CONNECTOR STRUCTURE

A connector structure may include a case and a connector. The case may include a case body accommodating an electronic substrate arranged therein and a cover structured to close an opening of the case body. The connector may include a terminal part supporting a plurality of terminals and a housing including a tubular part surrounding a plurality of tip end sides of the plurality of terminals. The terminal part may be structured as a separate component from the housing. The terminal part may be fixed on the electronic substrate. The housing may be integrally coupled to the cover. The terminal part and the housing may respectively include a plurality of positioning parts positioning the terminal part and the housing relative to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2017-241924 filed on Dec. 18, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a connector structure.

BACKGROUND

An electronic component of a switch or the like that is mounted on a vehicle is connected electrically to a battery, a control device and the like at a vehicle side using a connector (for example, refer to WO2017/032638).

FIG. 7is a diagram explaining the assembling of a switch provided with a conventional connector structure.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, an electronic component is provided with an electronic substrate700and a case100. The case100is provided with a case body110for accommodating the electronic substrate700therein and a cover150for closing an opening of the case body110. A connector500at the electronic component side is provided with a terminal part510supporting a plurality of terminals and a tubular housing550surrounding tip end sides of the plurality of terminals. A connector (unillustrated) at a vehicle side is inserted from an opened tip end side of the housing, and is connected to a connector at the electronic component side.

The terminal part510of the connector500and the housing550are usually formed integrally, but a separate formation of the terminal part510and the housing550has been proposed for cutting down on manufacturing costs. In the example inFIG. 7, the terminal part510and the housing550are formed separately and the housing550is formed to be integral with the case body110. The terminal part510is in advance fixed on the electronic substrate700by soldering or the like, and then the electronic substrate700is accommodated in the inside of the case body110from the opening of the case body110. The electronic substrate700and the case body110are positioned by respective positioning parts110a,700ato be mounted. The opening of the case body is covered with the cover150, preventing intrusion of dusts and the like.

In a case where the terminal part510of the connector500and the housing550are separately formed, since the terminal part510of the connector500and the housing550are positioned through the electronic substrate700and the case body110connected thereto respectively, each positional accuracy possibly gets lower as compared to a case of being integrally formed. When the positional accuracy of the terminal part510and the housing550is reduced, at the time of inserting the connector at the vehicle side from the tip end of the housing550to be connected to the terminal part510of the connector500, there is a possibility that required positional accuracy cannot be achieved.

For enhancing the positional accuracy of the terminal part510and the housing550, it is considered to cause the case body110, which has been positioned with respect to the electronic substrate700, to be positioned directly with respect to the terminal part510. However, in that case, there is a possibility that the positional accuracy of the case body110and the electronic substrate700is reduced to reduce positional accuracy of the electronic component of the switch or the like.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention is made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector structure that prevents positional accuracy of a housing and a terminal part for a connector attached to a switch and positional accuracy of an electronic component from being reduced while reducing manufacturing costs of the switch.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a connector structure in a case in which a connector is attached comprises:

the case including:

a case body for accommodating an electronic substrate therein; and

a cover for closing an opening of the case body, wherein

the connector includes:

a terminal part for supporting a plurality of terminals; and

a housing including a tubular part for surrounding tip end sides of the plurality of terminals,

the terminal part and the housing are separately disposed,

the terminal part is fixed on the electronic substrate,

the housing is formed to be integral with the cover, and

the terminal part and the housing are respectively provided with positioning parts for positioning the terminal part and the housing with each other.

According to the aspect of the present invention, the terminal part and the housing for the connector are separately disposed, and the housing is not formed to be integral with the case body configuring a function of the electronic component, but is formed to be integral with the cover that covers the opening of the case body for protection from an outside environment. Further, the terminal part and the housing are respectively provided with the positioning parts for the positioning with each other. As a result, separately forming the terminal part and the housing enables a reduction in costs. Since it is possible to directly position the terminal part and the housing, a reduction in positional accuracy of the terminal part and the housing can be prevented to easily secure the positional accuracy required for connection to the connector at the vehicle side. Further, since the case body is not formed to be integral with the housing, the case body can be directly positioned with respect to the electronic substrate, making it possible to prevent the reduction in the positional accuracy of the electronic component, too.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an explanation will be made of a connector structure in a case in which a connector is attached according to an embodiment in the present invention. The case configures an electronic component, and the electronic component is not limited to a specific component, and an explanation of the embodiment will be made using an example of a switch that is installed in a vehicle.

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of a switch.

FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the switch.

FIG. 3is an exploded cross section illustrating the switch, as viewed from a direction of Y axis of the switch. However, inFIG. 3, illustration of a knob is omitted.

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a switch as an electronic component is provided with a case1that accommodates therein an electronic substrate on which switch elements and the like are installed, and a knob3that is held in the case1and switches an on/off operation of the switch. A connector5is attached on the case1to connect the switch to a power source, a control device or the like installed at a vehicle side. An explanation of the embodiment will be made using an example where the connector5attached on the case1is a male connector.

The case1is provided with a boxy case body11a lower end of which is opened, and a plate-shaped cover15that closes a lower end opening11aof the case body11. It should be noted that, for descriptive purposes, an upper side is defined as an upper direction and a lower side is defined as a lower direction inFIG. 2, and, based thereupon, a positional relation of the respective elements of the switch will be explained. In addition, an axis line along an assembling direction of the switch is defined as “axis line X” and an axis line in a direction perpendicular to the axis line X is defined as “axis line Y”.

The case body11and the cover15each are formed by molding or the like. The case body11accommodates the electronic substrate7therein and is fixed on an unillustrated vehicle body (fixed member). Although unillustrated, the electronic substrate7is provided thereon with various components configuring the electronic component, such as switching elements, LEDs and the like. A projection12that is a positioning part with respect to the electronic substrate7is formed on an inner upper surface11cof the case body11(refer toFIG. 3). In addition, the electronic substrate7is provided with a plurality of holes71,73that are positioning parts with respect to other members including the case body11.

A holding part13of the knob3is disposed on an outer upper surface11bof the case body11. The knob3is a tubular member an upper end of which is closed and a lower end of which is opened, and a pressing part31is disposed on its lower end. The pressing part31is formed in a position corresponding to the switching element installed on the electronic substrate7.

The knob3is held in the holding part13of the case body11. By pressing down an upper end surface3aof the knob3, the knob3slides toward the inside of the case body11to cause the pressing part31in the lower end of the knob3to press the switching element, thus switching an on/off operation of the switch. The switching element is provided with a resilient member of a rubber sheet or the like, and when the upper end surface3aof the knob3is released, the knob3is urged by the resilient member to be returned back to an initial position.

The connector5is provided with a terminal part51for supporting a plurality of pin-shaped terminals9and a housing55for accommodating the terminal part51therein. The terminal part51and the housing55are separately formed, and the housing55is formed to be integral with the cover15by molding or the like.

The terminal part51is a rectangular terminal platform, and the plurality of pin-shaped terminals9arranged along the axis line Y are supported by penetration of them through side surfaces51a,51a, which are opposed to each other, of the terminal part51. Projections52,52are formed on an upper surface51cof the terminal part51in the vicinity of both ends thereof in the axis line Y direction. The projection52is a positioning part with respect to the electronic substrate7. A through hole53aand a groove53bare respectively formed in the vicinities of the projections52,52. The through hole53apenetrates from the upper surface51cover a lower surface51dof the terminal part51. The groove53bis formed on a side surface51bconnecting the side surfaces51a,51a, and extends along the axis line X from the upper surface51cto the lower surface51d. The through hole53aand the groove53bare positioning parts with the housing55.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, both ends of the plurality of pin-shaped terminals9each project from the side surfaces51a,51a, which are opposed to each other, of the terminal part51, are bent at the right angle toward the upper surface51cof the terminal part51, extend to a position of the upper surface51cof the terminal part51, and thereafter, extend horizontally along the axis line Y. One horizontal part91extending horizontally along the axis line Y is longer than the other horizontal part92. InFIG. 3, as surrounded by circles, a base end section of each of the horizontal parts91,92is earth-connected to the electronic substrate7. A tip end of the longer horizontal part91projects outward from an outer edge of the electronic substrate7, and a female connector is connected to this tip end.

FIG. 4is a plan view illustrating the housing formed to be integral with the cover.

As illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the cover15is provided with a rectangular flat surface part16that extends along the axis line Y to cover the lower end opening11aof the case body11, and a peripheral wall17that is disposed to extend upward along the axis line X from an outer edge of the flat surface part16and extends to the case body11-side. A stage18is disposed on the flat surface part16to support the electronic substrate7. Part of the electronic substrate7is supported on the stage18and the rest extends on the flat surface part16to face the flat surface part16by an interval.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, in a state where the case body11and the cover15are assembled, the peripheral wall17of the cover15faces an inner side surface11dof the case body11in the vicinity of the lower end opening11a. Since a dimension of the outer edge of the flat surface part16is set to be smaller than that of an outer edge of the lower end opening11aof the case body11, the peripheral wall17of the cover15faces the inner side surface11dof the case body11with a gap D1(refer toFIG. 6).

A flange20is disposed to extend horizontally with respect to the flat surface part16over an entire circumference of the outer edge of the flat surface part16of the cover15. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the flange20covers the gap D1between the inner side surface11dof the case body11and the peripheral wall17of the cover15. Since the flange20is only required to be as long as to cover the gap D1, the flange20may have the same dimension as an outer side surface11eof the case body11or may be longer than that.

The housing55is provided with a support part56that supports the terminal part51and a tubular part58that surrounds a tip end side of the horizontal part91of the pin-shaped terminal9.

The support part56is a recessed part formed on the flat surface part16of the cover15, and the lower surface51dof the terminal part51is placed and supported on the support part56(refer toFIG. 6). The support part56is provided with projections57a,57bthat are positioning parts with respect to the terminal part51. The projection57bis formed in the form of swelling in the axis line Y direction from the peripheral wall17of the cover15. When the projection57ais inserted in the through hole53aof the terminal part51and the projection57bis inserted in the groove53b, the terminal part51and the housing55are positioned.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the tubular part58is formed to extend outward from the outer edge of the flat surface part16of the cover15. It should be noted that the peripheral wall17of the cover15and the flange20as described before are formed in sections other than the tubular part58.

A base end58a-side, which is in contact with the outer edge of the flat surface part16, of the tubular part58and a tip end58b-side, which opposes the base end58a, of the tubular part58are opened. A notch59is formed in the base end58a-side of the outer upper surface58cof the tubular part58. At the time of assembling the terminal part51on the housing55, the tip end of the horizontal part91of the pin-shaped terminal9supported by the terminal part51is caused to be accommodated in the inside of the tubular part58through the notch59of the tubular part58.

FIG. 5Ais a perspective view illustrating the tubular part and the extension part in the assembling state of the switch, andFIG. 5Bis a perspective view illustrating the extension part alone.

As illustrated inFIG. 5A, the periphery of the tip end of the pin-shaped terminal9is surrounded by the tubular part58, but a terminal of the female connector is connectable from an exterior of the switch through the opened tip end58bof the tubular part58. A guide60is formed on an inner lower part58dof the tubular part58to guide the terminal of the female connector to the pin-shaped terminal9.

As described before, the case body11is formed in a boxy shape, but a section of the side surface, which faces the tubular part58, of the housing55extends outward along the tubular part58to form an extension part14covering the outer periphery of the tubular part58. The extension part14covers part of the exterior upper surface58cand the exterior side surfaces58e,58eof the tubular part58, and is formed in a reverse-C letter shape as viewed in section.

A dimension of the outer periphery of the tubular part59of the connector5is made smaller than a dimension of an inner periphery of the extension part14. Therefore the extension part14covers the tubular part58through a gap D2. As illustrated inFIG. 5B, a plurality of ribs21are formed on an inner upper surface14aand an inner side surface14bconfiguring the inner periphery of the extension part14. As illustrated inFIG. 5A, these ribs21respectively extend in the gap D2to come in contact with the tubular part58. A convex part22is formed on the inner upper surface14aof the extension part14facing the outer upper surface58cof the tubular part58to be fitted in the notch59(refer toFIG. 2) of the tubular part58.

An explanation will be made of the assembling and the operation of the switch having the above-mentioned configuration.

As described before, the cover15and the housing55for the connector5are formed to be integral by molding or the like, and then, the terminal part51of the connector5, the electronic substrate7and the case body11are assembled thereto. It should be noted that the knob3is held by the holding part13of the case body11, but the details thereof are omitted.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the terminal part51of the connector5is fixed on the electronic substrate7before assembling the entire switch. The projection52formed on the upper surface51cof the terminal part51is inserted in a hole71of the electronic substrate7for the positioning.

As illustrated by the round surroundings inFIG. 3, the base end sections of the horizontal parts91,92of the pin-shaped terminal9are fixed on the electronic substrate7by soldering or the like. The tip end of the longer horizontal part91of the pin-shaped terminal9is placed to extend outward from the outer edge of the electronic substrate7.

Next, the electronic substrate7and the terminal part51that are fixed are assembled to the cover15and the housing55that are formed to be integral.

FIG. 6is a cross section taken along a Y axis direction and illustrating the assembled state of the switch. InFIG. 6, the electronic substrate7is illustrated in a broken line for easy understanding.

As illustrated inFIG. 3andFIG. 6, the projections57,57disposed in the support part56of the housing55are inserted in the through hole53aand the groove53bformed in the terminal part51for the positioning. The tip end of the pin-shaped terminal9supported in the terminal part51is accommodated in the inside of the tubular part58through the notch59of the tubular part58. Thereby the terminal part51and the electronic substrate7are assembled to the cover15formed to be integral with the housing55.

Subsequently the case body11will be assembled to the cover15. The projection12disposed on the inner upper surface11cof the case body11is inserted in a hole73of the electronic substrate7to be positioned, and the convex part22formed on the inner upper surface14aof the extension part14is fitted in the notch59formed in the outer upper surface58cof the tubular part58. Thereby the flat surface part16of the cover15is assembled to cover the lower end opening11aof the case body11. The extension part14of the case body11covers the tubular part58of the housing55formed to be integral with the cover15.

That is, in the embodiment the cover15and the case body11are not assembled to be directly positioned. The cover15and the case body11are assembled to be indirectly positioned in the form where the housing55of the connector5formed to be integral with the cover15and the terminal part51are positioned and the electronic substrate7in advance fixed in the terminal part51is positioned in the case body11. Therefore in a case where the cover15and the case body11are assembled without a gap, when the peripheral wall17of the cover15and the inner side surface11dof the case body11have variations in dimension, there is a possibility that they interfere with each other to block the assembling thereof. Therefore the dimension of the peripheral wall17of the cover15is made smaller than the dimension of the inner side surface11dof the case body11to cause the peripheral wall17of the cover15to face the inner side surface11dof the case body11through the gap D1. Further, the flange20is disposed to extend outward from the outer edge of the cover15, and by covering the gap D1between the peripheral wall17and the inner side surface11dof the case body11with the flange20, dusts can be prevented from entering the gap D1.

The inner periphery of the extension14of the case body11faces the outer periphery of the tubular part58with the gap D2, but as illustrated inFIG. 5, the plurality of ribs21disposed on the inner upper surface14aand the inner side surface14bof the extension part14extend in the gap D2to come in contact with the tubular part58, thus acting as gap fillings. When some of the plurality of ribs21do not come in contact with the extension14due to a dimension tolerance, a height of each of the ribs21is adjusted by a metallic mold.

When the female connector at the vehicle side is inserted from the tip end58bof the tubular part58of the housing55in the connector5to be connected to the pin-shaped terminal9of the terminal part51, a prying force is applied on the housing55. When the prying force is input on the terminal part51connected to the housing55by the positioning to be applied on sections (sections surrounded by circles inFIG. 3) of the terminal part51soldered to the electronic substrate7, a reduction in quality of the connector5is possibly invited. In the embodiment, since the tubular part58of the housing55is in contact with the ribs21, the prying force applied on the housing55tends to be easily scattered to the case body11fixed to the vehicle body through the ribs21, making it possible to reduce the prying force that will be input to the terminal part51.

It should be noted that, although not illustrated, a snap fit or the like may be disposed to the cover15and the case body11to fix the cover15to the case body11.

As described above, the connector structure according to the embodiment is the connector structure in the case1in which the connector5is attached, wherein,

the case1includes:

the case body11for accommodating the electronic substrate7therein; and

the cover15for closing the lower end opening11a(opening) of the case body11,

the connector5includes:

the terminal part51for supporting the plurality of terminals9(terminals); and

the housing55including the tubular part58for surrounding tip end sides of the plurality of terminals9,

the terminal part51and the housing55are separately disposed,

the terminal part51is fixed on the electronic substrate7,

the housing55is formed to be integral with the cover15, and

the terminal part51and the housing55are respectively provided with the through hole53aand the groove53b, and the projections57,57(positioning parts) for positioning the terminal part51and the housing55with each other.

According to the conventional connector structure (refer toFIG. 7), the housing550of the connector500is formed to be integral with the case body110. On assembling, the housing550and the terminal part510are indirectly positioned through the case body110and the electronic substrate700respectively connected thereto. As compared to a case where the housing550and the terminal part510are integrally formed, the cost can be reduced, but on assembling the whole, the positional accuracy of each possibly reduces. When the positional accuracy of the housing550and the terminal part510reduces, at the time the female connector at the vehicle side is inserted from the tip end of the tubular part of the housing550to be connected to the pin-shaped terminal, the positional accuracy required cannot be possibly achieved.

For enhancing the positional accuracy of the terminal part510and the housing550, it is considered to cause the case body110, which has been positioned with respect to the electronic substrate700, to be positioned directly with respect to the terminal part510. However, in that case, there is a possibility that the positional accuracy of the case body110and the electronic substrate700is reduced to reduce positional accuracy of the electronic component of the switch or the like.

In the connector structure according to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1toFIG. 6, the housing55of the connector5is not formed to be integral with the case body11configuring the function of the switch as the electronic component, but is formed to be integral with the cover15that covers the lower end opening11aof the case body11for protection from the outside environment, thus directly positioning the terminal part51and the housing55. Thereby the terminal part51and the housing55are separately formed to reduce the cost while being capable of preventing the reduction in positional accuracy of the terminal part51and the housing55. Thereby the positional accuracy required in the connection to the connector5at the vehicle side is more likely to be secured. Further, since the case body11is not formed to be integral with the housing55, the case body11can be directly positioned with respect to the electronic substrate7, also preventing a reduction in positional accuracy of the electronic component.

It should be noted that in the embodiment, the example of using the through hole53aand the terminal part51and the groove53b, and the projections57,57as the positioning parts of the terminal part51and the housing55is explained, but the positioning part is only required to be capable of positioning the respective members with respect to each other, and the configuration and the disposed position can be changed as needed. Also as to the positioning part of the other member, the configuration and the disposed position are not limited to specific ones.

(2) The case body11is fixed on the vehicle body (fixed member) and is provided with the extension part14for covering at least part of the outer periphery of the tubular part58of the housing55, and the inner upper surface11cand the inner side surface11d(inner periphery), which face the outer periphery of the housing55through the gap D2, of the extension part14are provided with the ribs21(projections) in contact with the outer periphery of the tubular part58of the housing55.

When the female connector at the vehicle side is inserted from the tip end of the tubular part58of the housing55of the connector5to be connected to the pin-shaped terminal9of the terminal part51, the prying force is applied on the housing55, but the tubular part58of the housing55comes in contact with the ribs21to act as the gap fillings. Thereby the prying force applied to the housing55tends to be easily scattered to the case body11fixed on the vehicle body through the ribs21. Thereby it is possible to reduce the prying force that is input to the terminal part51to be applied to the section of the terminal part51and the electronic substrate7fixed by soldering, making it possible to prevent the reduction in quality of the connector5. In addition, when some of the ribs21do not come in contact with the outer periphery of the extension part14due to the dimension tolerance, the height of each of the ribs21can be adjusted by the metallic molding.

It should be noted that in the embodiment, the example of disposing the ribs21on the inner periphery of the extension part14is explained as an example of the projection, but the projection is not limited to this example. The projection is only required to project from somewhere of the inner periphery of the extension part14or the outer periphery of the tubular part58to cause the inner periphery of the extension part14to come in contact with the outer periphery of the tubular part58. For example, a projection in a semispherical shape may be disposed as the projection. In addition, the projection is not disposed on the inner peripheral side of the extension part14, but may be disposed on the outer peripheral side of the tubular part58.

(3) The cover15is provided with the flat surface part16that covers the lower end opening11aof the case body11, the peripheral wall17that extends to the case body11-side from the outer edge of the flat surface part16and faces the inner side surface11d(inner periphery) of the case body11with the gap D1, and the flange20that is disposed over the entire circumference of the outer edge of the flat surface part16and extends in the horizontal direction with respect to the flat surface part16to cover the gap D1between the inner side surface11dof the case body11and the peripheral wall17of the cover15.

In the embodiment the cover15and the case body11are not directly positioned. Therefore in a case where the cover15and the case body11are to be assembled without a gap, when the peripheral wall17disposed to rise in the upward direction from the outer edge of the cover15and the inner side surface11dof the case body11have variations in dimension, there is a possibility that the cover15and the case body11interfere with each other to block the assembling thereof. Therefore the gap D1is provided between the peripheral wall17of the cover15and the inner side surface11dof the case body11to prevent the interference between the cover15and the case body11. Further, the flange20is disposed to extend outward from the outer edge of the cover15, and by covering the gap D1between the peripheral wall17and inner side surface11dof the case body11with the flange20, dusts can be prevented from entering the gap D1.

While only the selected embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the embodiment according to the present invention is provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.