Patent ID: 6099361
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A connector for a printed circuit board, comprising:a connector housing formed from a non-conductive material and having a board mounting end, an opposed mating end and at least one terminal cavity extending therebetween, said cavity being defined by at least one pair of opposed inner wall surfaces, the connector housing including an engaging portion projecting into the terminal cavity; andat least one terminal fitting securely mounted respectively in the terminal cavity, the terminal fitting being unitarily formed from a conductive metal and having a mating end and a board mounting end, a connection portion formed at the mating end of the terminal fitting and being disposed in proximity to the mating end of the connector housing, the connection portion comprising a top wall, a bottom wall opposed to the top wall and a pair of opposed side walls extending between the top and bottom walls to define a receptacle extending into the mating end of the terminal fitting for connection with a mating terminal fitting along a mating direction, at least one lock hole formed in the terminal fitting, the lock hole being engageable by the engaging portion of the connector housing for limiting movement of the terminal fitting in a direction extending between the board mounting end and the mating end of the connector housing, a board connection piece extending from the top wall of the connection portion to the board mounting end of the terminal fitting, the board connection piece comprising a bent deformation-permitting portion adjacent the connection portion and a solder portion extending from the board mounting end of the terminal fitting toward the deformation permitting portion, the solder portion projecting beyond the board mounting end of the connector housing for connection with the printed circuit board, the bent deformation-permitting portion being bent about a plurality of axes aligned perpendicular to the mating direction for facilitating deformation and avoiding stress on regions of the board connection piece secured to the printed circuit board, the deformation-permitting portion being formed with a slit aligned substantially parallel to the mating direction for further facilitating deformation, and a pair of elastic holding portions extending deflectably and unitarily from the respective side walls of the connection portion for deflection about axes aligned perpendicular to the mating direction and perpendicular to the axes about which the deformation permitting portion is bent, the elastic holding portions being disposed on opposite respective sides of the bent deformation permitting portion and having ends bent towards one another at a location between the bent deformation permitting portion and the solder portion of the board connection piece, said ends of said elastic holding portions defining a width, in an unbiased condition, exceeding a width of the connection portion, such that said elastic holding portions can be biased against the opposed inner walls of the terminal cavity for urging the terminal fitting into a substantially central position between said opposed inner walls of the terminal cavity and such that said elastic holding portions limit deformation of the terminal fitting toward the circuit board.