JP6229841B2 - Interengagement connector device - Google Patents

Description

  In the invention described in the claims of the present application, a first connector mounted on a circuit board (including a wiring board) is connected to a cable or a wiring board (including a flexible printed wiring board (FPC)). A circuit board including the second connector, the first connector and the second connector being mutually engaged, whereby a cable or a wiring board connected to the second connector is mounted on the first connector. It is related with the mutual engagement connector apparatus electrically connected to.

  When connecting a plurality of relatively thin cables or a relatively small flexible printed circuit board to a circuit board on which various electrical components can be mounted, a plug connector to which the plurality of cables or flexible printed circuit boards are connected, and the circuit board In many cases, a receptacle connector is used which is fixed by being electrically connected to it, and into which a plug connector is plugged. The plug connector is provided with fitting protrusions on which a plurality of plug-side conductive contacts arranged in an array are arranged in electrical connection with a plurality of cables or flexible printed wiring boards. Further, the receptacle connector is provided with a fitting recess into which a fitting projection provided on the plug connector is inserted, and one end of each of the receptacle connectors is connected to the circuit board as a terminal portion. The plurality of plug-side conductive contacts in the fitting convex portion of the plug connector inserted into the fitting concave portion are in press contact with the plurality of receptacle-side conductive contacts that are arranged and arranged.

  The fitting convex part in the plug connector is made of an insulating material and is formed as a part of the plug side housing that supports the plurality of plug side conductive contacts, and the fitting concave part in the receptacle connector is made of an insulating material. It is formed as a part of a receptacle-side housing that supports a plurality of receptacle-side conductive contacts. When the fitting convex portion of the plug connector to which a plurality of cables or flexible printed wiring boards are connected is inserted into the fitting concave portion of the receptacle connector fixed to the circuit board, the plug-side housing becomes the receptacle-side housing. And the plug connector and the receptacle connector are engaged with each other, and the plurality of plug-side conductive contacts and the plurality of plug-side conductive contacts are placed in a mutual contact connection state. As a result, the plurality of cables or the flexible printed wiring board coupled to the plug connector is electrically connected to the circuit board on which the receptacle connector is fixed.

  In this way, a plug connector in which a plurality of cables or flexible printed wiring boards are connected in order to electrically connect a plurality of cables or flexible printed wiring boards connected to the plug connector to the circuit board to which the receptacle connector is fixed. When the plug-side housing is engaged with the receptacle-side housing of the receptacle connector fixed to the circuit board, and the plug connector and the receptacle connector are brought into the mutually engaged state, the plug-side housing is connected to the receptacle-side housing. It is required that the fitted state be maintained stably. Therefore, conventionally, the plug connector and the receptacle connector are configured, and when the plug connector and the receptacle connector are engaged with each other, the plug-side housing of the plug connector is connected to the receptacle-side housing of the receptacle connector. An inter-engagement connector device having locking means for mechanically locking is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The mutual engagement connector device shown in Patent Document 1 includes a plug connector (plug insulator (11)) and a movable connector (pull bar (10)) rotatably attached to the plug side housing (pull bar (10)). A plug-side connector (100)) and a receptacle-side connector (board-side connector (102)) provided on the board with a receptacle-side housing (insulator (21)). The movable operation member provided in the plug connector is formed of a metal rod-like member, and has an arm part (10b) and a rotating shaft (10a) forming the tip of the arm part (10b) at both ends. The rotating shaft passes through the outer wall portion of the plug-side housing from the outside to the inside, and forms a locking portion (a part of the locking mechanism) for the receptacle connector. Further, a rib (7) is provided on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of the plug-side housing of the plug connector so as to protrude outward, and further, the outer surface of the inner wall portion of the receptacle-side housing of the receptacle connector is provided on the outer surface. The protrusion (1) is provided so as to protrude outward.

  When the plug connector and the receptacle connector are brought into the mutually engaged state, the plug-side housing of the plug connector has the outer wall-like portion disposed outside the inner wall-like portion of the receptacle-side housing of the receptacle connector. It is fitted to the side housing. At that time, the rotary shaft of the movable operation member provided in the plug connector is engaged and locked with the protrusion provided on the outer surface of the inner wall portion of the receptacle-side housing, and the plug-side housing is connected to the receptacle-side housing. So that the plug-side housing maintains the fitted state with the receptacle-side housing.

  After that, when the movable operation member provided in the plug connector is rotated, the arm portion of the movable operation member rides on the rib provided on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of the plug-side housing, so that the movable operation member is elastic. Due to the deformation, the rotation shaft of the movable operation member is moved outwardly of the inner wall-shaped portion in the receptacle-side housing, and the engagement locking state with respect to the protrusion provided on the outer surface of the inner wall-shaped portion in the receptacle-side housing is achieved. To release. As a result, the plug-side housing is released from mechanical locking with respect to the receptacle-side housing, and the plug-side housing is placed in a state where the fitting state with the receptacle-side housing can be released. After the rotating shaft of the movable operation member is provided in the receptacle-side housing, after the engagement locking state with respect to the protrusion is released, the movable operation member that has undergone elastic deformation is elastic as the movable operation member is further rotated. Return to the state where no deformation has occurred.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-267777 (paragraphs 0058 to 0069, FIGS. 1 to 5)

  As described above, it is configured to include a plug connector and a receptacle connector that have been conventionally proposed, and includes a locking unit that mechanically locks the plug-side housing of the plug connector with respect to the receptacle-side housing of the receptacle connector. In the mutual engagement connector device, the following inconvenience is observed.

  First, in the mutual engagement connector device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the plug connector and the receptacle connector are engaged with each other, and the latching in the movable operation member formed of the metal rod-shaped member provided in the plug connector is performed. The rotating shaft of the plug connector is engaged and locked with the protrusion provided on the receptacle-side housing of the receptacle connector in a state where the movable operation member is not elastically deformed, and the plug side of the plug connector The housing is mechanically locked with respect to the receptacle-side housing, and the engagement locking state with respect to the protrusion provided on the receptacle-side housing is released under the state where the movable operation member is elastically deformed. The plug-side housing is released from mechanical locking with respect to the receptacle-side housing. Accordingly, when the state in which the plug-side housing is mechanically locked with respect to the receptacle-side housing and the state in which the plug-side housing is released from mechanical locking with respect to the receptacle-side housing are repeated, When the housing is mechanically locked to the receptacle-side housing, the rotating shaft that forms the locking portion of the movable operation member that has once undergone elastic deformation and has returned to a state where no elastic deformation has occurred is The engagement locking state with respect to the protrusion provided in the housing is taken.

  Therefore, the rotating shaft that forms the locking portion of the movable operation member that has once been elastically deformed and has returned to the state where the elastic deformation has not occurred is engaged and locked with the protrusion provided on the receptacle-side housing. When the movable operating member that has once undergone elastic deformation returns to the state in which no elastic deformation has occurred, there is a risk that the movable operating member may undergo plastic deformation accompanying elastic deformation and not return to its original state. There is. When such a situation is imitated, the position of the rotating shaft is displaced due to plastic deformation of the movable operation member, and the engaging engagement with the protrusion provided on the receptacle housing by the rotating shaft is properly performed. As a result, the mechanical locking of the plug-side housing with respect to the receptacle-side housing becomes uncertain.

  Furthermore, in the mutual engagement connector device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rotary shaft that forms the locking portion of the movable operation member passes through the outer wall-shaped portion of the plug-side housing from the outside to the inside, and the plug-side housing In this manner, the engaging and locking state with respect to the protrusion provided on the receptacle-side housing is taken. That is, the rotating shaft that forms the locking portion of the movable operation member engages with the plug-side housing and the receptacle-side housing formed of an insulating material that is inferior in rigidity without engaging with a metal member having great rigidity. Thus, the plug-side housing is mechanically locked to the receptacle-side housing. Therefore, in particular, the plug connector and the receptacle connector can be reduced in size and weight, and the thickness of the plug housing and the receptacle housing can be reduced. The rotary shaft is not firmly supported by the plug-side housing, and it becomes impossible to reliably and reliably engage and lock the movable operating member with the protrusion provided on the receptacle-side housing by the rotary shaft. There is a fear.

  In view of such a point, the invention described in the claims of the present application relates to a first connector to be mounted on a circuit board, for example, a receptacle connector, and a cable or a wiring board, for example, a plug. The first connector is mounted with a cable or a wiring board connected to the second connector by causing the first connector and the second connector to be engaged with each other. The second connector has a mechanism capable of being electrically connected to the formed circuit board, wherein the first connector and the second connector are in the mutually engaged state. A pair of elastic engagement arm portions provided on the first connector engage with an engagement locking portion provided on the first connector so that the first connector of the second connector housing is engaged. Howdin Locking reliably and stably with sufficient reliability against, further provides interengaging connector device can be firmly carried out.

  An interengaging connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in the claims of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the present invention) is a first housing disposed on a circuit board. , A plurality of first contacts arranged in the first housing, a first connector having a fixing member attached to the first housing and fixed to the circuit board, and the first housing A second housing that is in a fitted state, arranged in a second housing, and when the second housing is in a fitted state with the first housing, the second housing is in contact with and connected to the plurality of first contacts. A plurality of second contacts, and a second connector having a shell member fixed to the second housing in a state of partially covering the second housing. In the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, the fixing member in the first connector protrudes in a direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the second housing with respect to the first housing. And a shell member in the second connector, wherein the shell member in the second connector covers a portion where the plurality of second contacts in the second housing are arranged and arranged. And a pair of elastic engagement arm portions that extend from the main body portion to a portion corresponding to the engagement locking portion and face each other in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the engagement locking portion. When the second housing is brought into the fitted state with the first housing, the pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions are engaged with the engagement locking portion with the engagement, and come into contact with the stepped portion. It is said that the position is restricted and the second how Locking the ring to the first housing.

  In particular, in the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention described in claim 5 in the claims of the present application, the pair of elastic engagement arm-shaped portions are folded and bent in opposite directions to each other. A pair of abutting engagement portions that sandwich the locking portion are provided, and when the pair of elastic engagement arm-shaped portions engage with the engagement locking portion, the pair of abutting engagement portions Elastically abuts on the engagement locking portion.

  In the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention as described above, when the second housing of the second connector is in the fitted state with the first housing of the first connector, the second connector The plurality of second contacts are connected to the plurality of first contacts of the first connector, respectively. In addition, the pair of elastic engagement arm-shaped portions of the shell member of the second connector are engaged with the engagement locking portion of the fixing member of the first connector so as to sandwich the engagement locking portion. The position is regulated by abutting against the step formed on the surface. As a result, the pair of elastic engagement arms serves to mechanically lock the second housing with respect to the first housing.

  Under such circumstances, the engagement locking portion has a column shape protruding in the direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the second housing with respect to the first housing in the fixing member included in the first connector. And the pair of elastic engagement arms extend from the main body portion of the shell member of the second connector to a portion corresponding to the engagement locking portion, and the protruding direction of the engagement locking portion It is assumed that they face each other in a direction that is orthogonal to each other. Accordingly, the direction in which the pair of elastic engagement arms sandwich the engagement locking portion is a direction orthogonal to the protruding direction of the engagement locking portion, and the second housing is separated from the first housing. When a force in the direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the second housing with respect to the first housing is applied, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions sandwiching the engagement locking portion are engaged and locked. The position of the second housing is restricted by coming into contact with a step portion formed in the portion, and the separation of the second housing from the first housing is prevented.

  The pair of elastic engagement arms having the shell member in the second connector, for example, as in the case of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention described in claim 5 in the claims of the present application, A pair of abutting engagement portions that are bent in opposite directions and sandwich the engagement locking portion are provided, and the pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions serve as the engagement locking portion. When engaging with each other, the pair of contact engagement portions elastically contact the engagement locking portions.

  In the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions of the shell member of the second connector is connected to the engagement locking portion of the fixing member of the first connector. When the second housing is mechanically locked to the first housing, the position is regulated by abutting and engaging the step formed on the engagement locking portion. The pair of elastic engagement arm-shaped portions sandwich the engagement locking portion in the direction orthogonal to the protruding direction, thereby reversing the fitting movement direction of the second housing with respect to the first housing. When the directional force acts on the second housing, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions sandwiching the engagement locking portion abuts on the stepped portion formed on the engagement locking portion and the position is regulated. As a result, the movement of the second housing in the direction away from the first housing is prevented.

  Thus, according to the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, when the second housing is mechanically locked to the first housing, the pair of elastic engagement arms are engaged. The engaging portion is sandwiched in a direction orthogonal to the protruding direction to engage with the engaging engaging portion, and a force in the direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the second housing with respect to the first housing is applied. When acting on the second housing, the pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions sandwiching the engagement locking portion are in contact with the stepped portion formed on the engagement locking portion, and the position is regulated. Engagement of the first connector with respect to the first housing of the second connector with respect to the first housing by the engagement arm-shaped portion and the engagement locking portion is reliably and stably performed with sufficient reliability. Can do.

  Further, in the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, each of the pair of elastic engagement arm-shaped portions and the engagement locking portion can be a metal member having a large rigidity. The engagement of the pair of elastic engagement arm portions with the engagement locking portion is the engagement of the metal member with the metal member, and is therefore performed firmly. As a result, the second housing can be securely locked to the first housing by the pair of elastic engagement arm portions and the engagement locking portion with sufficient reliability.

  Furthermore, according to the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention described in claim 5 in the claims of the present application, the pair of elastic engagement arm-shaped portions of the shell member in the second connector are each It is assumed that a pair of abutting engagement portions that are bent in opposite directions and sandwich the engagement locking portion are provided, and a pair of elastic engagement arm portions are attached to the engagement locking portion. Since the pair of abutting engagement portions elastically contact the engagement locking portion when sandwiched and engaged, the second connector of the second connector by the pair of elastic engagement arm portions and the engagement locking portion is provided. The locking of the first connector with respect to the first housing with respect to the housing can be performed more reliably and stably.

The receptacle connector and the plug connector constituting an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention are separated from each other when the receptacle connector is mounted on the circuit board and a plurality of cables are connected to the plug connector. It is a perspective view shown. It is a fragmentary perspective view which expands and shows the inside of the dashed-two dotted line circle A in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing member with which the receptacle connector shown by FIG. 1 is provided. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the plug connector shown in FIG. 1 with a shell member separated while a plurality of cables are connected. It is a fragmentary perspective view which expands and shows the inside of the dashed-two dotted line circle B in FIG. It is a fragmentary perspective view which expands and shows the inside of the dashed-two dotted line frame C in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the receptacle connector with which the circuit board shown by FIG. 1 was mounted | worn, and the plug connector with which the some cable was connected were mutually fitted. It is a front view which shows the state which the receptacle connector with which the circuit board shown by FIG. 1 was mounted | worn, and the plug connector with which the some cable was connected mutually fitted. It is sectional drawing which shows the IX-IX line cross section in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows partially the state in which the receptacle connector and plug connector shown in FIG. 1 are in the middle of mutual fitting. It is sectional drawing which shows the XI-XI line cross section in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a receptacle connector mounted on the circuit board shown in FIG. 1 and a plug connector to which a plurality of cables are connected are interfitted and a release jig is arranged on them. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a receptacle connector mounted on the circuit board shown in FIG. 1 and a plug connector to which a plurality of cables are connected are interfitted and a release jig is arranged on them. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which a receptacle connector mounted on the circuit board shown in FIG. 1 and a plug connector to which a plurality of cables are connected are interfitted, and a release jig is arranged on them. It is sectional drawing which shows the XV-XV sectional view in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the XVI-XVI line cross section in FIG.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated with the Example about this invention described below.

  FIG. 1 shows a receptacle connector 11 constituting a first connector and a plug connector 12 constituting a second connector constituting an example of an interengaging connector device according to the present invention in a state where they are separated from each other. The receptacle connector 11 is attached to the circuit board 13, and a plurality of cables 14 are connected to the plug connector 12. The receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12 are in an mutually engaged state.

  A receptacle connector 11 constituting the first connector shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 15 (first housing) formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and the housing 15 is located above the circuit board 13 in FIG. It is arranged on the surface facing to (hereinafter referred to as the upper surface).

  In the housing 15, a fitting concave portion 16 into which a fitting convex portion 26 provided in a housing 23 (second housing) of the plug connector 12 shown in FIG. When the fitting convex portion 26 provided on the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 is inserted into the fitting concave portion 16 provided on the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11, the housing is provided. 23 is placed in a fitting state with the housing 15. In addition, a plurality of receptacle-side contacts 17 (first contacts), each of which is a bent band member formed of an elastic conductive plate material, are arranged in the housing 15 along the longitudinal direction of the housing 15. ing. As shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the inside of the two-dot chain line circle A in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9 to be described later, each of the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 17 is provided with wiring provided on the upper surface of the circuit board 13. A board connecting portion 17a connected to a terminal portion (not shown) and a plug connector 12 housing 23 of a plug-side contact 25 (second contact) provided in the plug connector 12 described later are provided. The contact connection portions 17b with which the contact portions 25b arranged on the fitting convex portions 26 contact are provided as both end portions of the belt-like member. The contact connecting portion 17b faces the fitting recess 16.

  Further, a fixing member 19 made of a metal member is attached to the housing 15 at each of the pair of end portions 18 in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing member 19 forms a protruding plate-like portion 20 a that protrudes in three directions that is soldered to a connecting metal portion (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the circuit board 13. And a latching portion 20 that protrudes in a direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 with respect to the housing 15 from the soldering portion 20. Part 21. The fitting movement direction referred to here is a direction in which the housing 23 moves toward the housing 15 when the housing 23 is in a fitting state with the housing 15. The engagement locking portion 21 is formed with a step portion 21b that forms a large-diameter portion continuous with the tip portion 21a.

  The fixing member 19 is fixed to the circuit board 13 by soldering the protruding plate-like part 20 a in the soldering part 20 to a connection metal part provided on the upper surface of the circuit board 13. Then, the housing 15 is fixed to the upper surface of the circuit board 13 by fixing the pair of fixing members 19 respectively attached to the pair of end portions 18 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 15 to the circuit board 13.

  The plug connector 12 constituting the second connector shown in FIG. 1 is fixed to the housing 23 with the housing 23 (second housing) formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin and the housing 23 partially covered. And a shell member 24. The shell member 24 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate member, for example. In addition, a plurality of cables 14, each of which is a coaxial cable, are arranged and connected to the plug connector 12 along the longitudinal direction of the housing 23 and the shell member 24.

  As shown in FIG. 4 where the plug connector 12 with the shell member 24 removed from the housing 23 is shown together with a plurality of cables 14 connected thereto, the housing 23 is formed of a conductive plate material having elasticity. A plurality of plug-side contacts 25 (second contacts) constituting the bent belt-shaped member are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the housing 23. As shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the inside of the two-dot chain line circle B in FIG. 4 and FIG. 9 described later (a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8 described later) Each of the side contacts 25 is arranged on a cable connection portion 25 a to which the central conductor 14 a of the cable 14 is connected and a fitting convex portion 26 provided on the housing 23, and is connected to the contact connection portion 17 b in the receptacle side contact 17. An abutting portion 25b that abuts is provided. The fitting convex portion 26 provided in the housing 23 is inserted into the fitting concave portion 16 provided in the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 together with the contact portions 25b of the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 25 arranged thereon. It is supposed to be.

  Further, in the housing 23, a ground connection plate member 27 connected to the outer conductors 14 b of the plurality of cables 14 arranged in an array is arranged so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the housing 23. As shown in FIG. 9, the ground connection plate member 27 is constituted by a pair of conductive plate members that sandwich the outer conductors 14 b of the plurality of cables 14.

  The shell member 24 includes a main body portion 28 that covers a portion of the housing 23 where the plurality of plug-side contacts 25 are arranged and the ground connection plate member 27, and both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the shell member 24. A pair of elastic engagement arms 29 extending along the longitudinal direction of the member 24 and elastic engagement by extending along the longitudinal direction of the shell member 24 from the main body 28 at each of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shell member 24. It has a lid-like portion 30 that partially covers the arm-like portion 29. A pair of elastic engagement arms 29 provided at both ends of the shell member 24 are connected to the receptacle connector 11 when the housing 23 is fitted with the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 from the main body 28. It extends to a portion corresponding to the provided engagement locking portion 21 and is opposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the engagement locking portion 21 in the receptacle connector 11. . Further, the lid-like portions 30 provided at both ends of the shell member 24 are connected to the end portion of the main body portion 28 by a strip-like connecting portion 31. A through hole 30a into which the distal end portion 21a of the engagement locking portion 21 of the receptacle connector 11 is inserted is formed in a portion of the lid-like portion 30 adjacent to the belt-like connecting portion 31. An engagement fixing portion 30 b that engages with the housing 23 is formed at the distal end portion of 30.

  As shown in FIG. 6 which is enlarged and illustrated with the lid-like portion 30 cut out in the chain double-dashed line frame C in FIG. 4, the pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions 29 facing each other are opposite to each other. It is assumed that a pair of abutting engagement portions 29 a that are bent in a direction and sandwich the engagement locking portion 21 provided in the receptacle connector 11 are provided, and the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 are provided. When engaging with the engagement locking portion 21, the pair of contact engagement portions 29 a elastically contact the engagement locking portion 21. In addition, the pair of free end portions 29b respectively included in the pair of abutting engagement portions 29a are opposed to each other at a position where the band-shaped coupling portion 31 is sandwiched.

  In the shell member 24 in which the pair of elastic engaging arm-shaped portions 29, the lid-shaped portion 30, and the band-shaped connecting portion 31 as described above are provided at both end portions, A pair of openings 32 sandwiching the belt-like connecting portion 31 is provided between the lid-like portion 30 and the lid-like portion 30. Accordingly, in the shell member 24, a pair of two pairs of openings 32 is provided at both ends thereof, and a pair of elastic engagement arm portions are provided through the pair of openings 32. A pair of free end portions 29b respectively provided in a pair of contact engaging portions 29a provided on the 29 can be viewed from the outside of the shell member 24.

  Further, a pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions 29, a lid-like portion 30 and a strip-like connecting portion 31 provided at each of the both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the shell member 24 are provided at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the housing 23. A storage space forming part 34 that forms a storage space 33 to be stored is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, when the pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions 29, the lid-like portion 30 and the belt-like connecting portion 31 are accommodated in the accommodation space 33 formed by the accommodation space forming portion 34, The engagement fixing portion 30 b formed at the tip portion of the portion 30 is fixed to the accommodation space forming portion 34.

  Under such circumstances, the engagement convex portion 26 provided in the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 constituting the second connector is formed in the fitting concave portion 16 provided in the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 constituting the first connector. When the housing 23 is inserted into the fitting state with the housing 15, the receptacle connector 11 mounted on the circuit board 13 and the plurality of cables 14 are connected as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The plug connector 12 thus made is brought into an interengaged state. At that time, the distal end portion 21a of the engagement locking portion 21 included in the fixing member 19 attached to each of the pair of end portions 18 of the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 is provided in the shell member 24 provided in the plug connector 12. The plug connector 12 is inserted into the through-hole 30a in the lid-like portion 30 accommodated in the accommodating space 33 formed by the accommodating space forming portions 34 provided at both ends of the housing 23 in the longitudinal direction.

  FIG. 9 shows the state in which the receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12 are in a mutually engaged state and the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 is in a fitted state with the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11. As described above, the engaging convex portion 26 provided in the housing 23 is inserted into the fitting concave portion 16 provided in the housing 15, and the contact portion 25 b in the plug-side contact 25 disposed on the engaging convex portion 26 is formed. The contact connection portion 17b of the receptacle-side contact 17 that faces the fitting recess 16 comes into contact. Thereby, the plurality of plug-side contacts 25 arranged in the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 are contact-connected to the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 17 arranged in the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11. As a result, a plurality of cables 14 in which the respective central conductors 14 a are connected to the cable connecting portions 25 a in the plurality of plug-side contacts 25 are connected to each other via the plurality of plug-side contacts 25 and the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 17. Each of the receptacle-side contacts 17 is electrically connected to a circuit board 13 having a wiring terminal portion to which the board connecting portion 17a is connected.

  In such a case, the pair of elastic engaging arm-like portions accommodated in the accommodating space 33 formed by the accommodating space forming portions 34 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 23 of the plug connector 12. 29 has a fixing member 19 attached to each of the pair of end portions 18 of the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 while moving in the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 with respect to the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11. Engage with the mating locking portion 21. The fitting movement direction of the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 with respect to the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 is opposite to the protruding direction from the soldering portion 20 of the fixing member 19 of the engagement locking portion 21, that is, the engagement engagement. This is a direction from the distal end portion 21 a of the stop portion 21 toward the soldering portion 20 in the fixing member 19. Therefore, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 are engaged with the engagement locking portion 21 while moving in the direction from the distal end portion 21 a toward the soldering portion 20 of the fixing member 19.

  In the engagement process when the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 are engaged with the engagement locking portion 21 as described above, first, as shown in FIG. 10, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29. A pair of abutting engagement portions 29a each has a stepped portion 21b forming a large diameter portion connected to the tip portion 21a formed in the engagement locking portion 21, and is fixed to the fixing member 19 of the engagement locking portion 21. In the direction perpendicular to the projecting direction from the soldering portion 20 in the above, the elastic contact is made. At this time, the pair of abutting engagement portions 29a are pushed and widened by the stepped portion 21b forming the large diameter portion, and the mutual interval is expanded. Further, in the process in which the pair of abutting engagement portions 29a extends from the tip portion 21a formed in the engagement locking portion 21 to the step portion 21b forming the large diameter portion, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 are generated. The lid member 30 that partially covers the elastic engagement arm 29 is restrained from being deformed in the protruding direction from the soldering part 20 of the fixing member 19 of the engagement locking part 21.

  Subsequently, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 are moved to the engagement locking portion 21 with further movement in the direction from the distal end portion 21 a of the engagement locking portion 21 to the soldering portion 20 in the fixing member 19. As shown in FIG. 11 which shows the XI-XI line cross section in FIG. 8 through the formed step portion 21b, the pair of contact engagement portions 29a are adjacent to the step portion 21b in the engagement locking portion 21. The small diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the stepped portion 21b is sandwiched in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction from the soldering portion 20 of the fixing member 19 of the engagement locking portion 21, and stopped. To do. At this time, the pair of abutting engagement portions 29a is released from the state of being pushed and widened by the stepped portion 21b that forms the large-diameter portion of the engagement locking portion 21, and the mutual interval is reduced. The small diameter portion adjacent to the stepped portion 21b is elastically brought into contact with the small diameter portion therebetween. As a result, the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 to which the shell member 24 provided with the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 is fixed by the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 and the engagement locking portions 21. The fixing member 19 provided with the engagement locking portion 21 is mechanically locked to the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 to which the fixing member 19 is attached. In FIG. 11, the stepped portion 21 b that forms the large-diameter portion of the engagement locking portion 21 is represented by a virtual line.

  Under such circumstances, when a force in a direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15 is applied to the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 to be separated from the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11, the engagement is achieved. A pair of contact engagement portions 29a in the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 sandwiching a small diameter portion adjacent to the step portion 21b in the locking portion 21 abuts on the step portion 21b in the engagement locking portion 21. The position is restricted, and the movement of the pair of elastic engagement arms 29 in the direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15 is prohibited. As a result, the separation of the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 from the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 is reliably prevented with sufficient reliability.

  In this way, a pair of shell members 24 fixed to the housing 23 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 and a pair of ends 18 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11. The mechanical engagement of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15 is achieved by engaging the elastic engagement arm-shaped portion 29 with the engagement locking portion 21 provided on the fixing member 19 attached to the end portion 18 of the housing 15. The process is performed reliably and stably with sufficient reliability, and the state in which the housing 23 is fitted to the housing 15 is stably maintained.

  When the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 is fitted to the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 as described above and the fitting state of the housing 23 with the housing 15 needs to be released, For example, a release jig 40 as shown in FIG. 12 is used. The release jig 40 is formed, for example, by punching and bending a metal plate member whose rigidity is relatively large, and one end edge portion of a pair of engagement release portions 41 facing each other. Two sets are provided. The distance between one set and the other set of the two pairs of disengagement portions 41 is the distance between the two pairs of openings 32 provided in the shell member 24 of the plug connector 12. The one corresponding to the distance between one set and the other set is selected.

  When releasing the fitting state of the housing 23 with the housing 15, the release jig 40 faces the plug connector 12 engaged with the receptacle connector 11 mounted on the circuit board 13 as shown in FIG. 12. The pair of disengagement portions 41 provided on the release jig 40 are provided on the shell member 24 of the plug connector 12 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The positions of the shell members 24 to be inserted from the outside to the inside through the pair of openings 32 are taken. The pair of disengagement portions 41 inserted into the shell member 24 are shown in FIG. 15 showing the XV-XV line section in FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 showing the XVI-XVI line section in FIG. A pair of free end portions 29b respectively provided in a pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 provided in the shell member 24 are in contact with and engaged with a pair of free ends 29b, thereby a pair of free ends. Each of the parts 29b is displaced in the direction in which they are separated from each other (the direction indicated by the pair of arrows M in FIG. 16), and the distance between the pair of free end parts 29b is increased. Accordingly, the pair of contact engagement portions 29a respectively provided on the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 are displaced in the direction of separating from each other, so that the distance between the pair of contact engagement portions 29a becomes a pair. The abutting engagement portion 29a is enlarged so that it can pass through the step portion 21b forming the large diameter portion of the engagement locking portion 21 in the direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15.

  In this way, the pair of disengagement portions 41 inserted into the shell member 24 are displaced in the direction in which each of the pair of free end portions 29b of the pair of contact engagement portions 29a is separated from each other. When the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 is moved in the direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the receptacle connector 11 with respect to the housing 15, the pair of elastic engagement arms 29 are provided with a pair. The abutting engagement portion 29a passes through the step portion 21b forming the large diameter portion of the engagement locking portion 21 in a direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15, and a pair of elastic members The engagement arm-shaped portion 29 releases the engagement with the engagement locking portion 21 and is separated from the engagement locking portion 21. As a result, the mechanical locking of the housing 23 to the housing 15 by the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 and the engagement locking portion 21 is released, and the fitting state of the housing 23 with the housing 15 is released. .

  In an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention configured to include the receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12 as described above, a pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 included in the shell member 24 of the plug connector 12. However, the position of the receptacle connector 11 is determined by engaging with the engagement locking portion 21 of the fixing member 19 of the receptacle connector 11 and contacting the stepped portion 21b that forms the large-diameter portion formed in the engagement locking portion 21. When the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 is mechanically locked with respect to the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 urge the engagement locking portion 21 thereof. It is assumed that it is sandwiched in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction, and thereby the direction opposite to the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15 Force when acting on the housing 23, a pair of elastic engagement arm portion 29 sandwiching the Kakarigogakari stopper portion 21 is restricted in position in contact with the stepped portion 21b formed in Kakarigogakari stop portion 21. As a result, the movement of the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 in the direction to be separated from the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 is prevented.

  Thus, according to the example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, when the housing 23 of the plug connector 12 is mechanically locked to the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11, a pair of elastic engagements are performed. The arm-shaped portion 29 is engaged with the engagement locking portion 21 with the engagement locking portion 21 sandwiched in a direction orthogonal to the protruding direction, and is opposite to the fitting movement direction of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15. When the force in the direction acts on the housing 23, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 sandwiching the engagement locking portion 21 abuts on the stepped portion 21 b formed on the engagement locking portion 21, thereby restricting the position. Therefore, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 and the engagement locking portions 21 can reliably and stably lock the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15 with sufficient reliability. That.

  In the example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, each of the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 and the engagement locking portions 21 is a metal member having a relatively large rigidity. Therefore, the engagement of the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 with the engagement locking portion 21 is the engagement of the metal member with the metal member, and is therefore performed firmly. As a result, the engagement of the housing 23 with respect to the housing 15 by the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 and the engagement locking portions 21 can be performed firmly with sufficient reliability.

  Furthermore, according to an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 included in the shell member 24 of the plug connector 12 are bent and bent in opposite directions to each other. It is assumed that a pair of abutting engagement portions 29a that sandwich the stop portion 21 is provided, and when the pair of elastic engagement arm-shaped portions 29 are engaged with the engagement locking portion 21 while sandwiching it, Since the pair of contact engagement portions 29a elastically contact the engagement locking portion 21, the engagement of the housing 23 with the housing 23 by the pair of elastic engagement arm portions 29 and the engagement locking portion 21 is as follows. This can be performed more reliably and stably.

  In the example of the above-described mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, the engagement locking portion 21 of the fixing member 19 attached to the housing 15 of the receptacle connector 11 has a cylindrical shape. However, the engagement locking portion 21 may have a plate column shape instead of a column shape. In such a case, the stepped portion connected to the tip portion is formed by a neck portion that is a wide portion, and the narrow portion is adjacent to the neck portion. Moreover, in the example of the above-described mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, the plug connector 12 is connected to a plurality of cables 14. In this case, the plug connector may be connected to a flexible wiring board or a circuit board instead of a plurality of cables. In such a case, the flexible printed circuit board or the circuit board connected to the plug connector is connected to the board connection portion of each of the plurality of receptacle side contacts via the plurality of plug side contacts and the plurality of receptacle side contacts. It is electrically connected to a circuit board having a wiring terminal portion.

  The mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention as described above is, for example, a plug connector in which a first connector to be mounted on a circuit board, for example, a receptacle connector, and a cable or a wiring board are connected. A circuit board including the second connector, the first connector and the second connector being mutually engaged, whereby a cable or a wiring board connected to the second connector is mounted on the first connector. The first connector and the second connector are provided in the second connector with the first connector and the second connector engaging with each other. A pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions are engaged with an engagement locking portion provided on the first connector so as to sandwich the second engagement housing-like portion with respect to the first connector housing. Locking with sufficient reliability reliably and stably that, furthermore, as being capable of firmly performed, but it can be widely applied to various electronic devices.

  11 ... receptacle connector (first connector), 12 ... plug connector (second connector), 13 ... circuit board, 14 ... cable, 14a ... central conductor, 14b ... Outer conductor, 15 ... housing (first housing), 16 ... fitting recess, 17 ... receptacle side contact (first contact), 17a ... substrate connection part, 17b ... contact Connection part, 18 ... end of (housing 15), 19 ... fixing member, 20 ... soldering part, 21 ... engagement locking part, 21a ... (engagement locking part) 21) tip portion, 21b ... stepped portion, 23 ... housing (second housing), 24 ... shell member, 25 ... plug side contact (second contact), 25a ... Cable connection Part, 25b ... contact part, 26 ... fitting convex part, 27 ... ground connection plate member, 28 ... main body part (of shell member 24), 29 ... elastic engagement arm shape 29a ... contact engaging portion, 29b ... free end (of the contact engaging portion 29a), 30 ... lid-like portion, 30a ... through hole, 31 ... band-like connection Part, 32 ... opening, 33 ... accommodation space, 34 ... accommodation space forming part, 40 ... release jig, 41 ... engagement release part

Claims (9)

A first housing disposed on the circuit board; a plurality of first contacts arranged in the first housing; and a fixing member attached to the first housing and fixed to the circuit board. A first connector;
A second housing that is in a fitted state with the first housing, arranged in the second housing, and the plurality of second housings when the second housing is in a fitted state with the first housing. A plurality of second contacts that are in contact with each other, and a shell member that is fixed to the second housing in a state of partially covering the second housing. A connector;
Comprising
The fixing member has an engagement locking portion in which a step portion is formed in a column shape protruding in a direction opposite to a fitting movement direction of the second housing with respect to the first housing. A shell member extends from the main body portion to a portion corresponding to the engagement locking portion, covering a portion where the plurality of second contacts in the second housing are arranged and arranged. A pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the engagement locking portion, and the second housing is in a fitted state with the first housing. When taking, the pair of elastic engagement arm-like parts are to be position-regulated by engaging the engagement locking part with the engagement locking part sandwiched between and contacting the stepped part, Locking the second housing with respect to the first housing Interengaging connector device according to claim Rukoto.   The mutual engagement connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second housing is provided with an accommodation space forming portion for forming an accommodation space for accommodating the pair of elastic engagement arms.   3. The mutual engagement connector device according to claim 2, wherein the shell member has a lid-like portion extending from the main body portion and covering the pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions.   4. The mutual engagement connector device according to claim 3, wherein the lid-like portion is formed with an engagement fixing portion to be fixed to the housing space forming portion at a tip portion of the lid-like portion.   The pair of elastic engagement arms are provided with a pair of abutting engagement parts that are bent in opposite directions and sandwich the engagement locking part. 2. The interaction according to claim 1, wherein when the elastic engagement arm-like portion engages with the engagement locking portion, the pair of contact engagement portions elastically contact the engagement locking portion. Joint connector device.   When the pair of free end portions of the pair of contact engagement portions are arranged so as to oppose each other, and the pair of free end portions are displaced in a direction away from each other, the pair of contact engagement portions The inter-engagement connector device according to claim 5, wherein a gap between the gaps is widened.   7. The mutual engagement connector device according to claim 6, wherein the shell member has a lid-like portion extending from the main body portion and partially covering the pair of elastic engagement arm-like portions.   An opening is provided between the body portion and the lid-like portion so that the pair of free end portions of the pair of contact engagement portions can be viewed from the outside of the shell member. The mutual engagement connector device according to claim 7.   The release jig that engages with the pair of free ends of the pair of abutting engagement portions is inserted into the shell member from the outside to the inside through the opening. The mutual engagement connector device according to Item 8.

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