Right-angle electrical connector

Blades 60A, 60B are formed due to the fact that arm-portion blades 60A-1, 60B-1, by which arm portions of electroconductive elongated members are retained in place, and leg-portion blades 60A-2, 60B-2, by which leg portions are retained in place, are coupled via bend portions of the electroconductive elongated members such that the respective major faces of the blades form an angle with one another, a housing 10 has formed therein a holding portion 10G holding the blades 60A, 60B, said holding portion 10G has formed therein restricting portions 17K, 17J positioned in a face-to-face relationship with the front faces of the leg-portion blades 60A-2, 60B-2 in front of said leg-portion blades 60A-2, 60B-2, and said restricting portions 17K, 17J can restrict forward displacement of the leg-portion blades 60A-2, 60B-2.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-118038, filed Jun. 21, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a right-angle electrical connector.

Related Art

Known right-angle electrical connectors include, for example, the connector of Patent Reference 1. The connector of Patent Reference 1 is disposed on a mounting face of a circuit board and has a counterpart connector inserted and extracted therefrom from the front in such a manner that a direction parallel to said mounting face (forward-backward direction) is the direction of insertion and extraction. In this manner, since the direction perpendicular to the mounting face of the circuit board and the above-mentioned direction of insertion and extraction are at right angles to each other, the connector of Patent Reference 1 is referred to as a right-angle electrical connector. Said connector may have multiple blades, for example, the hereinafter-described four types of blades, and a single housing that holds said blades.

The respective blades, which have multiple terminals, are formed as single blades due to the fact that the hereinafter-described arm-portion blades and leg-portion blades are coupled via bend portions provided in said terminals. In the terminals, which are in a horizontal L-shaped configuration as a whole, the above-mentioned arm portions extending in the forward-backward direction and leg portions extending in the up-down direction are respectively disposed on the major faces of the hereinafter-described arm-portion blades and leg-portion blades and are coupled via bend portions bent at a right angle. On the front end side of the above-mentioned arm portions, there are formed contact portions used for contacting a counterpart connector, and on the lower end side of the above-mentioned leg portions, there are formed connecting portions used for making solder connections to the above-mentioned mounting face. The above-mentioned arm-portion blades and the above-mentioned leg-portion blades are formed by collectively retaining in place the respective arm and leg portions of the plurality of terminals disposed in an array via integral molding with the help of separate insulating plates made of plastic. In addition, in the above-mentioned four types of blades, the arm and leg portions of the respective blades of different types are set to different lengths such that the above-mentioned arm portions are positioned so as to be successively spaced apart from one another in the up-down direction and the above-mentioned leg portions are positioned in a similar manner in the forward-backward direction.

The above-mentioned housing has four tiers of holding portions used for holding various types of blades formed in the up-down direction in alignment with the respective blades. The respective holding portions, which are formed as passages in the forward-backward direction, are adapted to permit insertion of the arm-portion blades of the corresponding blades from the rear. The respective holding portions have front engagement pieces extending forward and rear engagement pieces extending backward from the interior wall surface of said holding portions. Said front engagement pieces and said rear engagement pieces have a cantilever configuration extending from the upper interior wall surface or lower interior wall surface of the above-mentioned holding portions and are capable of resilient displacement in the up-down direction.

Front engagement protrusions and rear engagement protrusions protruding from the major faces of the insulating plates are formed on the arm-portion blades of each blade at respective locations on the front end side and on the rear end side of said arm-portion blades. When the above-mentioned arm-portion blades are held within the above-mentioned holding portions, the above-mentioned front engagement pieces are positioned in a manner permitting engagement with the front engagement protrusions of the arm-portion blades from the rear, and the above-mentioned rear engagement pieces are positioned in a manner permitting engagement with the rear engagement protrusions of the arm-portion blades from the front, as a result of which blade movement in the forward-backward direction is restricted. In addition, the arm-portion blades, which are held in the above-mentioned holding portions with a predetermined amount of play in the up-down direction, are disposed so as to allow for movement in the up-down direction with a certain degree of freedom within said range of play. As a result, the arm-portion blades are permitted to assume an inclined orientation when viewed in the terminal array direction.

PATENT REFERENCES

Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2016-207600

SUMMARY

Problems to be Solved

The connector described in Patent Reference 1 is mounted by solder-connecting to a mounting face of a circuit board by heating the connector in a reflow oven while the connector is disposed on said mounting face. At such time, the leg-portion blades of the heated connector may be subject to deformation and displaced forward because of the difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the resin board and the leg portions of the terminals. If the leg-portion blades are deformed in this manner, then there is a risk that connecting portions formed on the lower end side of the leg portions of the terminals could be lifted and detached from the mounting face of the circuit board, thereby making it impossible to solder-connect said connecting portions to the corresponding circuits on the above-mentioned mounting face.

In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a right-angle electrical connector capable of ensuring an excellent connection between the connector and the circuit board by restricting excessive deformation of the leg-portion blades of the blades provided in the connector during heating in a reflow oven.

Technical Solution

In accordance with the present invention, the above-described problem is solved by a right-angle electrical connector according to the following first and second inventions.

The inventive right-angle electrical connector has guiding portions used for inserting and extracting a counterpart connector formed in a front portion of a housing that holds blades retaining a plurality of electroconductive elongated members in place in array form with the help of insulating plates, and has a mounting surface for mounting to a circuit board on the bottom face of the housing which forms an angle with the front face of said housing. The electroconductive elongated members retained in place by the above-mentioned insulating plates have arm portions extending in a rectilinear configuration in the forward-backward direction, i.e., in the direction of connector insertion and extraction, and leg portions coupled to the rear ends of said arm portions via bend portions and extending downwardly toward the bottom portion. The above-mentioned arm portions have contact portions used for contacting the corresponding terminals of the counterpart connector formed in the front end portions thereof, and the leg portions have connecting portions that are solder-connected to the corresponding circuits on the circuit board formed at the lower ends thereof.

In the first invention, such a right-angle electrical connector is characterized in that the above-mentioned blades are formed due to the fact that the arm-portion blades, by which the above-mentioned arm portions are retained in place, and the leg-portion blades, by which the above-mentioned leg portions are retained in place, are coupled via the above-mentioned bend portions of the above-mentioned electroconductive elongated members such that the respective major faces of the blades form an angle with one another, the above-mentioned housing has formed therein holding portions holding the above-mentioned blades, said holding portions have formed therein restricting portions positioned in front of the above-mentioned leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the front faces of the above-mentioned leg-portion blades, and said restricting portions can restrict the forward displacement of the above-mentioned leg-portion blades.

In the first invention, the restricting portions of the housing, which are positioned in front of the leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the front faces of said leg-portion blades, can restrict the forward displacement of said leg-portion blades, and, therefore, even if the leg-portion blades are displaced forwardly during heating in a reflow oven, said leg-portion blades abut the above-mentioned restricting portions from the rear and their further displacement is restricted. Accordingly, since there is no excessive displacement of the leg-portion blades, the connecting portions of the terminals are not lifted and detached from the mounting face of the circuit board.

In addition, in the second invention, the above-described right-angle electrical connector is characterized in that the above-mentioned housing has formed therein holding portions holding the above-mentioned blades, said holding portions have formed therein restricting portions positioned behind the above-mentioned leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the rear faces of said leg-portion blades, and said restricting portions can restrict the rearward displacement of the above-mentioned leg-portion blades.

In the second invention, the restricting portions of the housing, which are positioned behind the leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the rear faces of said leg-portion blades, can restrict the rearward displacement of said leg-portion blades, and, therefore, even if the leg-portion blades are displaced backwardly during heating in a reflow oven, said leg-portion blades abut the above-mentioned restricting portions from the front and their further displacement is restricted. Accordingly, since there is no excessive displacement of the leg-portion blades, the connecting portions of the terminals are not lifted and detached from the mounting face of the circuit board.

In the first and second inventions, the above-mentioned restricting portions may be adapted to be formed protruding from the interior wall surface of the above-mentioned holding portions.

In the first and second inventions, there are provided multiple types of the above-mentioned blades. In said multiple types of blades, the arm and leg portions of the electroconductive elongated members of the various types of blades are set to different lengths such that the arm-portion blades are positioned successively so as to be spaced apart from one another in the up-down direction and the leg-portion blades are positioned in a similar manner in the forward-backward direction. A plurality of the above-mentioned holding portions are formed in alignment with the various types of blades, and the above-mentioned restricting portions may be adapted to be formed in at least one of said holding portions.

Effects of the Invention

In the first invention, as described above, the forward displacement of said leg-portion blades can be restricted by the restricting portions of the housing positioned in front of the leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the front faces of said leg-portion blades and, therefore, even if the leg-portion blades are displaced forwardly during heating in a reflow oven, said leg-portion blades abut the restricting portions of the housing from the rear and their further displacement is restricted. In addition, in the second invention, the rearward displacement of said leg-portion blades can be restricted by the restricting portions of the housing positioned behind the leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the rear faces of said leg-portion blades and, therefore, even if the leg-portion blades are displaced backwardly during heating in a reflow oven, said leg-portion blades abut the restricting portions of the housing from the front and their further displacement is restricted. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, no excessive displacement of said leg-portion blades occurs, and the connecting portions of the terminals are not lifted and detached from the mounting face of the circuit board, which makes it possible to ensure an excellent connection between the connector and the circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1, which is a perspective view from above of a male-type electrical connector1(hereinafter referred to simply as the “male connector1”) and a female-type electrical connector2serving as a counterpart connector for said connector1(hereinafter referred to as the “female connector2”) according to an embodiment of the present invention, shows their appearance in a state prior to connector mating.

Although immediately prior to connector mating the respective guiding portions of the male connector1and the female connector2according to the present embodiment are opposed to each other in the forward-backward direction (X-axis direction) (seeFIG. 2andFIG. 3), inFIG. 1, in order to illustrate the guiding portions of both connectors1and2, the female connector2illustrated in an orientation obtained by rotating its orientation immediately prior to connector mating through a 90° angle about an axial line extending in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). Accordingly, inFIG. 1, the forward-backward direction of the male connector1is the X-axis direction, and the forward-backward direction of the female connector2is the Y-axis direction.

The male connector1and the female connector2of the present embodiment, which are electrical connectors for circuit boards mounted to respective corresponding circuit boards (not shown) by solder connection, form an electrical connector assembly via mating connection to each other. In addition, the male connector1is a so-called right-angle electrical connector, in which the forward-backward direction (X-axis direction), i.e., the direction of insertion and extraction into and from the female connector2, and the up-down direction perpendicular to the mounting face of the circuit board (Z-axis direction) are at right angles to each other. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in the male connector1and the female connector2, the direction perpendicular to both the forward-backward direction and the up-down direction is referred to as the “connector-width direction”. Therefore, inFIG. 1, the connector-width direction of the male connector1is the Y-axis direction, and the connector-width direction of the female connector2is the X-axis direction.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view taken in a cross section perpendicular to the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction) of the male connector1and the female connector2prior to connector mating that shows a cross section taken through a location in the hereinafter-described wide mating area in the connector-width direction.FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view taken in a cross section perpendicular to the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction) of the connector prior to connector mating that shows a cross section taken through a location in the hereinafter-described narrow mating area in the connector-width direction. InFIG. 2andFIG. 3, hatching is omitted in the cross-sections of the shielding plates and in the cross-sections of the terminals, which are explained hereinbelow.

The male connector1, which is adapted for mating connection to the female connector2from the front (on side X2), has a housing10, which is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-like external configuration from an electrically insulating material, four types of wide blades20A,20B,20C,20D and four types of narrow blades60A,60B,60C,60D, which are held within said housing10, and mounting members100, which are used to fixedly mount the housing10to a circuit board.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, the four types of wide blades of different shapes20A,20B,20C, and20D (hereinafter-described first wide blade20A, second wide blade20B, third wide blade20C, and fourth wide blade20D) have substantially horizontal L-shaped cross-sections and increase in size in the up-down and forward-backward directions in the order of the wide blades20A,20B,20C, and20D. One group of wide blades20A,20B,20C, and20D are retained in place in said housing10in array form so as to be positioned upwardly (on side Z1) and rearwardly (on side X1) in the order of said wide blades20A,20B,20C, and20D in the Y2 side region of the housing10in the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction). As described below, the respective wide blades20A,20B,20C, and20D have male terminals30A,30B,30C, and30D arranged such that the terminal array direction is the connector-width direction (blade-width direction).

In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, the four types of narrow blades of different shapes60A,60B,60C, and60D (hereinafter-described first narrow blade60A, second narrow blade60B, third narrow blade60C, and fourth narrow blade60D) have substantially horizontal L-shaped cross-sections and increase in size in the up-down and forward-backward directions in the order of the narrow blades60A,60B,60C, and60D. In addition, while the dimensions of the narrow blades60A,60B,60C, and60D in the forward-backward and up-down directions are identical to those of the above-described wide blades20A,20B,20C, and20D, their dimensions in the connector-width direction are smaller, in other words, narrower (seeFIG. 5andFIG. 6).

One group of narrow blades60A,60B,60C, and60D are retained in place in said housing10in array form so as to be positioned upwardly (on side Z1) and rearwardly (on side X1) in the order of said narrow blades60A,60B,60C, and60D in the Y1 side region of the housing10in the connector-width direction. As described below, the respective narrow blades60A,60B,60C, and60D have male terminals70A,70B,70C, and70D arranged such that the terminal array direction is the connector-width direction (blade-width direction).

As can be seen inFIG. 1, the housing10has a top wall11and a bottom wall12, as well as lateral walls13, which couple the lateral edges of the two, with a mounting surface used for mounting to a circuit board provided on the bottom face of the bottom wall12, in other words, the bottom face of the housing10. The top wall11and the bottom wall12protrude forwardly of the lateral walls13(on side X1 inFIG. 1). Furthermore, in a space enclosed by the top wall11, the bottom wall12, and lateral walls13, there are formed, in order from the top, a hereinafter-described upper partition18A, middle partition18B, and lower partition18C (which are collectively referred to as “partitions18A,18B,18C” whenever necessary). The front ends of the upper partition18A and lower partition18C are located at the same position in the forward-backward direction as the front ends of the lateral walls13, and the front end of the middle partition18B is located forwardly of the front ends of the lateral walls13(also seeFIG. 4(A)). In the housing10, the section located forwardly of the lateral walls13and partitions18A,18C serves as a guiding portion10F used for mating with the female connector2. Said guiding portion10F is divided into two portions, i.e., a region corresponding to the wide blades20A to20D (male-side wide mating area) located proximate the Y2 side relative to the hereinafter-described intermediate wall10E in the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction) and a region corresponding to the narrow blades60A to60D (male-side narrow mating area) located proximate the Y1 side relative to the intermediate wall10E in the connector-width direction.

In the above-mentioned male-side wide mating area, the front end section of the first wide blade20A is located at the top in the space between the top wall11and the middle partition18B, and the front end section of the second wide blade20B is located at the bottom. In addition, in the above-mentioned male-side narrow mating area, the front end section of the first narrow blade60A is located at the top in the space between the top wall11and the middle partition18B, and the front end section of the second narrow blade60B is located at the bottom. The male contact portions31A-1of the male terminals30A are exposed on the top face of the front end section of the first wide blade20A, and the male contact portions31B-1of the male terminals30B are exposed on the top face of the front end section of the second wide blade20B (seeFIG. 2). The male contact portions71A-1of the male terminals70A are exposed on the top face of the front end section of the first narrow blade60A, and the male contact portions71B-1of the male terminals70B are exposed on the top face of the front end section of the second narrow blade20B (seeFIG. 3).

A first connecting space10A used to receive the hereinafter-described first terminal retaining wall111A of the female connector2is formed along the above-mentioned first blades20A,60A between the top wall11and the front end sections of the first blades20A,60A. A second connecting space10B used to receive the hereinafter-described second terminal retaining wall111B of the female connector2is formed along the above-mentioned second blades20B,60B directly above the front end sections of the second blades20B,60B.

In addition, a male-side upper mating area corresponding to the hereinafter-described female-side upper mating area of the female connector2is formed between the first blades20A,60A and the second connecting space10B. Said male-side upper mating area is divided into two portions, i.e., a male-side upper wide mating area formed in a range corresponding to the male-side wide mating area and a male-side upper narrow mating area formed in a range corresponding to the male-side narrow mating area. An upper wide guiding portion14A and an upper narrow guiding portion14B, which extend forwardly of the upper partition18A at locations proximate to both ends in the connector-width direction, and an upper restricting portion15A, which extends forwardly from the upper partition18A at an intermediate location in the connector-width direction, are formed in said male-side upper mating area.

The upper wide guiding portion14A is located at the end of side Y2 in the male-side upper mating area in the connector-width direction. On the other hand, the upper narrow guiding portion14B, whose dimensions in the connector-width direction are smaller than those of said upper wide guiding portion14A, is located at the end of side Y1 in the male-side upper mating area in the connector-width direction. The upper restricting portion15A is formed at the end of side Y1 in the male-side upper wide mating area, in other words, at the end on the side proximate to the male-side upper narrow mating area.

An upper block portion-receiving space16A used to receive the hereinafter-described upper block portion115A of the female connector2is formed between the upper wide guiding portion14A and the upper restricting portion15A in the male-side upper wide mating area. In addition, an upper intermediate wall-receiving space16B used to receive the hereinafter-described intermediate wall113of the female connector2is formed between the upper narrow guiding portion14B and the upper restricting portion15A in the male-side upper narrow mating area.

In the above-mentioned male-side wide mating area, the front end section of the third wide blade20C is located at the top in the space between the middle partition18B and the bottom wall12, and the front end section of the fourth wide blade20D is located at the bottom. In addition, in the above-mentioned male-side narrow mating area, the front end section of the third narrow blade60C is located at the top in the space between the middle partition18B and the bottom wall12, and the front end section of the fourth narrow blade60D is located at the bottom. The male contact portions31C-1of the male terminals30C are exposed on the bottom face of the front end section of the third wide blade20C, and the male contact portions31D-1of the male terminals30D are exposed on the bottom face of the front end section of the fourth wide blade20D (seeFIG. 2). The male contact portions71C-1of the male terminals70C are exposed on the bottom face of the front end section of the third narrow blade60C, and the male contact portions71D-1of the male terminals70D are exposed on the bottom face of the front end section of the fourth narrow blade60D (seeFIG. 3).

A third connecting space10C used to receive the hereinafter-described third terminal retaining wall111C of the female connector2is formed along the above-mentioned third blades20C,60C directly below the front end sections of the above-mentioned third blades20C,60C. A fourth connecting space10D used to receive the hereinafter-described fourth terminal retaining wall111D of the female connector2is formed along the above-mentioned fourth blades20D,60D between the bottom wall12and the front end sections of the fourth blades20D,60D.

In addition, a male-side lower mating area, which corresponds to the hereinafter-described female-side lower mating area of the female connector2, is formed between the third connecting space10C and the fourth blades20D,60D. Said male-side lower mating area is divided into two portions, i.e., a male-side lower wide mating area formed in a range corresponding to the male-side wide mating area and a male-side lower narrow mating area formed in a range corresponding to the male-side narrow mating area. A lower wide guiding portion14C and a lower narrow guiding portion14D, which extend forwardly from the lower partition18C at locations proximate to both ends in the connector-width direction, and a lower restricting portion15B, which extends forwardly from the lower partition18C at an intermediate location in the connector-width direction, are formed in said male-side lower mating area.

The lower wide guiding portion14C is located at the end of side Y2 in the male-side lower mating area in the connector-width direction. On the other hand, the lower narrow guiding portion14D, whose dimensions in the connector-width direction are smaller than those of said lower wide guiding portion14C, is located at the end of side Y1 in the male-side lower mating area in the connector-width direction. The lower restricting portion15B is formed at the end of side Y1 in the male-side lower wide mating area, in other words, at the end on the side proximate to the male-side lower narrow mating area. As can be seen inFIG. 1, the lower wide guiding portion14C, lower narrow guiding portion14D, and lower restricting portion15B are formed respectively at the same locations in the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction) as the upper wide guiding portion14A, upper narrow guiding portion14B, and upper restricting portion15A of the male-side upper mating area.

A lower block portion-receiving space16C used to receive the hereinafter-described lower block portion115B of the female connector2is formed between the lower wide guiding portion14C and the lower restricting portion15B in the male-side lower wide mating area. In addition, a lower intermediate wall-receiving space16D used to receive the hereinafter-described intermediate wall113of the female connector2is formed between the lower narrow guiding portion14D and the lower restricting portion15B in the male-side lower narrow mating area.

The distal end portions of the respective guiding portions14A,14B,14C, and14D, which have a tapered configuration, are adapted to guide the hereinafter-described block portions115A,115B and the intermediate wall113of the female connector2into the block portion-receiving spaces16A,16C and the intermediate wall-receiving spaces16B,16D. In addition, the inner lateral faces of said guiding portions14A,14B,14C, and14D (faces opposed to the restricting portions15A,15B in the connector-width direction) serve as restricting faces that restrict the movement of the above-mentioned block portions115A,115B and the above-mentioned intermediate wall113in the connector-width direction when the connectors are mated.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, the respective restricting portions15A,15B extend in the forward-backward direction in a hollow prism-like configuration and both lateral faces in the connector-width direction (faces on two sides perpendicular to the connector-width direction) serve as restricting faces that restrict the movement of the above-mentioned block portions115A,115B and the above-mentioned intermediate wall113of the female connector2in the connector-width direction when the connectors are mated.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, mounting portions13A, which protrude outwardly in the connector-width direction, are provided extending in the forward-backward direction (X-axis direction) at the bottom of the lateral walls13of the housing10, and mounting members100made of sheet metal material are provided protruding downwardly (on side Z2) of the bottom wall12on said mounting portions13A.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, behind the previously described guiding portion10F, the housing10has formed therein a blade holding portion10G used to hold and retain in place the wide blades20A to20D and the narrow blades60A to60D. Said blade holding portion10G has a holding space17holding the wide blades20A to20D and the narrow blades60A to60D that is formed passing therethrough in the forward-backward direction. In addition, as can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the holding space17is open downwardly in the rear half (section on side X1).

The upper partition18A, middle partition18B, and lower partition18C, which have major faces that are parallel to the top wall11and the bottom wall12and which couple the two lateral walls13, are provided in order from the top in the holding space17. In addition, an intermediate wall10E, which has major faces that are parallel to the lateral walls13and couples the top wall11, upper partition18A, middle partition18B, lower partition18C, and bottom wall12at an intermediate location proximate to the side Y1 in the connector-width direction, is provided in the holding space17.

As a result, a first wide holding groove17A is formed between the top wall11and the upper partition18A, a second wide holding groove17B is formed between the upper partition18A and the middle partition18B, a third wide holding groove17C is formed between the middle partition18B and the lower partition18C, and a fourth wide holding groove17D is formed between the lower partition18C and the bottom wall12in the holding space17in a region more proximate to the Y2 side in the connector-width direction than the intermediate wall10E, in other words, in a region corresponding to the male-side wide mating area. In addition, a first narrow holding groove17E is formed between the top wall11and the upper partition18A, a second narrow holding groove17F is formed between the upper partition18A and the middle partition18B, a third narrow holding groove17G is formed between the middle partition18B and the lower partition18C, and a fourth narrow holding groove17H is formed between the lower partition18C and the bottom wall12in the holding space17in a region more proximate to the Y1 side in the connector-width direction than the intermediate wall10E, in other words, in a region corresponding to the male-side narrow mating area.

As can be seen inFIG. 2, the hereinafter-described arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1of the wide blades20A to20D are inserted from the rear and held in the respective wide holding grooves17A to17D. In addition, as can be seen inFIG. 3, the hereinafter-described arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1of the blades60A to60D are inserted from the rear and held in the respective narrow holding grooves17E to17H.

The upper partition18A is formed by coupling an upper top partition18A-1and an upper bottom partition18A-2, whose major surfaces are in a face-to-face relationship in the up-down direction, with the help of multiple upper coupling wall portions18A-3having major surfaces perpendicular to the connector-width direction and extending in the forward-backward direction (seeFIG. 4(A, B)). As can be seen inFIG. 4(A), said upper coupling wall portions18A-3are formed between the upper restricting portion15A and the upper wide guiding portion14A in the connector-width direction. The upper top partition18A-1extends in the forward-backward direction level with the top of the upper guiding portions14A,14B, and the upper bottom partition18A-2extends in the forward-backward direction level with the bottom of the upper guiding portions14A,14B. The upper top partition18A-1, upper bottom partition18A-2, and upper coupling wall portions18A-3extend to the vicinity of the rear end of the housing10.

The middle partition18B extends as a single wall portion in said forward-backward direction at a central location of the holding space17in the up-down direction. As discussed before, the front end of the middle partition18B is located forwardly (on side X2) of the lateral walls13, in other words, forwardly of the holding space17, and, at the same time, its rear end is located forwardly of the rear end of the upper partition18A.

The lower partition18C is formed by coupling a lower top partition18C-1and a lower bottom partition18C-2, whose major surfaces are in a face-to-face relationship in the up-down direction, with the help of multiple lower coupling wall portions18C-3having major surfaces perpendicular to the connector-width direction and extending in the forward-backward direction (seeFIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)). As can be seen inFIG. 4(A), said lower coupling wall portions18C-3are formed between the lower restricting portion15B and the lower wide guiding portion14C in the connector-width direction. The lower top partition18C-1extends in the forward-backward direction level with the top of the lower guiding portions14C,14D, and the lower bottom partition18C-2extends in the forward-backward direction level with the bottom of the lower guiding portions14C,14D. The rear end of the lower partition18C is located forwardly of the rear end of the upper partition18A.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 4(B), guiding portions17A-1to17D-1extending in the forward-backward direction, which guide the insertion of the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1of the wide blades20A to20D from the rear, are formed on the two sides of the interior wall surfaces located in the connector-width direction of the interior wall surfaces that form the respective wide holding grooves17A to17D, in other words, the respective major faces of the intermediate wall10E and the lateral walls13opposed to each other in the connector-width direction. Said guiding portions17A-1to17D-1have guiding projections17A-2to17D-2, which protrude from the interior wall surfaces on said two sides of the wide holding grooves17A to17D at intermediate locations of the wide holding grooves17A to17D in the up-down direction and extend in the forward-backward direction, and guiding grooves17A-3to17D-3, which extend in the forward-backward direction along said guiding projections17A-2to17D-2. The guiding projections17A-2to17D-2and guiding grooves17A-3to17D-3extend in the forward-backward direction from locations at the rear ends of the wide holding grooves17A to17D to locations in the vicinity of the front ends, in other words, over substantially the entire extent of the wide holding grooves17A to17D in the forward-backward direction.

In the present embodiment, the rear end face of the guiding projection17A-2abuts, from the front, the hereinafter-described rear protrusion53A of the arm-portion blade20A-1inserted into the wide holding grooves17A to17D from the rear, thereby making it possible to restrict the amount of insertion of said arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1. In other words, the guiding projection17A-2also serves as a stopper portion abuttable against the rear protrusion53A of the arm-portion blade20A-1.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)the guiding grooves17A-3and17B-3are formed respectively under the guiding projections17A-2and17B-2. In other words, the guiding groove17A-3is formed between the guiding projection17A-2and the upper partition18A, and the guiding groove17B-3is formed between the guiding projection17B-2and the middle partition18B. In addition, the guiding grooves17C-3,17D-3are formed respectively above the guiding projections17C-2,17D-2. In other words, the guiding groove17C-3is formed between the guiding projection17C-2and the middle partition18B, and the guiding groove17D-3is formed between the guiding projection17D-2and the lower partition18C.

In the present embodiment, when the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1of the wide blades20A to20D are inserted into the respective wide holding grooves17A to17D from the rear during the assembly of the connector1, both ends of said arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1in the connector-width direction are adapted to travel forward within the guiding grooves17A-3to17D-3while having their upward or downward movement restricted by the guiding projections17A-2to17D-2and the partitions18A to18C opposed thereto.

As can be seen inFIG. 2, multiple resilient engagement pieces17A-4to17D-4used to restrict the rearward movement of the respective blades20A to20D are provided within the wide holding grooves17A to17D. Said resilient engagement pieces17A-4to17D-4, which are provided in the respective holding grooves17A to17D in a cantilever configuration that is resiliently deformable in the up-down direction, are adapted to restrict the rearward movement of the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1held in the holding grooves17A to17D. Said resilient engagement pieces17A-4to17D-4comprise two first resilient engagement pieces17A-4, which extend from the bottom face of the top wall11in the first wide holding groove17A and restrict the movement of the first wide blade20A, two second resilient engagement pieces17B-4, which extend from the bottom face of the upper bottom partition18A-2in the second wide holding groove17B and restrict the movement of the second wide blade20B, two third resilient engagement pieces17C-4, which extend from the top face of the lower top partition18C-1in the third wide holding groove17C and restrict the movement of the third wide blade20C, and two fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4, which extend from the top face of the bottom wall12in the fourth wide holding groove17D and restrict the movement of the fourth wide blade20D.

FIG. 4(A)is a perspective view from the front and above of a portion of the housing10of the male connector1, andFIG. 4(B)is a perspective view from behind and below of the entire housing10of the male connector1. The top wall11and the proximal lateral wall13(on the side Y1 in the Y-axis direction) of the housing10are omitted inFIG. 4(A).

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 4(A), the two first resilient engagement pieces17A-4are positioned in a mutually spaced relationship in the connector-width direction and extend forwardly from locations proximate to the front end of the top wall11to locations in the vicinity of the front end of the upper top partition18A-1. The two second resilient engagement pieces17B-4are positioned in a mutually spaced relationship in the connector-width direction and extend forwardly from intermediate locations in the forward-backward direction of the upper bottom partition18A-2to locations in the vicinity of the front end of the middle partition18B. The two third resilient engagement pieces17C-4are positioned in a mutually spaced relationship in the connector-width direction and extend forwardly from intermediate locations in the forward-backward direction of the lower top partition18C-1to locations in the vicinity of the front end of said lower top partition18C-1. The two fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4are positioned in a mutually spaced relationship in the connector-width direction and extend forwardly from locations at the rear end of the bottom wall12to locations in the vicinity of the front end of the lower bottom partition18C-2.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), stopper portions17A-5to17D-5used to restrict the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1from the rear are provided in the wide holding grooves17A to17D. Said stopper portions17A-5to17D-5comprise a single first stopper portion17A-5, which protrudes from the bottom face of the top wall11in the first wide holding groove17A and restricts the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blade20A-1of the first wide blade20A, a single second stopper portion17B-5, which protrudes from the bottom face of the upper bottom partition18A-2in the second wide holding groove17B and restricts the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blade20B-1of the second wide blade20B, a single third stopper portion17C-5, which protrudes from the top face of the lower top partition18C-1in the third wide holding groove17C and restricts the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blade20C-1of the third wide blade20C, and a single fourth stopper portion17D-5, which protrudes from the top face of the bottom wall12in the fourth wide holding groove17D and restricts the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blade20D-1of the fourth wide blade20D.

As can be seen inFIG. 2, among the stopper portions17A-5to17D-5, the bottom faces of the stopper portions17A-5,17B-5are upwardly inclined in the forward direction while their rear end faces are flat faces perpendicular to the forward-backward direction. In addition, the stopper portions17C-5,17D-5have a configuration that is obtained by vertically flipping the stopper portions17A-5,17B-5. The stopper portions17A-5to17D-5are located at central locations of the wide holding grooves17A to17D in the connector-width direction, in other words, between two resilient engagement pieces17A-4to17D-4. In addition, in the forward-backward direction, said stopper portions17A-5to17C-5are provided at locations proximate to the rear ends of the wide retaining grooves17A to17C rearwardly of the resilient engagement pieces17A-4to17C-4. As can be seen inFIG. 2, the fourth stopper portion17D-5, which is provided over substantially the entire extent of the fourth wide holding groove17D in the forward-backward direction, is positioned with some overlap with the fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4.

The rear end faces of said stopper portions17A-5to17D-5are located in front of the hereinafter-described rear protrusions53A to53D formed on the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1of the wide blades20A to20D in a manner permitting abutment against said rear protrusions53A to53D and are formed as stopper faces17A-5A to17D-5A used to restrict the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1from the rear.

The narrow holding grooves17E to17H are configured by reducing the dimensions of the previously described wide holding grooves17A to17D in the connector-width direction and omitting one resilient engagement piece17A-4to17D-4and the stopper portions17A-5to17D-5. Accordingly, as can be seen inFIG. 3andFIG. 4(A, B), a pair of guiding portions17E-1to17H-1and a single resilient engagement piece17E-4to17H-4are provided in the narrow holding grooves17E to17H. Each of said resilient engagement piece17E-4to17H-4is provided in each narrow holding groove17E to17H at a central location in the connector-width direction. In the present embodiment, the guiding portions17E-1to17H-1, in the same manner as the rear end faces of the previously described guiding projections17A-2, serve as stopper portions restricting the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1of the narrow blades60A and60B from the rear.

InFIG. 3, in the narrow holding grooves17E to17H, reference numerals obtained by replacing “A” to “D” in the numerals of the parts of the wide holding grooves17A to17D with “E” to “H” are assigned to parts corresponding to the respective components of the wide holding grooves17A to17D.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the blade holding portion10G has formed therein, in a region located more proximately to the Y1 side than the intermediate wall10E, a front blade-restricting portion17J and a rear blade-restricting portion17K protruding from the wall surface of the intermediate wall10E on side Y1 and the interior wall surface of the lateral wall13opposed thereto (not shown inFIG. 3) (see alsoFIG. 8).

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the front blade-restricting portion17J is located slightly behind the rear end of the middle partition18B in the forward-backward direction and, at the same time, between the lower top partition18C-1and the lower bottom partition18C-2in the up-down direction. A front blade-restricting face17J-1, i.e., the rear end face of the front blade-restricting portion17J, is located in front of the leg-portion blade60C-2of the third narrow blade60C in the normal position, with a slight gap left between it and the front face of said leg-portion blade60C-2.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the rear blade-restricting portion17K is located slightly behind the rear end of the upper partition18A in the forward-backward direction and, at the same time, substantially level with the lower bottom partition18C-2in the up-down direction. Namely, said rear blade-restricting portion17K is located behind and below the front blade-restricting face17J-1. A rear blade-restricting face17K-1, which constitutes the rear end face of said rear blade-restricting portion17K, is located in front of the leg-portion blade60D-2of the fourth narrow blade60D in the normal position, with a slight gap left between it and the front face of said leg-portion blade60D-2. Hereinbelow, whenever necessary, the front blade-restricting portion17J and the rear blade-restricting portion17K are collectively referred to as “blade-restricting portions17J,17K”.

Thus, the blade-restricting faces17J-1,17K-1are positioned in a face-to-face relationship with the front faces of the leg-portion blades60C-2,60D-2and, as described hereafter, are adapted to abut the front faces of said leg-portion blades60C-2,60D-2and restrict their further displacement if the leg-portion blades60C-2,60D-2are displaced forwardly when the male connector1is heated during mounting of the connector to the circuit board (seeFIG. 8).

[Configuration of Wide Blades and Narrow Blades]

The configuration of the wide blades20A to20D and the narrow blades60A to60D will be described below.FIG. 5(A)is a perspective view of the wide blades20A to20D from above, andFIG. 5(B)is a perspective view of the narrow blades60A to60D from above.FIG. 6(A)is a perspective view of the wide blades20A to20D from below, andFIG. 6(B)is a perspective view of the narrow blades60A to60D from below.FIG. 7is a side view of the wide blades20A to20D.

The four types of wide blades20A to20D and the four types of narrow blades60A to60D are fabricated by retaining in place, with the help of insulating plates, multiple terminals disposed in an array in the connector-width direction and shielding plates disposed so as to cover the array range of said multiple terminals. The four types of narrow blades60A to60D differ from the wide blades20A to20D in that their width dimensions (dimensions in the connector-width direction) are narrower than those of said wide blades20A to20D and, in addition, in that they are not provided with shielding plates. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the wide blades20A to20D will be described first, and the configuration of the narrow blades60A to60D will then be described with emphasis on the differences from the configuration of the wide blades20A to20D. Although the respective lengths of the insulating plates and terminals of the four types of wide blades20A to20D are different, they share a common basic configuration. Therefore, the configuration of the first wide blade20A will be described first, and the configurations of the second wide blade20B, third wide blade20C, and fourth wide blade20D will be described with emphasis on their differences from the other blades.

As can be seen inFIGS. 5 to 7, the first wide blade20A has multiple male terminals30A in the form of electrically conductive elongated members arranged in the connector-width direction, shielding plates40A provided so as to cover the terminal array range, and insulating plates50A retaining the male terminals30A and the shielding plates40A in place via unitary co-molding.

While all the male terminals30A are fabricated to the same shape, some of the male terminals30A are used as signal terminals, while other male terminals30A are used as ground terminals. The male terminals30A, which are electrically conductive elongated members made by bending metal strips in the through-thickness direction, have arm portions31A, which extend in a rectilinear configuration in the forward-backward direction (direction of connector insertion and extraction), bend portions32A, which are bent downwardly at right angles at the rear ends of said arm portions31A, and leg portions33A, which are coupled to the arm portions31A via said bend portions32A and extend downwardly toward the bottom portion of the housing10.

As can be seen inFIG. 5(A)andFIG. 7, the arm portions31A, which extend in the forward-backward direction along the top face of the hereinafter-described arm-portion insulating plate50A-1, are secured and retained in place by the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1throughout their entire length. As can be seen inFIG. 5(A)andFIG. 7, most of the top faces (major faces) of said arm portions31A are exposed on the top face of the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1, and the top faces (exposed surfaces) of the front end sections of said arm portions31A are formed as male contact portions31A-1placed in contact with the female terminals120provided in the female connector2.

As can be seen inFIG. 5(A)andFIG. 7, the leg portions33A, which extend in the up-down direction along the rear face of the hereinafter-described leg-portion insulating plate50A-2(face on side X1 inFIG. 5(A)), are secured and retained in place by the leg-portion insulating plate50A-2throughout their entire length. Most of the rear face (major surface) of said leg portions33A is exposed on the rear face of the leg-portion insulating plate50A-2. The lower end portions of said leg portions33A, which are bent at right angles and extend rearwardly (toward side X1), are formed as connecting portions33A-1that are solder-connected to the corresponding circuits of the circuit board (not shown).

As can be seen inFIG. 6(A), the shielding plates40A have an arm-portion shielding plate40A-1, which is provided in alignment with the arm portions31A of the male terminals30A, and a leg-portion shielding plate40A-2, which is provided in alignment with the leg portions33A of the male terminals30A. The arm-portion shielding plate40A-1is provided along the bottom face of the hereinafter-described arm-portion insulating plate50A-1and extends across substantially the entire length of the arm portions31A in the forward-backward direction as well as across the entire terminal array range in the connector-width direction (terminal array direction).

As can be seen inFIG. 5(B), the leg-portion shielding plate40A-2is provided along the front face of the hereinafter-described leg-portion insulating plate50A-2(face on side X2 inFIG. 5(B)) and extends across substantially the entire length of the leg portions33A in the up-down direction as well as across the entire terminal array range in the connector-width direction (terminal array direction).

In the present embodiment, the arm-portion shielding plate40A-1and leg-portion shielding plate40A-2have protruding sections protruding on the side facing the male terminals30A at locations corresponding to said male terminals30A, which serve as ground terminals, in the connector-width direction, thereby making it possible to establish electrical communication with said male terminals30A by placing said protruding sections in contact with the above-mentioned male terminals30A.

As can be seen inFIGS. 5 to 7, the insulating plate50A has an arm-portion insulating plate50A-1, which is provided in alignment with the arm portions31A of the male terminals30A, and a leg-portion insulating plate50A-2, which is provided in alignment with the leg portions33A of the male terminals30A.

The arm-portion insulating plate50A-1is a plate-shaped member made of resin and, as can be seen inFIGS. 5 to 7, extends across substantially the entire length of the arm portions31A in the forward-backward direction as well as across the entire terminal array range in the connector-width direction (terminal array direction). As can be seen inFIG. 5(A), said arm-portion insulating plate50A-1has formed on its top face, at multiple locations in the forward-backward direction, terminal retaining portions51A extending throughout the entire range in the connector-width direction. Said terminal retaining portions51A partially cover the top faces of the arm portions31A of the male terminals30A, as a result of which the arm portions31A are retained in place by the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1in a more reliable manner. In the present embodiment, the terminal retaining portion51A that is second from the front among the multiple terminal retaining portions51A is positioned in alignment with the front ends of the first resilient engagement pieces17A-4of the housing10in the forward-backward direction, and the rearmost terminal retaining portion51A, in other words,51A at the rear end location of the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1, is positioned in alignment with the rear end of the first stopper portion17A-5.

In addition, as can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 5(A), the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1has two front protrusions52A, which protrude upwardly from the top face of the terminal retaining portion51A that is second from the front and extend in the connector-width direction, and a single rear protrusion53A, which protrudes upwardly from the top face of the rearmost terminal retaining portion51A and extends in the connector-width direction. The two front protrusions52A are formed at locations corresponding to the front ends (seeFIG. 2andFIG. 4(A)) of the two first resilient engagement pieces17A-4of the housing10in the connector-width direction. As can be seen inFIG. 5(A), the rear protrusion53A is formed over the entire extent of the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1in the connector-width direction and is positioned in alignment with the rear end of the first stopper portion17A-5of the housing10in the connector-width direction (seeFIG. 2andFIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)).

As discussed hereafter, engagement of the front protrusions52A and the front ends of the first resilient engagement pieces17A-4restricts the rearward movement of the arm-portion blade20A-1and, consequently, the first wide blade20A, in excess of a predetermined amount (seeFIG. 2). In addition, the rear protrusion53A is located slightly behind the stopper face17A-5A (rear end face) of the first stopper portion17A-5in a face-to-face relationship with said stopper face17A-5A and is abuttable against said stopper face17A-5A from the rear. As a result, the amount of insertion of the arm-portion blade20A-1into the first wide holding groove17A from the rear is restricted.

In addition, the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1has formed on its bottom face, at multiple locations in the forward-backward direction, shielding plate retaining portions54A protruding toward the male terminal30A side and extending throughout the entire range in the connector-width direction (seeFIG. 7). Said shielding plate retaining portions54A partially cover the bottom face of the arm-portion shielding plate40A-1, as a result of which the arm-portion shielding plate40A-1is retained in place by the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1in a more reliable manner. In addition, the arm-portion blade20A-1abuts the top face of the upper top partition18A-1with these shielding plate retaining portions54A, thereby impeding contact between the arm-portion blade20A-1and the top face of the upper top partition18A-1throughout the entire length thereof in the forward-backward direction.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIGS. 5 to 7, the leg-portion insulating plate50A-2, which is a plate-shaped member made of resin, extends across substantially the entire length of the leg portions33A in the up-down direction as well as across the entire terminal array range in the connector-width direction (terminal array direction). Said leg-portion insulating plate50A-2has formed on its rear face, at multiple locations in the up-down direction, terminal retaining portions55A extending throughout the entire range in the connector-width direction (seeFIG. 7). Said terminal retaining portions55A partially cover the rear face of the leg portions33A of the male terminals30A, as a result of which the leg portions33A are retained in place by the leg-portion insulating plate50A-2in a more reliable manner. In addition, the leg-portion insulating plate50A-2has formed on its front face, at multiple locations in the up-down direction, shielding plate retaining portions56A extending throughout the entire range in the connector-width direction (seeFIG. 7). Said shielding plate retaining portions56A partially cover the front face of the leg-portion shielding plate40A-2, as a result of which the leg-portion shielding plate40A-2is retained in place by the leg-portion insulating plate50A-2in a more reliable manner.

In the first wide blade20A, the arm portions31A of the multiple male terminals30A and the arm-portion shielding plate40A-1are retained in place by the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1, and the leg portions33A of the multiple male terminals30A and the leg-portion shielding plate40A-2are retained in place by the leg-portion insulating plate50A-2via unitary co-molding. The thus-fabricated first wide blade20A is configured such that the arm-portion blade20A-1, which has arm portions31A, an arm-portion shielding plate40A-1, and an arm-portion insulating plate50A-1and the leg-portion blade20A-2, which has leg portions33A, a leg-portion shielding plate40A-2, and a leg-portion insulating plate50A-2, are at right angles to each other and are coupled by the bend portions32A of the male terminals30A.

It should be noted that although in the present embodiment said bend portions32A are adapted to be exposed, said bend portions32A may alternatively be covered by plastic sections forming an integral part of the arm-portion insulating plate50A-1and leg-portion insulating plate50A-2. In addition, although in the present embodiment the bend portions32are bent at a right angle, the bend angle of the bend portions is not limited thereto, and the bend portions may be bent at an acute or obtuse angle.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIGS. 5 to 7, the second wide blade20B has a configuration obtained by making the arm-portion blade20A-1of the first wide blade20A shorter in the forward-backward direction as well as making the leg-portion blade20A-2shorter in the up-down direction. In other words, the insulating plates50B-1,50B-2, shielding plates40B-1,40B-2, leg portions33B, and arm portions31B of the male terminals30B of the second wide blade20B are respectively shorter than the insulating plates50A-1,50A-2, shielding plates40A-1,40A-2, leg portions33A, and arm portions31A of the male terminals30A of the first wide blade20A.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIGS. 5 to 7, the third wide blade20C has a configuration obtained when the arm-portion blade20B-1of the second wide blade20B is shortened in the forward-backward direction and inverted in the up-down direction, and the leg-portion blade20B-2is shortened in the up-down direction and inverted in the forward-backward direction. In other words, the insulating plates50C-1,50C-2, shielding plates40C-1,40C-2, leg portions33C, and arm portions31C of the male terminals30C of the third wide blade20C are respectively shorter than the insulating plates50B-1,50B-2, shielding plates40B-1,40B-2, leg portions33B, and arm portions31B of the male terminals30B of the second wide blade20B. In addition, said third wide blade20C differs from the second wide blade20B in that, while the connecting portions33B-1of the male terminals30B of the second wide blade20B extend rearwardly, the connecting portions33C-1of its male terminals30C extend forwardly.

The fourth wide blade20D has a configuration obtained by making the arm-portion blade20C-1of the third blade20C shorter in the forward-backward direction as well as making the leg-portion blade20C-2shorter in the up-down direction. In other words, the insulating plates50D-1,50D-2, shielding plates40D-1,40D-2, leg portions33D, and arm portions31D of the male terminals30D of the fourth wide blade20D are respectively shorter than the insulating plates50C-1,50C-2, shielding plates40C-1,40C-2, leg portions33C, and arm portions31C of the male terminals30C of the third wide blade20C.

The configuration of the narrow blades60A to60D will be described below. The configuration of the respective components of the narrow blades60A to60D will be described with emphasis on its differences from that of the wide blades20A to20D, by assigning thereto reference numerals obtained by adding “40” to the reference numerals of the corresponding sections in said wide blades20A to20D.

As discussed before, the narrow blades60A to60D, as can be seen inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, are configured by making the wide blades20A to20D smaller in the connector-width direction. In addition, the narrow blades60A to60D are not provided with shielding plates, and, in this respect, their configuration is different from that of the wide blades20A to20D, which have shielding plates.

As can be seen inFIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 8, in the narrow blades60A to60D, the side opposite to the terminal array face of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1and the side opposite to the terminal array face of the leg-portion blades60A-2to60D-2are major faces formed by the insulating plates. In addition, projections94A to94D,96A to96D protruding from the major faces of said insulating plates90A-1to90D-2are formed on said major faces instead of the shielding plate retaining portions54A to54D,56A to56D. In addition, in the narrow blades60A to60B, one front protrusion92A to92D is provided on each arm-portion insulating plate90A-1to90D-1, and, in this respect, they differ from the wide blades20A to20B, in which two front protrusions52A to52D are provided.

Furthermore, at both ends in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the narrow blades60A to60D, the front protrusions92A to92D have formed therein reinforcing portions92A-1to92D-1projecting further to the rear than other portions (seeFIG. 5,FIG. 6andFIG. 8), with said reinforcing portions92A-1to92D-1providing an improvement in the strength of the front protrusions92A to92D.

In addition, as can be seen inFIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 8, the leg-portion blade60B-2of the second narrow blade60B has cutouts made and notched portions97B formed at both ends of the leg-portion insulating plate90B-2in the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction) at intermediate locations in the up-down direction. Said notched portions97B are formed in the up-down direction throughout a range that includes the rear blade-restricting portion17K of the male housing10. Accordingly, as described hereafter, when said second narrow blade60B is mounted to the male housing10from the rear, said notched portions97B help prevent the leg-portion blade60B-2from interfering with the rear blade-restricting portion17K (seeFIG. 8).

In addition, said notched portions97B do not reach the location of the front blade-restricting portion17J in the up-down direction. Consequently, when the second narrow blade60B is mounted, the front blade-restricting portion17J does not pass through the notched portion97B from the front and is positioned in a manner permitting abutment against the front face of the leg-portion blade60B-2of the second narrow blade60B (seeFIG. 8).

In addition, as can be seen inFIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 8, the leg-portion blade60C-2of the third narrow blade60C has cutouts made and notched portions97C formed at both ends of the leg-portion insulating plate90B-2in the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction) at intermediate locations in the up-down direction. Said notched portions97C are formed in the up-down direction throughout a range that includes the blade-restricting portions17J,17K of the male housing10. Accordingly, as described hereafter, when the third narrow blade60C is mounted to the male housing10from the rear, said notched portions97C help prevent the leg-portion blade60C-2from interfering with the blade-restricting portions17J,17K (seeFIG. 8).

[Assembly of Male Connector]

The assembly of the male connector1will be described next. The male connector1is assembled by mounting the four types of wide blades20A to20D and the four types of narrow blades60A to60D to the housing10from the rear. At such time, the wide blades20A to20D are mounted successively as follows, i.e., the fourth wide blade20D, the third wide blade20C, the second wide blade20B, and the first wide blade20A, and the narrow blades60A to60D are mounted successively as follows, i.e., the fourth narrow blade60D, the third narrow blade60C, the second narrow blade60B, and the first narrow blade60A.

First, the mounting members100are attached to the mounting portions13A of the housing10(seeFIG. 1) by press-fitting from above. The mounting of the mounting members100may be performed either after the mounting of the wide blades20A to20D and narrow blades60A to60D, or simultaneously therewith. In addition, the mounting members100may be mounted by press-fitting from below or mounted by unitary co-molding with the housing10.

Next, the arm-portion blade20D-1of the fourth wide blade20D is inserted into the fourth wide holding groove17D by moving it forwardly along the bottom face of the lower bottom partition18C-2of the housing10. At such time, the lateral edge portions on both sides of the arm-portion blade20D-1(its ends in the connector-width direction) enter the guiding groove17D-3from the rear. Within said guiding groove17D-3, the up-down movement of the lateral edge portions of the arm-portion blade20D-1is restricted by the upper interior wall surface (bottom face of the guiding projection17D-2) and the lower interior wall surface (top face of the bottom wall12) of said guiding groove17D-3, and its movement in the connector-width direction is restricted by the lateral interior wall surfaces (the interior wall surface of the lateral walls13and the wall surface of the intermediate wall10E).

Thus, the inclined orientation of the arm-portion blade20D-1about an axial line (imaginary line) extending in the connector-width direction on the major face of said arm-portion blade20D-1when viewed in the connector-width direction (Y-axis direction) is minimized by restricting the up-down movement of the lateral edge portions of the arm-portion blade20D-1, as a result of which the major faces of said arm-portion blade20D-1can be readily stabilized in an orientation parallel to the mounting face of the circuit board. In addition, the inclined orientation of the arm-portion blade20D-1about an axial line (imaginary line) extending in the up-down direction when viewed in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) is minimized by restricting the movement of the lateral edge portions of the arm-portion blade20D-1in the connector-width direction, as a result of which the blade can be readily stabilized in an orientation extending in the forward-backward direction. This facilitates the operation of insertion of the arm-portion blade20D-1into the fourth wide holding groove17D of the housing10.

In the process of insertion of the arm-portion blade20D-1, the front protrusions52D of said arm-portion blade20D-1abut the fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4and cause said fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4to undergo downward elastic deformation, thereby permitting further insertion of the arm-portion blade20D-1.

Furthermore, when the arm-portion blade20D-1is inserted and the front protrusions52D reach a location forward of the front ends of the fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4, said fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4return to a free state. As a result, as can be seen inFIG. 2, the front ends of the fourth resilient engagement pieces17D-4engage the front protrusions52D from behind said front protrusions52D, thereby obstructing the rearward movement of the arm-portion blade20D-1and, consequently, the fourth wide blade20D.

In addition, at such time, the rear protrusion53D of the arm-portion blade20D-1is positioned slightly behind the stopper face17D-5A (rear end face) of the stopper portion17D-5in a manner permitting abutment against said stopper face17D-5A. Therefore, even if the arm-portion blade20D-1were inserted to an excessive extent, the rear protrusion53D abuts the stopper face17D-5A from the rear, thereby restricting further forward movement, as a result of which it becomes possible to easily place the arm-portion blade20D-1at the normal location.

Next, the same procedure as during the above-described mounting of the fourth wide blade20D is used to mount the wide blades20C,20B, and20A to the housing10by inserting the arm-portion blade20C-1of the third wide blade20C, the arm-portion blade20B-1of the second wide blade20B, and the arm-portion blade20A-1of the first wide blade20A into, respectively, the third wide holding groove17C, second wide holding groove17B, and first wide holding groove17A from the rear.

In addition, due to the fact that in the present embodiment the rear protrusion53A in the first wide blade20A extends over the entire extent of the arm-portion blade20A-1in the connector-width direction, once the first wide blade20A is attached to the housing10, the rear protrusion53A has its central portion in the connector-width direction facing the stopper face17A-5A of the first stopper portion17A-5, and, at the same time, both ends in the connector-width direction facing the rear end face of the guiding projection17A-2, thereby restricting over-insertion of the arm-portion blade20A-1.

Once the wide blades20A to20D are mounted to the housing10, said wide blades20A to20D are retained in place in the housing10in a state in which the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1are positioned successively in the up-down direction, and the leg-portion blades20A-2to20D-2are positioned successively in the forward-backward direction at spaced intervals. In addition, as can be seen inFIG. 2, the connecting portions33A-1to33D-1of the male terminals30A to30D of the blades20A to20D are positioned below the bottom face of the bottom wall12of the housing10.

Next, the same procedure as during the above-described mounting of the wide blades20A to20D is used to mount the narrow blades60A to60D to the housing10by inserting the arm-portion blade60D-1of the fourth narrow blade60D, the arm-portion blade60C-1of the third narrow blade60C, the arm-portion blade60B-1of the second narrow blade60B, and the arm-portion blade60A-1of the first narrow blade60A into, respectively, the fourth narrow holding groove17H, the third narrow holding groove17G, the second narrow holding groove17F, and the first narrow holding groove17E from the rear.

In the same manner as with the previously described wide blades20A to20D, when the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1of the narrow blades60A to60D are inserted, the lateral edge portions on both sides of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1are restricted from movement within the guiding grooves17E-3to17H-3in the up-down and connector-width directions, as a result of which the orientation of said arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1is stabilized, thereby facilitating the operation of insertion of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1into the narrow holding grooves17E to17H.

As discussed before, in the present embodiment, notched portions97C are formed in the leg-portion blade60C-2of the third narrow blade60C at locations corresponding to the blade-restricting portions17J,17K of the housing10. Therefore, when the arm-portion blade60C-1of said third narrow blade60C is inserted, the blade-restricting portions17J,17K do not interfere with the leg-portion blade60C-2and, for this reason, the arm-portion blade60C-1can be inserted all the way to the normal position without difficulty.

In addition, as discussed before, in the present embodiment, notched portions97B are formed in the leg-portion blade60B-2of the second narrow blade60B at a location corresponding to the rear blade-restricting portion17K of the housing10. Therefore, when the arm-portion blade60B-1of said second narrow blade60B is inserted, the rear blade-restricting portion17K does not interfere with the leg-portion blade60B-2, and, for this reason, the arm-portion blade60B-1can be inserted all the way to the normal position without difficulty.

In addition, after mounting of the narrow blades60A to60D to the housing10, the rear protrusions93A to93D of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1are in a face-to-face relationship with the rear end faces of the guiding projections17E-2to17H-2, thereby restricting over-insertion of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1. In addition, the leg-portion blade60A-2of the first narrow blade60A is located in a face-to-face relationship with the rear end face of the rear blade-restricting portion17K at both ends thereof. The leg-portion blade60B-2of the second narrow blade60B is located in a face-to-face relationship with the rear end face of the front blade-restricting portion17J at both ends thereof.

Once the narrow blades60A to60D are mounted to the housing10, said narrow blades60A to60D are retained in place in the housing10in a state in which the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1are positioned successively in the up-down direction, and the leg-portion blades60A-2to60D-2are positioned successively in the forward-backward direction at spaced intervals. In addition, as can be seen inFIG. 3, the connecting portions73A-1to73D-1of the male terminals70A to70D of the respective blades60A to60D are positioned below the bottom face of the bottom wall12of the housing10.

[Mounting of Male Connector]

The male connector1according to the present embodiment is mounted to the mounting face of the circuit board in the following manner. First, the male connector1is arranged such that the bottom wall12of the housing10is in a face-to-face relationship with the mounting face of the circuit board and the connecting portions33A-1to33D-1and73A-1to73D-1of the respective blades20A to20D and60A to60D are disposed on the corresponding circuits of the mounting face. Next, the male connector1and the circuit board are placed in a reflow oven and heated in said reflow oven heating, thereby mounting the connecting portions33A-1to33D-1and73A-1to73D-1via solder-connection to the above-mentioned corresponding circuits.

In the present embodiment, as discussed before, the narrow blades60A to60D are not provided with shielding plates, so when the male connector1is heated in the reflow oven, the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1and leg-portion blades60A-2to60D-2are prone to deformation by warping in the through-thickness direction thereof due to differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the arm portions71A to71D of the metal male terminals70A to70D and the plastic arm-portion insulating plates90A-1to90D-1, as well as between the leg portions73A to73D of the metal male terminals70A to70D and the plastic leg-portion insulating plates90A-2to90D-2. This deformation causes the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1and leg-portion blades60A-2to60D-2to be displaced toward the side opposite to the array face side of the male terminals70. When such a displacement of the leg-portion blades60A-2to60D-2takes place, the connecting portions73A-1to73D-1of the male terminals70A to70D are lifted upwardly, in other words, in a direction away from the corresponding circuits of the circuit board, resulting in defective connections to said corresponding circuits.

Since in the present embodiment the lateral edge portions of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1are located within the guiding grooves17E-3to17H-3, displacement in the through-thickness direction, in other words, in the up-down direction, of the arm-portion blades60A-1to60D-1is restricted by the upper interior wall surfaces and lower interior wall surfaces of the guiding grooves17E-3to17H-3.

In addition, the blade-restricting portions17K,17J of the housing10are located in front of the lateral edge portions of the leg-portion blades60A-2,60B-2in a manner permitting abutment against each of said leg-portion blades60A-2,60B-2. Accordingly, forward displacement of the leg-portion blades60A-2,60B-2is restricted by abutment against the blade-restricting faces17K-1,17J-1of the blade-restricting portions17K,17J. As a result, the connecting portions73A-1,73B-1of the male terminals70A,70B are not liable to be lifted and it becomes possible to reliably solder-connect said connecting portions73A-1,73B-1to the corresponding circuits on the circuit board.

In addition, even if external forces due to inadvertent impacts and the like act on the leg-portion blades60A-2,60B-2from the rear after mounting on the circuit board, the forward displacement of said leg-portion blades60A-2,60B-2is restricted by abutment against the blade-restricting portions17K,17J. As a result, an excellent state of connection is maintained between the connecting portions73A-1,73B-1and the corresponding circuits of the circuit board.

It should be noted that as far as the leg-portion blades60C-2,60D-2of the narrow blades60C,60D used in the present embodiment are concerned, since the dimensions of said leg-portion blades60C-2,60D-2in the up-down direction are small and, therefore, the degree of heating-induced deformation is low and its effects on the state of connection of the connecting portions73A-1to73D-1is small, there is no need to provide sections restricting the displacement of said leg-portion blades60C-2,60D-2in the housing10.

In addition, in the wide blades20A to20D, in each of the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1and leg-portion blades20A-2to20D-2, there are metallic arm-portion shielding plates40A-1to40D-1and leg-portion shielding plates40A-2to40D-2provided on the major faces of the sides opposite to the array face of the arm portions31A to31D and leg portions33A to33D of the male terminals30A to30D, and, therefore, the above-described deformation is not liable to occur.

Although the present embodiment has described an example of restricting the forward displacement of the leg-portion blades60A-2,60B-2of the narrow blades60A,60B, if it is understood in advance that said leg-portion blades will be displaced in a rearward direction during heating, such rearward displacement of said leg-portion blades may be restricted by forming, within the holding portions of the housing, blade-restricting portions located behind the leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the rear faces of said leg-portion blades.

The blade-restricting portions that restrict the rearward displacement of the leg-portion blades can be formed in a variety of shapes. For example, the blade-restricting portions can be formed as resilient pieces having a latching capability and equipped with protrusions that extend forwardly (in the direction of blade insertion) along said interior wall surface and protrude from the above-mentioned interior wall surface at the front ends thereof by cutting out portions of the interior wall surface of the holding portions of the housing (surface perpendicular to the connector-width direction). Thus, if the blade-restricting portions are formed as resilient pieces, when the blades are installed in the housing from the rear, both lateral edge portions of the leg-portion blades will abut the corresponding protrusions and cause the above-mentioned resilient pieces to undergo resilient deformation so as to widen in the connector-width direction under pressure. In addition, if the leg-portion blades travel forward and move past the location of the above-mentioned protrusions, the above-mentioned resilient pieces will return to a free state and, as a result, the above-mentioned protrusions will be positioned behind the leg-portion blades in a face-to-face relationship with the rear faces of the leg-portion blades. As a result, the rearward displacement of the leg-portion blades will be restricted by the above-mentioned protrusions.

Next, the configuration of the female connector2will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3. Said female connector2is mated with the male connector1in the rearward direction (X1 direction). Said female connector2has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing110adapted for the guiding portion of the male connector1, multiple female terminals120serving as counterpart terminals retained in place in array form in said housing110, and mounting members130retained in place on said housing110.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, the housing110has four terminal retaining walls111A to111D, which have major faces perpendicular to the up-down direction and extend in the connector-width direction; two lateral walls112, which have major faces perpendicular to said connector-width direction, extend in the up-down direction, and couple the ends of the above-mentioned four terminal retaining walls111A to111D in the connector-width direction; and an intermediate wall113, which is parallel to said lateral walls112, extends in the up-down direction at an intermediate location in the connector-width direction, and couples the above-mentioned four terminal retaining walls111A to111D.

The terminal retaining walls111A to111D, which are disposed from top to bottom in parallel to one another, are provided in alignment with the wide blades20A to20D and narrow blades60A to60D of the male connector. Below, when it is necessary to distinguish the terminal retaining walls111A to111D, the walls are referred to respectively as the “first terminal retaining wall111A”, “second terminal retaining wall111B”, “third terminal retaining wall111C”, and “fourth terminal retaining wall111D”.

In the first terminal retaining wall111A, which is the top wall of the housing110, there are formed terminal retaining grooves111A-1(seeFIG. 2andFIG. 3) used to retain the female terminals120in place. The grooves, which are recessed from the bottom face and extend in the forward-backward direction, are formed in array form in the connector-width direction. In the second terminal retaining wall111B, in the same manner as in the above-described first terminal retaining wall111A, there are formed terminal retaining grooves111B-1used to retain the female terminals120in place. The grooves, which are recessed from the bottom face and extend in the forward-backward direction, are formed in array form in the connector-width direction.

The third terminal retaining wall111C, which has a configuration that is obtained by vertically flipping the above-described second terminal retaining wall111B, has terminal retaining grooves111C-1formed in array form on its top face. The fourth terminal retaining wall111D, which constitutes the bottom wall of the housing110and has a configuration that is obtained by vertically flipping the above-described first terminal retaining wall111A, has terminal retaining grooves111D-1formed in array form on its top face.

Mounting portions112A, which protrude outwardly in the connector-width direction, are provided extending in the up-down direction in the front portion of the lateral walls112(side Y2 inFIG. 1and side X2 inFIG. 2andFIG. 3), and mounting members130made of sheet metal material are provided in said mounting portions112A protruding forwardly of the front end face of the housing110. The intermediate wall113extends throughout the entire extent of the housing110in the up-down and forward-backward directions at a location closer to the X2 side in the connector-width direction (in the X-axis direction inFIG. 1) in alignment with the intermediate wall10E of the male connector1, thereby dividing the guiding portion in two in the connector-width direction. The guiding portion of the female connector2is connected to the wide blades20A to20D of the male connector1in the region located closer to the X1 side than the intermediate wall113in the connector-width direction inFIG. 1(hereinafter referred to as the “female-side wide mating area”), and is connected to the narrow blades60A to60D of the male connector1in a section located closer to the X2 side than the intermediate wall113(hereinafter referred to as the “female-side narrow mating area”).

In the female-side wide mating area, between the first terminal retaining wall111A and the second terminal retaining wall111B, the housing110has formed therein an upper wide blade-receiving space114A that extends along the bottom face of said first terminal retaining wall111A and is intended to receive the front end portion of the first wide blade20A of the male connector1, and, below said upper wide blade-receiving space114A, has formed therein a female-side upper wide mating area corresponding to the male-side upper wide mating area of the male connector1. In said female-side upper wide mating area, there are formed an upper block portion115A, which protrudes upwardly from the top face of the second terminal retaining wall111B in the central area of said female-side upper wide mating area in the connector-width direction and extends in the forward-backward direction; an upper guided portion116A, which constitutes a space extending in the forward-backward direction (Y-axis direction) on the X1 side in the connector-width direction from the outside of said upper block portion115A in the connector-width direction; and an upper restricted portion117A, which constitutes a space extending in the forward-backward direction on the X2 side of said upper block portion115A in the connector-width direction.

The lateral face of the upper block portion115A on the X1 side in the connector-width direction is a restricted face that abuts a lateral face of the upper wide guiding portion14A of the male connector1and is restricted from moving in the connector-width direction when the connector is in a mated state.

The upper guided portion116A is a space that receives and holds the upper wide guiding portion14A of the male connector1from the rear when the connector is in a mated state. The interior wall surface of the lateral wall112that forms said upper guided portion116A is a restricted face that abuts a lateral face of the upper wide guiding portion14A and is restricted from moving in the connector-width direction.

The upper restricted portion117A is a space that receives and holds the upper restricting portion15A of the male connector1from the rear when the connector is in a mated state. The lateral face of the intermediate wall113forming said upper restricted portion117A is a restricted face that abuts the lateral face of the above-mentioned upper restricting portion15A and is restricted from moving in the connector-width direction.

A middle wide blade-receiving space114B, which is intended to receive the respective front end sections of the second wide blade20B, third wide blade20C, and middle partition18B of the male connector1, is formed between the second terminal retaining wall111B and the third terminal retaining wall111C in the female-side wide mating area.

A lower wide blade-receiving space114C, which extends along the top face of said fourth terminal retaining wall111D and is intended to receive the front end portion of the fourth wide blade20D of the male connector1, and, above said lower wide blade-receiving space114C, a female-side lower wide mating area, which corresponds to the male-side lower wide mating area of the male connector1, are formed between the third terminal retaining wall111C and the fourth terminal retaining wall111D in the female-side wide mating area. A lower block portion115B, which protrudes downwardly from the bottom face of the third terminal retaining wall111C in the central area of said female-side lower wide mating area in the connector-width direction and extends in the forward-backward direction, a lower guided portion116B, which constitutes a space extending in the forward-backward direction on the X1 side of said lower block portion115B in the connector-width direction, and a lower restricted portion117B, which constitutes a space extending in the forward-backward direction on the X2 side of said lower block portion115B in the connector-width direction, are formed in said female-side lower wide mating area.

Although the lower block portion115B has a configuration that is obtained by vertically flipping the upper block portion115A, its shape differs in that its dimensions in the connector-width direction are smaller than those of the upper block portion115A.

While the shape of the lower guided portion116B and the lower restricted portion117B are respectively obtained by vertically flipping the upper guided portion116A and the upper restricted portion117A, their shapes differ in that their dimensions in the connector-width direction are larger than those of said upper guided portion116A and upper restricted portion117A to the same extent that the lower block portion115B is narrower in width as discussed above.

In the female-side narrow mating area, between the first terminal retaining wall111A and the second terminal retaining wall111B, the housing110has formed therein an upper narrow blade-receiving space114D that extends along the bottom face of said first terminal retaining wall111A and is intended to receive the front end portion of the first narrow blade60A of the male connector1, and, below said upper narrow blade-receiving space114D, has formed therein a female-side upper narrow mating area corresponding to the male-side upper narrow mating area of the male connector1. In said female-side upper narrow mating area, there is formed an upper guided portion116C that constitutes a space extending in the forward-backward direction (Y-axis direction).

A middle narrow blade-receiving space114E, which is intended to receive the respective front end sections of the second narrow blade60B, third narrow blade60C, and the middle partition18B of the male connector1, is formed between the second terminal retaining wall111B and the third terminal retaining wall111C in the female-side narrow mating area.

A lower narrow blade-receiving space114F, which extends along the top face of the fourth terminal retaining wall111D and is intended to receive the front end portion of the fourth narrow blade60D of the male connector1, and, above said lower narrow blade-receiving space114F, a female-side lower narrow mating area, which corresponds to the male-side lower narrow mating area of the male connector1, are formed between the third terminal retaining wall111C and said fourth terminal retaining wall111D in the female-side narrow region. In said female-side lower wide mating area, there is formed a lower guided portion116D that constitutes a space extending in the forward-backward direction.

The female terminals120are provided divided into a total of eight group of terminals, with four groups of terminals in the up-down direction and two groups of terminals in the connector-width direction, in alignment with the wide blades20A to20D and narrow blades60A to60B of the male connector, and are press-fitted into the respective terminal retaining grooves111A-1to111D-1of the terminal retaining walls111A to111D from the front and retained therein. The multiple female terminals120of each respective terminal group include signal terminals and ground terminals. In each respective terminal group, said signal terminals and said ground terminals are arranged in an order corresponding to the signal terminals and ground terminals of the male connector1. In the present embodiment, whenever it is necessary to distinguish the female terminals120of each terminal group for ease of discussion, said female terminals120, starting from the topmost terminal group in the female-side wide mating area, are referred to as the “first female terminals120A”, “second female terminals120B”, “third female terminals120C”, and “fourth female terminals120D”, and furthermore, starting from the topmost terminal group in the female-side narrow mating area, as the “first female terminals120E”, “second female terminals120F”, “third female terminals120G”, and “fourth female terminals120H”. In addition, the letters “A” to “H” are also respectively attached to each part of the female terminals120.

As can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the female terminals120, which are fabricated by bending metal strip-like pieces in the through-thickness direction, have a resilient arm portion121, which extends in the forward-backward direction, a retained portion122, which is a continuation of said resilient arm portion121and is retained by press-fitting in the front portion of the housing110, and a connecting portion123, which is bent and extends at a right angle at the front end of said retained portion122(end on the X2 side inFIG. 2andFIG. 3), and which is solder-connected to corresponding circuits on a circuit board (not shown).

The resilient arm portions121A to121H are resiliently deformable in the through-thickness direction (up-down direction inFIG. 2andFIG. 3), and female contact portions121A-1to121H-1resiliently contactable with the male terminals30A to30D of the connector1are formed by bending in their free end portions. Specifically, as can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the female contact portions121A-1,121B-1,121E-1, and121F-1of the resilient arm portions121A,121B,121E, and121F are formed to protrude downwardly, and the female contact portions121C-1,121D-1,121G-1, and121H-1of the resilient arm portions121C,121D,121G, and121H are formed to protrude upwardly.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the connecting portions123A to123H are positioned forwardly of the front face of the housing110(on the X2 side inFIG. 2andFIG. 3), with the connecting portions123A,123B,123E, and123F extending upwardly and the connecting portions123C,123D,123G, and123H extending downwardly.

The mounting members130, which are used to fixedly mount the female connector2to a circuit board, are made of sheet metal material and, as can be seen inFIGS. 1 to 3, are retained in place by the mounting portions112A of the lateral walls112of the housing110so as to protrude forwardly of the front face of the housing110.

The thus-configured female connector2is mounted to a circuit board by disposing it on a mounting face of a circuit board (not shown), solder-connecting the respective connecting portions123A to123H of the female terminals120A to120H to the corresponding circuits of the circuit board and, at the same time, solder-connecting the mounting members130to the corresponding portions of the circuit board.

The operation of mating the male connector1and the female connector2will be described below. First, the male connector1and the female connector2are respectively mounted to the mounting faces of the corresponding circuit boards in accordance with the previously described procedure. Then, as can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the guiding portion of the female connector2is placed in a face-to-face relationship with the guiding portion of the male connector1at a location forward of the male connector1.

Next, as indicated by arrows inFIGS. 1 to 3, the female connector2is moved rearwardly toward the male connector1and the guiding portion of the female connector2is mated with the guiding portion of the male connector1. Specifically, first, the female connector2is guided toward the regular mating position as the corresponding guiding portions14A,14B of the male connector1enter the guided portions116A,116B of the female connector2from the rear.

In addition, when the connectors are mated, the restricted faces of the block portions115A,115B of the female connector2abut the corresponding restricting faces of the guiding portions14A,14B of the male connector1, the restricted faces of the guided portions116A,116B of the female connector2abut the corresponding restricting faces of the guiding portions14A,14B of the male connector1, and the restricted faces of the restricted portions117A,117B of the female connector2abut the restricting faces of the corresponding restricting portions15A,15B of the male connector1, as a result of which the movement of the female connector2in the connector-width direction is restricted and the connector is maintained in the regular mating position.

When connector mating is performed in the regular mating position, the front end section of the arm-portion blade20A-1of the first wide blade20A of the male connector1enters the upper wide blade-receiving space114A of the female connector2from the rear. In addition, the respective front end sections of the wide blades20B,20C and the middle partition18B of the male connector1enter the middle wide blade-receiving space114B of the female connector2from the rear. Further, the front end section of the arm-portion blade20D-1of the fourth wide blade20D is inserted into the lower wide blade-receiving space114C of the female connector2.

In addition, the front end section of the arm-portion blade60E-1of the first narrow blade60E of the male connector1enters the upper narrow blade-receiving space114D of the female connector2from the rear. Further, the respective front end sections of the middle partition18B and the arm-portion blades60E-1and60G-1of the narrow blades60F,60G of the male connector1enter the middle narrow blade-receiving space114E of the female connector2from the rear. Further, the front end section of the arm-portion blade60H-1of the fourth narrow blade60H is inserted into the lower narrow blade-receiving space114F of the female connector2.

As a result, the male contact portions31A-1to31D-1and71A-1to71D-1of the male terminals30A to30D and70A to70D of the arm-portion blades20A-1to20D-1and60A-1to60D-1respectively abut the female contact portions121A-1to121H-1of the resilient arm portions121A to121H of the corresponding female terminals120A to120H and cause said resilient arm portions121A to121H to undergo resilient deformation while coming into contact with said female contact portions121A-1to121H-1under contact pressure to establish electrical communication, thereby completing the operation of connector mating.

Although the present embodiment has described a connector holding multiple blades, the present invention is also applicable to a connector holding a single blade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS