Abstract:
This connector configuration comprises: a fixing member that is a component of a connector and is fixed to a substrate in order to mount the connector onto the substrate; a case that is a component of the connector and has an installation groove formed thereon, into which the fixing member is installed; and a regulating portion provided at either one of the fixing member and the case along the direction of installation of the fixing member to the case. A regulating groove is provided along the direction of installation on the other one of the fixing member and the case, and when the fixing member is installed onto the case, the regulating portion is guided along the regulating groove and tilting of the fixing member relative to the direction of installation is controlled.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-195631, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector configuration wherein a fixing member is installed to a case. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Among conventional connector configurations, there is a connector device wherein contacts are inserted into through-holes of a housing so as to be installed to the housing. (For example, see the Official Gazette of JU-A No. 5-15347.) 
     In this kind of connector configuration, when the contacts are installed to the housing, slanted installation of the contacts to the housing can be suppressed as long as the inclination of the contacts relative to the direction of installation to the contact housing can be controlled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was made in order to solve the above-described problem, and the first aspect for achieving the above object is a connector configuration comprising: a fixing member that is a component of a connector and which is fixed to a substrate in order to mount the connector on the substrate; a case that constitutes the connector and has an installation groove formed thereon and into which installation groove the fixing member is installed; and a regulating portion provided at one of the fixing member and the case along the direction of installation of the fixing member to the case; wherein a regulating groove is provided along the direction of installation at the other one of the fixing member and the case, and when the fixing member is installed into the case, the regulating portion is guided along the regulating groove and inclination of the fixing member relative to the direction of installation is controlled. 
     The second aspect for achieving the above object relates to the connector configuration of the first aspect, wherein the regulating portion is provided so as to protrude out from the fixing member. 
     The third aspect for achieving the above object relates to the connector configuration of the first or the second aspect, comprising a fixing portion that is formed so as to protrude from the fixing member and is fixed to the substrate. 
     The fourth aspect for achieving the above object relates to the connector configuration of the second aspect, wherein the regulating portion is formed by bending a portion of the fixing portion. 
     The fifth aspect for achieving the above object relates to the connector configuration of the third or the fourth aspect, wherein the fixing portion is formed by bending a portion of the fixing member. 
     In the connector configuration according to the first aspect, the fixing member and the case form the connector. The fixing member is installed to the installation groove of the case and the fixing member is fixed to the substrate, which is thereby equipped with the connector. 
     Here, the regulating groove is provided along the direction of installation at one of the fixing member or the case (i.e., in the direction in which the fixing member is installed to the case). Also, a regulating groove is provided at the other one of the fixing member or the case along the direction of installation. When the fixing member is installed to the case, the regulating portion is guided along the regulating groove, and tilting of the fixing member relative to the direction of installation is suppressed. For this reason, tilted installation of the fixing member to the case can be suppressed. 
     In the connector configuration according to the second aspect, the regulating portion is provided so as to protrude from the fixing member so when installing the fixing member to the case, it is possible to regulate or control tilting in plural directions that cross of the fixing member relative to the installation direction. Accordingly, tilted installation of the fixing member to the case can be effectively prevented. 
     In the connector configuration according to the third aspect, a fixing portion is formed so as to protrude from the fixing member and is fixed to the substrate so the fixing member can be solidly fixed to the substrate, and accordingly, the connecter can be firmly fixed on the substrate. 
     In the connector configuration according to the fourth aspect, the fixing member is a board-shaped member and the regulating portion is formed by bending a portion of the fixing member. Accordingly, the regulating portion is formed integrally with the fixing portion, and accordingly, when installing the case onto the fixing member, the regulating portion does not drop out. 
     In the connector configuration according to the fifth aspect, the fixing member is a board-shaped member and the fixing portion is formed by bending a portion of the fixing member, and thus, the fixing portion can be integrally formed with the fixing member. Accordingly, by fixing the fixing portion to the substrate, the entire fixing member can be fixed firmly to the substrate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal view showing the configuration of an SMT connector according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front; 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the SMT connector according to a first exemplary embodiment as seen from the front; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section where the SMT connector is cut along the B-B line in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a plan view showing the case of the SMT connector according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is a frontal view of the case; 
         FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view showing the case of  FIG. 3B  cut along the C-C line in  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a frontal view showing a peg of the SMT connector according to the first exemplary embodiment as seen from the front; 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of the peg as seen from the right; 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the peg cut along the C-C line in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view showing an initial state of installation of the peg to the case of the SMT connector according to the first exemplary embodiment as seen from the front; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section cut along the B-B line in  FIG. 5A  showing the SMT connector in the above-described state; 
         FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the peg is in the process of being installed to the case of the SMT connector according to the first exemplary embodiment as seen from the front; 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section cut along the B-B line in  FIG. 5A  that shows the SMT connector in that state; 
         FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view showing a state after installation of the peg to the case of the SMT connector according to the first exemplary embodiment as seen from the front; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section cut along the B-B line in  FIG. 5A  that shows the SMY connector in the above state. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
     A surface mount-type (SMT) connector  10  (i.e., surface-mounted connector) will be explained hereafter as a connector configured to which the connector configuration of the present invention has been applied. In  FIGS. 1-7B , the FR arrows indicate the forward direction of the SMT connector  10 , the RH arrows indicate the right direction of the SMT connector  10 , and the UP arrows indicate the upward direction of the SMT connector  10 . 
     The SMT connector  10  according the present embodiment is provided with a substantially rectangular container-shaped case  12  made out of resin, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C. The case  12  is equipped with electronic parts (not shown). 
     A substantially rectangular-shaped installation groove  14  (i.e., installation hole) is formed in the front portion of the case  12 . The upper surface and bottom surface of the installation groove  14  are open. The right side surface and left side surface of the installation groove  14  are made into insertion surfaces  16 , pressing surfaces  18 , and fitting surfaces  20  from the upper side to the bottom side. The distance in the lateral direction between the pair of insertion surfaces  16  is greater than the distance in the lateral direction between the pair of pressing surfaces  18 , and the distance in the lateral direction between the pair of pressing surfaces  18  is greater than the distance in the lateral direction between the pair of fitting surfaces  20 . Further, horizontal upper level surfaces  22  are formed between the insertion surfaces  16  and the pressing surfaces  18 , and horizontal lower level surfaces  24  are formed between the pressing surfaces  18  and the fitting surfaces  20 . 
     An insertion recess  26  whose cross-section is rectangular is formed in the center of the rear surface of the installation groove  14 . The insertion recess  26  is arranged along the vertical direction and the upper and bottom surfaces thereof are open. A latching protrusion  28  whose cross-section is triangularly shaped is formed inside the insertion recess  26 . The front surface of the latching protrusion  28  is inclined in the direction toward the front along the downward direction, and the bottom surface of the latching protrusion  28  is arranged perpendicularly with the vertical direction. 
     Flat board-shaped front walls  30  are provided in the case  12  at the front end (i.e., at the front side of the installation groove  14 ). The front walls  30  are arranged from the height of the central portion in the vertical direction of the installation groove  14  and insertion surfaces  16  to the portion of the bottom side. 
     A guide groove  32  (i.e., guide hole) that appears rectangular when viewed from the front surface is formed to pass through the front walls  30  in the central portion in the lateral direction in order to act as a regulating groove. The guide groove  32  is communicated with the installation groove  14  and the upper surface and bottom surface thereof are open. Guide surfaces  32 A are formed in the right side surface and left side surface of the guide groove  32  perpendicular to the lateral direction, and formed on the same flat surfaces as the fitting surfaces  20  of the installation groove  14 . 
     The SMT connector  10  is provided with a substantially rectangular metal peg  34  that acts as a fixing member, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A- 3 C, and  4 A- 4 C. The peg  34  is inserted into the installation groove  14  of the case  12  and thus installed to the case  12 . 
     A substantially quadrangular latching unit  36  that has elasticity is cutout formed in the center of the peg  34 . With regard to the outer periphery of the latching unit  36 , the bottom end is formed uniformly with the peg  34  and all other portions besides the bottom end are separated therefrom. The latching unit  36  protrudes toward the rear side from the peg  34 . The upper surface of the latching unit  36  is latched to the bottom surface of the latching protrusion  28  of within the insertion recess  26 , whereby movement upward relative to the case  12  of the peg  34  is latched. 
     Substantially rectangular insertion units  38  are formed at both side portions in the lateral direction at the upper portion of the peg  34 . The insertion units  38  protrude to the outer sides in the lateral direction of the peg  34 . The insertion units  38  of the peg  34  are arranged between the pair of insertion surfaces  16  of the installation groove  14  at a formed height region. The insertion units  38  are latched to the upper level surfaces  22  of the installation groove  14 , whereby movement downward relative to the case  12  of the peg  34  is restricted. 
     Substantially triangular board-shaped pressing units  40  are formed at portions at both sides in the lateral direction in the middle portion of the vertical direction of the peg  34 . The pressing units  40  protrude towards the outer sides in the lateral direction of the peg  34 . The height position of the pressing units  40  of the peg  34  is arranged so that the pressing units  40  are located between the pressing surfaces  18  of the installation groove  14  when the peg  34  is properly set in the installation groove  14 , and accordingly, the pressing units  40  are pressed toward the pressing surfaces  18 , whereby movement upward relative to the case  12  of the peg  34  is restricted. 
     Rectangular board-shaped guide units  42  are cutout formed as regulating portions at both side portions in the lateral direction at the bottom portion of the peg  34 . The guide units  42  are bent toward the front side from the peg  34  at 90°, and arranged perpendicular to the lateral direction. The height position of the guide units  42  of the peg  34  is arranged so that the guide units  42  fit between the fitting surfaces  20  of the installation groove  14 , and thus, the guide units  42  are in contact with (i.e., press welded to) the guide surfaces  32 A of the guide groove  32  of the case  12 . 
     A rectangular board-shaped bent unit  44  is cutout formed as a fixing portion at the central portion in the lateral direction of the bottom end of the peg  34 . The bent unit  44  is bent forward in 90° from the peg  34  and arranged perpendicular to the vertical direction. 
     The SMT connector  10  is mounted (i.e., equipped) on a flat board-shaped print circuit board  46  that is a substrate, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A thin board-shaped land  48  made out of metal is formed on the surface of the print circuit board  46 . The guide units  42  and bent unit  44  of the peg  34  are fixed to the land  48  with the solder  50 , whereby the SMT connector  10  is mounted on the print circuit board  46 . Additionally, each of the solder  50  fixing the guide units  42  and the bent unit  44  to the land  48  is mountain-shaped and adhered to the land  48  in a state in which the guide units  42  and bent unit  44  are housed therein. 
     Next, the functions of the present exemplary embodiment will be explained. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5A-7B , with the SMT connector  10  of the above configuration, when the peg  34  is installed to the case  12 , the peg  34  is inserted into the installation groove  14  of the case  12  from the top thereof to the bottom in the vertical direction (i.e., the direction of installation). Due to this, the pair of insertion units  38  of the peg  34  latch to the pair of the upper level surfaces  22  of the installation groove  14 , and the portion where the guide units  42  of the peg  34  are formed fit in between the pair of fitting surfaces  20  of the installation groove  14 . 
     At the same time, the latching unit  36  of the peg  34  is moved downward along the insertion recess  26  of the installation groove  14 , whereby the latching unit  36  is temporarily elastically deformed towards the front side by the front surface of the latching protrusion  28  of inside of the insertion recess  26 . Then the upper surface of the latching unit  36  is latched to the bottom surface of the latching protrusion  28 . Further, the vertical portions where the pressing units  40  of the peg  34  are formed are pressed between the pair of pressing surfaces  18  of the installation groove  14 , and the pair of pressing units  40  is pressed toward the pair of pressing surfaces  18 . Due to this, movement upward of the peg  34  relative to the case  12  is restricted, and thus, dropping out of the peg  34  from the case  12  can be prevented. 
     When the peg  34  is installed to the case  12 , the pair of guide units  42  provided at the peg  34  along the vertical direction is guided along the pair of guide surfaces  32 A of the guide groove  32  provided at the case  12  along the vertical direction. For this reason, for example, even if the peg  34  is tilted in the left or right direction relative to the case  12 , the pair of guide units  42  contact the pair of guide surfaces  32 A, whereby tilting of the peg  34  in the left or right direction relative to the case  12  is restricted. Due to this, slanted installation of the peg  34  to the case  12  as well as scraping of the case  12  by the peg  34  can be prevented. 
     Further, the guide units  42  are bent perpendicularly relative to the peg  34 . For this reason, when the peg  34  is installed to the case  12 , the peg  34  contacts the front and rear surfaces of the installation groove  14  (at the front walls  30 ), whereby inclination of the peg  34  toward the front and rear directions of the case  12  can be regulated or controlled. Further, as described above, the pair of guide units  42  contacts the pair of guide surfaces  32 A, whereby rightward or leftward inclination of the peg  34  with respect to the case  12  can be regulated or controlled. Due to this, slanted installation of the guide grooves  32  to the case  12  can be effectively suppressed. 
     In addition, the peg  34  is fixed to the land  48  of the print circuit board  46  at the bent unit  44  with the solder  50 , and therefore, the peg  34  can be solidly fixed to the land  48  and the print circuit board  46  can be solidly equipped with the SMT connector  10 . 
     Further, the peg  34  is fixed at the guide units  42  to the land  48  of the print circuit board  46  with the solder  50 . Also, the guide units  42  stand up perpendicularly relative to the print circuit board  46  so the adhesion height of the solder  50  to the guide units  42  can be made higher. For this reason, the peg  34  can be fixed further solidly to the land  48 , and the print circuit board  46  can be equipped with the SMT connector  10  further solidly. 
     Note that with the present exemplary embodiment, the configuration is such where the guide grooves  32  are provided at the case  12  and the guide units  42  are provided at the peg  34 . Nonetheless, the configuration can be made so that the guide units  42  (regulating grooves) are provided at the case  12  and the guide grooves  32  (regulating grooves) are provided at the peg  34 .