces that form a wedge-shaped space, are formed on the inner side (connector center) in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11. Side).

  That is, in the release guide portion 14 in which the turn-back portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c is accommodated, the release restriction surface 14a constituting the passage wall surface on the rear side of the connector (the upper side in FIGS. 5 and 6) That is, the release guide that extends along the pushing movement direction of the above-described unlocking operation portion 13b, but constitutes the wall surface of the passage on the front side of the connector (the lower side in FIGS. 5 and 6) facing it. The surface 14b is formed so as to form an inclined guide surface extending in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle θ1 relative to the pushing movement direction of the unlocking operation portion 13b which is the connector longitudinal direction. .

  Of the pair of opposed inclined surfaces, a protrusion protruding toward the inner side of the passage (the lower side in FIGS. 5 and 6) is provided in the middle of the extending direction of the release restricting surface 14 a disposed on the rear side of the connector. A step portion 14a1 is formed. The protruding step portion 14a1 provided on the release regulating surface 14a is in an arrangement relationship in which a part of the lock arm portion 13c is brought into contact with the lock release operation. That is, as described above, the unlocking operation portion 13b is pushed inward of the insulating housing 11 by the operator's unlocking operation, and the lock arm portion 13c starts from the turn-back portion 13c1 to the inside of the release guide portion 14. As shown in FIG. 5 in particular, the portion between the turn-back portion 13c1 and the lock portion 13d of the lock arm portion 13c is provided on the above-described release restricting surface 14a. It is made the structure contacted with the protrusion 14a1.

  As described above, after a part of the lock arm part 13c comes into contact with the protruding step part 14a1 of the release restricting surface 14a, if the push-in movement of the unlocking operation part 13b is further continued, a part of the lock arm part 13c is The lock arm portion 13c moves toward the inner side of the connector so as to make sliding contact while maintaining the state of contact with the protruding step portion 14a1, and finally, as shown in FIG. The lock arm portion 13c is in surface contact with the regulating surface 14a in a substantially parallel state.

  On the other hand, the front-side release guide surface 14b formed of an inclined surface is arranged so that the apex portion of the turn-up portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c described above is in contact with the unlock operation. That is, as described above, the unlocking operation portion 13b is pushed inward of the insulating housing 11 by the operator's unlocking operation, so that the apex portion of the folded portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c becomes the release guide portion 14. After coming into contact with the release guide surface 14b forming the front inclined wall surface, the connector moves toward the inner side of the connector (connector center side) while sliding on the surface of the release guide surface 14b. As a result, the folded-back portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c is elastically displaced toward the connector rear side (upper side in FIGS. 5 and 6) along the inclined surface of the release guide surface 14b.

  As described above, the pair of release guide surfaces 14a and the release restriction surfaces 14b are provided in the release guide portion 14 so as to face the connector front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 5 and 6). The angle formed by the pair of opposed inclined surfaces including the release guide surface 14a and the release restriction surface 14b, that is, the opening angle θ1 of the release guide portion 14 is the lock arm described above before the lock release operation portion is pushed in and moved. The folded part 13c1 of the part 13c is formed to be slightly smaller than the opening angle θ2 (θ1 <θ2). Then, when the unlocking operation part 13b is pushed inward by the operator toward the inside of the insulating housing 11 and the unlocking operation is performed, the folded part 13c1 of the lock arm part 13c having a relatively large opening angle θ2. Are pushed toward the inside of the release guide portion 14 having a relatively small opening angle θ1, the wedge formed by the release guide surface 14a and the release restriction surface 14b constituting the pair of opposed inclined surfaces of the release guide portion 14 Due to the action, the folded portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c is configured to be elastically displaced so that the opening angle can be compressed.

  As described above, in the unlocking conversion mechanism according to the present embodiment, the opposing inclined surface of the releasing guide portion 14 is configured in conjunction with the unlocking operation that pushes and moves the unlocking operation portion 13b to the inner side of the connector. The turn-back portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c is located behind the connector, that is, by the sliding guide operation of the release guide surface 14a and the release restricting surface 14b and the reduction guide operation of the wedge-shaped space formed by the release guide portion 14. The lock portion 13d is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to both the pushing movement direction of the unlocking operation portion 13b and the insertion / removal direction of the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB.

  According to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the unlocking operation for releasing the lock portion 13d in the engaged state with respect to the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB, Since the unlocking operation unit 13b is pushed in and moved in a direction substantially parallel to the printed wiring board, the printed wiring board is not locally pressed during the unlocking operation. There is no risk of damage to the housing 11 and each joint.

  At this time, particularly in the present embodiment, the sliding contact guide action when one side of the lock arm portion 13c having the lock portion 13d comes into contact with the protruding step portion 14a1 provided on the release restricting surface 14a of the release guide portion 14. The lock portion 13d is smoothly moved by both the sliding contact guide action of the release restricting surface 14b with respect to the folded portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in addition to these, the lock portion 13d is also moved by the elastic displacement action when the folded portion 13c1 of the lock arm portion 13c is compressed by the wedge-shaped space of the release guide portion 14. The above-described movement of the lock portion 13d is performed more smoothly.

  In the present embodiment, the unlocking operation portion 13b, the lock arm portion 13c, and the lock portion 13d are integrally formed in a cantilevered manner from the base mounting plate 13a of the lock member 13 fixed to the insulating housing 11. Since the board connection part 13a3 soldered to the printed wiring board is integrally provided on the lock member 13 while being configured to extend, the lock release operation part 13b, the lock release conversion mechanism, and the board are provided. The connecting portion 13a3 is realized with a simple configuration.

  Further, since the lock release operation unit 13b in the present embodiment is disposed in a pair so as to face each other at the outer portions on both sides sandwiching the signal transmission medium (FFC or FPC) PB in the plate width direction, For example, by pressing the unlocking operation parts 13b and 13b in a direction to bring them close to each other so as to be sandwiched between the fingertips of the operator, the unlocking part 13d can be reliably released with an easy operation.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to a vertical insertion type electrical connector, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and is similarly applied to a horizontal insertion type electrical connector. Is possible.

  Furthermore, the electrical connector according to the present invention is not limited to the one that connects the flexible flat cable (FFC) and the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) as in the above-described embodiment, and the board and the board, or the cable and the like. The present invention can be similarly applied to a wide variety of electrical connectors for electrically connecting substrates.

  As described above, the present invention can be widely applied to various electrical connectors used in electrical equipment.

10 Electrical Connector 11 Insulating Housing 11a Insertion Opening 12 Conductive Contact (Conductive Terminal)
12a Contact portion 12b Connection terminal portion 13 Lock member (hold down)
13a Base mounting plate 13a1 1st fixed piece 13a2 2nd fixed piece 13a3 Board connection part 13b Lock release operation part 13c Lock arm part (lock release conversion mechanism)
13c1 Turn-back portion 13d Lock portion 14 Release guide portion 14a Release restriction surface 14a1 Projection portion 14b Release guide surface PB Signal transmission medium PBa Positioning portion θ1 Opening angle of release guide portion θ2 Open angle of turn-back portion

Claims (6)

One mounted on a printed wiring board and used to hold the signal transmission medium by engaging lock portions with both side portions in the plate width direction of the signal transmission medium inserted into the insulating housing. In the electrical connector configured to move the engagement state of the lock portion to the release state by operating the unlock operation portion and to remove the signal transmission medium,
The unlocking operation unit is configured to be pushed and moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction of the signal transmission medium and substantially parallel to the printed wiring board,
In conjunction with the pushing movement of the unlocking operation unit, an unlocking conversion mechanism for moving the locking unit in a direction substantially orthogonal to both the pushing movement direction of the unlocking operation unit and the insertion / removal direction is provided. And
The unlocking conversion mechanism includes an elastically displaceable lock arm portion that integrally connects the unlock operation portion and the lock portion, and a release guide that defines a direction of elastic displacement of the lock arm portion in a predetermined direction. And comprising
The release guide portion extends in a direction inclined relative to the pushing movement direction of the lock release operation portion, and a release guide surface on which a part of the lock arm portion slides when the lock release operation portion is pushed down And a release restricting surface that defines the final position of the lock arm part by contacting the other part of the lock arm part in a planar shape when the pushing of the unlocking operation part is completed. An electrical connector featuring. The lock arm portion has a folded portion formed so as to be bent at an acute angle in the middle portion integrally connecting the unlock operation portion and the lock portion,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the folded portion is configured to be in sliding contact with the release guide surface when the lock release operation unit is pushed. The release guide surface and the release restricting surface of the release guide portion are composed of a pair of opposed inclined surfaces that form a wedge-shaped space that can accommodate the folded portion of the lock arm portion,
The angle θ1 formed by the release guide surface and the release regulating surface constituting the pair of opposed inclined surfaces is an acute angle bending angle of the folded portion in a non-operation state before the lock release operation portion is pushed. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the electrical connector is set to be smaller than θ2 (θ1 <θ2). The unlocking operation portion, the lock arm portion, and the lock portion include a lock member that integrally extends in a cantilever shape,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is fixed to the insulating housing.   The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the lock member is integrally provided with a board connecting portion soldered to the printed wiring board.   2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the unlocking operation portions are disposed so as to face each other at both outer portions sandwiching the signal transmission medium in the plate width direction.

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