Patent Publication Number: US-7581986-B2

Title: Surface-mounted connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a surface-mounted connector mounted on a substrate by soldering fixing metal members, which are respectively attached to both ends of a connector housing, to a substrate. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a conventional surface-mounted connector described in Patent Document 1. This surface-mounted connector has an insulating resin connector housing  101 , which is formed like a substantially rectangular box and is put on a substrate  110 , and fixing metal members  103  fixed to side walls of the connector housing  101  by being respectively press-fit into mounting portions  102  provided on outer surfaces of the side walls of the connector housing  101 . 
   Each of the fixing metal members  103  is formed by folding a strip-shaped metal plate cross-sectionally substantially like a letter “L”. Each of the fixing metal members  103  has a substrate fixing portion  103   a  to be soldered to a surface of the substrate  110 , and a housing attachment portion  103   b  to be attached to an associated one of the mounting portions  102 . The surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 9  is mounted on the substrate  110  by soldering the substrate fixing portions  103   a  of the fixing metal members  103  to the substrate  110 . 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate another example of the conventional surface-mounted connector.  FIG. 10A  is a perspective view thereof.  FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the fixing member. Similarly, in the case of this surface-mounted connector, an L-shaped fixing metal member  123  is inserted from above into each of mounting portions  122  respectively provided on side walls of both ends of a connector housing  121 . Then, a housing attachment portion  123   a  of each of the fixing metal members  123  is engaged with an associated one of the mounting portions  122  of the connector housing  121 . Further, a substrate fixing portion  123   b  thereof is soldered to the substrate. Thus, this surface-mounted connector is mounted on the substrate. 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate another conventional surface-mounted connector.  FIG. 11A  is a top view thereof.  FIG. 11B  is a bottom view thereof. This surface-mounted connector is constructed so that fitting metal members  153  are press-fit from below into side walls of both ends of a connector housing  151  on which terminals  152  are mounted. 
   Patent Document 1: JP-A-2006-31944 
   Meanwhile, in the case of each of the conventional connectors illustrated in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 A and  10 B, in which each of the fixing metal members  103  and  123  is press-fit into an associated one of the side walls of the connector housings  101  and  121  from above, each of these conventional connectors has a problem in that the outer shape of the entire conventional connector is large because each of the mounting portions  102  and  122  is formed on the outer surface of an associated one of the side walls of the connector housings  101  and  121 . In addition, each of these conventional connectors has another problem in that because each of these conventional connectors has a structure in which each of the fixing metal members  102  and  123  is inserted into an associated one of the mounting portions  102  and  122  from above, the area of each of the substrate fixing portions  103   a  and  123   b  of the fixing metal members  103  and  123  cannot be increased, and that a large force for fixing the connector to the substrate cannot be obtained. 
   Further, in the case of the conventional connector illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , in which each of the fixing metals  153  is simply press-fit into the connector housing  151  from below in the conventional connector housing  151 , this conventional connector has problems in that the fixing metal members  153  easily slip off the connector housing  151 , and that a force for holding the fixing metal members  153  is weak. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is accomplished in the aforementioned view. An object of the invention is to provide a surface-mounted connector that can surely prevent the slip-off of a fixing metal member of a connector, which is inserted into a connector housing thereof from below, by simultaneously suppressing increase in the dimensions of the outer shape of the connector, and that can also assure a force for reliably and fixedly mounting the connector on a substrate. 
   To achieve the foregoing object, a surface-mounted connector according to the invention is featured in configurations respectively described in the following items (1) and (2). 
   (1) A surface-mounted connector, mounted on a surface of a substrate by being soldered to the substrate, having a connecting concave portion into which a mating connector is fit. This surface-mounted connector is featured by comprising 
   a connector housing having side walls respectively provided at both ends thereof such that a slot is formed in each of the side walls so as to extend upwardly from a bottom surface of an associated one of the side walls, which faces a substrate when the surface-mounted connector is mounted on the substrate, 
   a plurality of terminals mounted on a portion of the connector housing, which is located between the side walls, and 
   two fixing metal members formed by folding each of two metal plates cross-sectionally substantially like a letter “L”, Further, this surface-mounted connector is featured in 
   that each of the fixing metal members includes a substrate fixing portion, a bent portion which is continuously connected to the substrate fixing portion and is cross-sectionally substantially L-shaped, and a housing attachment portion which is continuously connected to the bent portion and is provided so as to be erected via the bent portion with respect to the substrate fixing portion, 
   that each of the fixing metal members is fixed to the connector housing by inserting an associated one of the housing attachment portions into an associated one of the slots from below an associated one of the side walls, 
   that each of the substrate fixing portions of the fixing metal members is a portion to be soldered to the substrate so as to fix the surface-mounted connector to the substrate, 
   that in each of the housing attachment portions of the fixing metal members, a slit extending from a top of the housing attachment portion towards an associated one of the bent portions is formed in a central part in a width direction of the housing attachment portion so as to form a pair of both side arms into which the housing attachment portion is laterally divided, 
   that a hook is formed at a top portion of each of the arms of the pairs so as to protrude outwardly and largely from a width of an associated one of the arms and to engage with a top of an associated one of the slots when an associated one of the fixing metal members is inserted into the associated one of the arms, thereby to prevent the associated one of fixing metal members from downwardly slipping off the associated one of the slots, 
   that the pairs of the arms are configured so that when each of the hooks passes through an associated one of the slots, the pairs of the arms are inwardly bent so as to permit each of the hooks to pass therethrough, and that after each of the hooks passes through the associated one of the slots, the pairs of the arms are restored from an inwardly bent state, thereby to engage each of the hooks with an associated one of the tops of the slots, 
   that an engaging projection portion, which protrudes towards the connecting concave portion and is supported displaceably in a direction perpendicular to an inner wall of an associated one of the slots, is provided on the inner wall of the associated one of the slots, and 
   that each of the engaging projection portions is pushed out towards a corresponding one of the slots by the mating connector to be fit into the connecting concave portion, and is fit into the slit of an associated one of the fixing metal members, which is inserted into a corresponding one of the slots, to thereby prevent the arms from being inwardly bent. 
   (2) In the aforementioned configuration (1), the engaging projection portion is formed in the engaging arm which has an end connected to an associated one of the side walls of the connector housing and which is formed swingably and integrally therewith. 
   The surface-mounted connector having the aforementioned configuration described in the item (1) can fix the fixing metal to the connector housing to prevent the slip-off of the fixing metal from the connector housing by inserting each of the housing attachment portions of the fixing metal members into an associated one of the slots formed on the connector housings and by inserting the mating connector into the connecting concave portion. That is, when the housing attachment portions of each of the fixing metal members are inserted into the associated one of the slots, first, the both side arms are inwardly bent, so that the hooks pass through the associated one of the slots. Then, when the hooks pass through the slots and when the arms are restored from the bent state, the hooks engage with the tops of the associated one of the slots. Subsequently, when the mating connector is inserted into the connecting concave portion of the connector housing, each of the engaging projection portions is pushed out by the mating connector towards the associated slot and is fit into the opened slit of the associated housing attachment portion. Thus, the engaging projection portions prevent the arms from being inwardly bent. 
   Accordingly, the hooks are engaged with the tops of an associated one of the slots to thereby prevent the slip-off of the fixing metal members from the connector housing. Each of the engaging projection portions is fit into the associated slit. Further, the arms are restrained from being inwardly bent. Thus, the hooks are prevented from being disengaged from the top of the associated slot. Accordingly, each of the fixing metal members is doubly locked. Consequently, even in a case where a load acting in a slip-off direction is applied to each of the fixing metal members, the prevention of the slip-off of the fixing metal members can surely be achieved by the action of the engaging projection portions. After each of the fixing metal members is inserted into the associated slot, the engaging projection portions are fit into the slits. Thus, a force required to insert the fixing metal members into the slots can be suppressed as much as possible. Consequently, the surface-mounted connector can smoothly be mounted on the substrate. 
   Further, the surface-mounted connector according to the invention has a structure in which the fixing metal members are inserted from below into the connector housing. Thus, as compared with the structure in which the fixing metal members are inserted into the mounting portions from above, the structure according to the invention can reduce the size of the slots serving as the mounting portions. Consequently, increase in the dimensions of the outer shape of the connector housing can be suppressed. In addition, the area of the substrate fixing portion of each of the fixing metal members can be increased. Accordingly, the surface-mounted connector according to the invention can reliably be fixed to the substrate. 
   In the case of the surface-mounted connector having the configuration described in the item (2), when the mating connector is inserted into the connecting concave portion of the connector housing, the engaging projection portion of each of the engaging arms formed swingably and integrally with the connector housing is pushed out towards the associated slot and is fit into the opened slit of the associated housing attachment portion. Consequently, the engaging projection portions prevent the arms from being inwardly bent. Thus, the engaging arms each having the engaging projection portion are formed integrally with the connector housing. Accordingly, a highly reliable structure for preventing the slip-off of the fixing metal members can be obtained without increasing the size of the connector housing. 
   According to the invention, the slip-off of a fixing member, which is inserted into a connector housing from below, can surely be prevented by simultaneously suppressing increase in the dimensions of the outer shape of the connector. In addition, a force for reliably and fixedly mounting the connector on a substrate can be assured. 
   In the foregoing description, the invention has briefly been described. However, details of the invention will be further clarified by reading thorough the following description of a best mode for carrying out the invention by referring to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a surface-mounted connector according to an embodiment of the invention and a connector to be connected thereto. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a place at which the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1  is mounted on a substrate. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a structure for fixing the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 2  to the substrate. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a fixing metal member to be inserted into a slot of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view, taken from a front side, illustrating this fixing metal member.  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view, taken from a rear side, illustrating this fixing metal member. 
       FIG. 5  is a partially cross-sectional perspective view illustrating an engaging structure of the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a partially cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a method for engaging the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is another partially cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the method for engaging the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1  engages with a mating connector. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a conventional surface-mounted connector. 
       FIG. 10A  is a perspective view illustrating another conventional surface-mounted connector.  FIG. 10B  is a perspective view illustrating a fixing metal member of this conventional surface-mounted connector. 
       FIG. 11A  is a top view illustrating another conventional surface-mounted connector.  FIG. 11B  is a bottom view illustrating this conventional surface-mounted connector. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a surface-mounted connector according to an embodiment of the invention and a connector to be connected thereto.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a place at which the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1  is mounted on a substrate.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a structure for fixing the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 2  to the substrate.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a fixing metal member to be inserted into a slot of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view, taken from a front side, illustrating this fixing metal member.  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view, taken from a rear side, illustrating this fixing metal member.  FIG. 5  is a partially cross-sectional perspective view illustrating an engaging structure of the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is a partially cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a method for engaging the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is another partially cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the method for engaging the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fixing metal member of the surface-mounted connector illustrated in  FIG. 1  engages with a mating connector. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , this surface-mounted connector includes a connector housing  1  formed using an insulating resin, a plurality of terminals  2  mounted on the connector housing  1 , a pair of fixing metal members  10  respectively attached to both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface of the connector housing  1 . This surface-mounted connector is mounted on a surface of the substrate by soldering the fixing metal members  10  to the substrate. 
   A connecting concave portion  4  is formed in the connector housing  1 . A mating connector  5  is fit into this connecting concave portion  4 . A female terminal  7  connected to an electric wire  6  is accommodated in the mating connector  5 . The female terminal  7  is connected to the terminal  2  by fitting the mating connector  5  into the connecting concave portion  4  of the connector housing  1 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a slot  21  is formed on each of both side portions of the connector housing  1  such that the slot  21  upwardly extends from the bottom surface of the connector housing  1 , which faces a substrate (not shown) on which this connector is mounted. This slot  21  includes a pair of locking blocks  22  formed on each sidewall  1   a  of the connector housing  1 . These locking blocks  22  respectively include engaging grooves  23  formed to extend along an up-down direction in parallel to each other. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , each of the fixing metal members  10  formed by folding a strip-shaped metal plate cross-sectionally substantially like a letter “L”. Each of the fixing metal members  10  includes a substrate fixing portion  11  to be soldered to a surface of the substrate, and a housing attachment portion  12  to be fixed to the connector housing  1  by being erected via a bent portion flexed at a substantially right angle to this substrate fixing portion  11  and by being inserted from below, as indicated by an arrow designated with katakana character “ ” in  FIG. 3 , into the engaging groove  23  of the engaging block  22  of the associated slot  21 . 
   Further, in the housing attachment portion  12  of the fixing metal member  10 , a slit  14  is formed in a central part in the width direction of the fixing metal member  10  so as to extend from the top thereof towards the bent portion. Thus, the housing attachment portion  12  is divided into a pair of both side arms  13 . A hook  13   a  is formed at the top portion of each arm  13  so as to protrude outwardly therefrom by an amount being larger than the width of each inlet portion of the slot  21 , and as to engage with the top of the slot  21  when the hook  13   a  is inserted into the slot  21 , thereby to prevent the fixing metal member  10  from downwardly slipping off the slot  21 . Furthermore, on an outer edge of the top portion of each of the arms  13 , a guide chamfered portion  13   b  for facilitating the insertion of the associated arm  13  into the associated inlet portion of the slot  21  is provided. 
   Additionally, paired both-side arms  13  are constructed so that when each hook  13   a  is passed through the associated inlet portion of the slot  21 , an associated one of the arms  13  is inwardly bent thereby to allow each hook  13   a  to pass therethrough, and that after the hooks  13   a  are respectively passed through the inlet portions of the slot  21 , the arms  13  are restored from the inwardly bent state to thereby engage the hooks  13   a  with the tops of the slot  21 , respectively. 
   Each sidewall  1   a  of the connector housing  1  is formed integrally with an engaging arm  31  bent like a letter “L”. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , this engaging arm  31  extends to the front side of the connector housing  1  from a base end thereof connected to the associated sidewall  1   a  by being slightly inclined to the connecting concave portion  4 . Further, this engaging arm  31  is downwardly bent therefrom. Consequently, a leading end side portion of this engaging arm  31  is slightly protruded to the inside of the connecting concave portion  4 . Additionally, a bent portion downwardly flexed at the front end of the engaging arm  31  is formed as an engaging projection portion  31   a , and is arranged to be substantially flush with the associated sidewall  1   a  of the connector housing  1 . 
   Next, an operation of the surface-mounted connector is described below. In this surface-mounted connector, the housing attachment portion  12  of each of the fixing metal members  10  is inserted into the associated slot  21  formed on the connector housing  1 . Then, a mating connector  5  is inserted into the connecting concave portion  4 . Thus, the fixing metal members  10  can be fixed to the connector housing  1  so as to be prevented from slipping off the connector housing  1 . 
   That is, when the housing attachment portion  12  of each of the fixing metal members  10  is inserted into the associated slot  21 , first, the both-side arms  13  enter the engaging groove  23  and are inwardly bent, so that the hooks  13   a  pass through the inlet portions of the slots  21 , respectively. When each of the housing attachment portions  12  is further inserted thereinto, the top portions of the arms  13  are restored from a state in which the arms  13  are inwardly bent by passing the engaging groove  23 . Thus, the hooks  13   a  engage with the tops of the slots  21 . 
   In this state, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the mating connector  5  is inserted into the connecting concave portion  4  of the connector housing  1 . 
   Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the mating connector  5  inserted into this connecting concave portion  4  abuts against the engaging arms  31  protruded into the connecting concave portion  4 . 
   When the mating connector  5  is further pushed into the connecting concave portion  4 , the engaging arms  31  are pushed outwardly therefrom. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , each of the engaging convex portions  31   a  of the engaging arms  31  is pushed out to the associated slot  21  and is fit into the opened slit  14  of the housing attachment portion  12  of an associated one of the fixing metal members  10 . 
   Consequently, the fixing metal member  10  is prevented from being bent to the inside of each of the arms  13  of the housing attachment portion  12  of the fixing metal member  10 . 
   Accordingly, each of the hooks  13   a  is engaged with the top of the associated slot  21 . Consequently, each of the fixing metal members  10  is prevented from slipping off the associated slot  21  of the connector housing  1 . The engaging projection portion  31   a  of each of the engaging arms  31  is fit into the associated slit  14 . Thus, each of the engaging projection portions  31   a  is restrained from inwardly being bent. Consequently, the hooks  13   a  are prevented from being disengaged from the top of each of the slots  21 . Thus, the fixing metal members  10  are doubly locked. Accordingly, for example, even in a case where the electric wire  6  of the mating connector  5  is pulled, so that a load acting in a slip-off direction is applied to the fixing metal member  10 , the slip-off of the fixing metal member  10  can surely be prevented by the action of the engaging projection portions  31   a . Further, after each of the fixing metal members  10  is inserted into the associated slot  21 , the associated engaging projection portion  31   a  is fit into the associated slit  14 . Thus, a force required to insert each of the fixing metal members  10  into the associated slot  21  can be suppressed as much as possible. Consequently, the surface-mounted connector can smoothly be mounted on the substrate. 
   Further, the surface-mounted connector has a structure in which each of the fixing metal members  10  is inserted from below into the associated one of the slots  21 . Thus, the size of each of the slots  21  serving as the mounting portions can be reduced. Consequently, increase in the dimensions of the outer shape of the connector housing  1  can be suppressed. In addition, the area of the substrate fixing portion  11  of each of the fixing metal members  10  can be increased. Accordingly, the surface-mounted connector can surely be fixed to the substrate. 
   Moreover, each engaging arm  31  having the engaging projection portion  31   a  is formed integrally with the connector housing  1 . Thus, increase in the size of the connector housing  1  is not caused. Consequently, the invention can obtain a highly reliable structure for preventing the slip-off of the fixing metal members  10 . 
   Incidentally, the invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments. Appropriate modification, improvement, and the like can be made. In addition, the materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, locations, and the like of constituent elements are optional and are not limited to specific ones, as long as the invention can be implemented.