Patent Publication Number: US-6709293-B2

Title: Printed-circuit board connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a printed-circuit board connector. 
     In the prior art, a printed-circuit board connector has a case and two screw fastening portions, which extend from two sides of the case. The connector is mounted on a printed-circuit board by fastening the screw fastening portions to the board with screws. 
     However, the screws used to fix the connector increase the number of required components. Further, the screw fastening operation increases the number of operations required to mount the connector to the printed-circuit board. In addition, the screw fastening portions, which extend from the sides of the connector main body, increases the area occupied by the connector on the printed-circuit board. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a printed-circuit board connector that is easily mounted on a printed-circuit board and has a decreased printed-circuit board occupying area. 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a connector mounted on a printed-circuit board. The connector includes a case, a plurality of terminals extending from the case, and a coupler for coupling the case to the printed-circuit board. The coupler includes a base arranged on a bottom surface of the case, and at least one metal plate arranged on the base and partially inserted through the printed-circuit board. The base and the at least one metal plate are arranged within an area defined by the case and the terminals. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG.  1 ( a ) is a rear view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  1 ( b ) is a side view showing the connector of FIG.  1 ( a ); 
     FIG.  2 ( a ) is a plan view showing the connector of FIG.  1 ( a ); 
     FIG.  2 ( b ) is a bottom view showing the connector of FIG.  1 ( a ); 
     FIG.  3 ( a ) is a rear view showing a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention before the connector is mounted on a printed-circuit board; 
     FIG.  3 ( b ) is a rear view showing the connector of FIG.  3 ( a ) after the connector is mounted on the printed-circuit board; and 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the drawings, like numerals are used for like elements throughout. 
     A printed-circuit board female connector  11  according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to FIGS.  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ),  2 ( a ), and  2 ( b ). 
     Referring to FIGS.  1 ( a ) and  1 ( b ), the printed-circuit board female connector  11  includes a resin box-like case  12  and a coupler  13 . 
     The coupler  13  includes an elongated parallelepiped-like base  13   a , a support  13   b , and metal plates  15 . The base  13   a  is made of resin and formed integrally with the case  12 . The support  13   b  is made of resin and formed integrally with the base  13   a.    
     As shown in FIGS.  1 ( b ) and  2 ( a ), a projection  12   a  extends from one side of the case  12 . A plurality of (in this case, five) metal terminals  14 , which are spaced from one another by predetermined intervals, extend from the projection  12   a . The middle portion of each terminal  14  is bent at a substantially right angle. 
     As shown in FIG.  1 ( a ), a socket  12   b , which receives a male connector (not shown), is defined in the side of the case  12  that is opposite to the projection  12   a . A plurality of (in this case, five) fitting portions  14   a  are formed in the inner surface of the socket  12   b . The fitting portions  14   a  are made of metal and are electrically connected to the basal end of each terminal  14 . 
     The base  13   a  is formed on the bottom surface (as viewed in FIGS.  1 ( a ) and  1 ( b )) of the case  12 . One end of the base  13   a  extends from the case  12  in the same direction as the terminals  14 . The end is located under the projection  12   a . As shown in FIGS.  2 ( a ) and  2 ( b ), the longer sides of the base  13   a  are shorter than the case  12 . In other words, the base  13   a  has two short side surfaces that are located inward from two corresponding side surfaces of the case  12 . A rectangular opening  13   c  is formed in each short side surface of the base  13   a . In each opening  13   c , one of the flat metal plates  15  is press-fitted and fixed. 
     Each metal plate  15 , which extends from the base  13   a  in the longitudinal direction of the base  13   a , is bent in a direction opposite to the bottom surface of the case  12  at a substantially right angle to form a bent portion  15   a . The distal end of each metal plate  15  is tapered. The bent portion  15   a  of each metal plate  15  is inserted in a hole formed in a printed-circuit board P. It is preferred that the distance between the bent portions  15   a  of the two metal plates  15  be substantially the same as the length of the case  12 . That is, each metal plate  15  is bent at a predetermined position so that the distance between the two bent portions  15   a  is substantially the same as the length of the case  12 . As shown in FIG.  1 ( b ), the surface of each metal plate  15  facing the terminals  14  is substantially flush with the surface of the case  12  facing the terminals  14 . Thus, the metal plates  15  are located as close as possible to the terminals  14 . 
     As shown in FIG.  2 ( b ), the support  13   b  is formed on the base  13   a  at the middle portion of the bottom surface. The support  13   b  is separated from the center of the base  13   a  toward the center of the case  12 . The support  13   b  has two resin flexible pieces  13   d , which extend vertically from the bottom surface of the base  13   a . The two flexible pieces  13   d  are opposed to each other and are each semi-cylindrical. A protrusion  13   e  is formed on the distal end of each flexible piece  13   d . The two protrusions  13   e  face opposite directions. Further, each protrusion  13   e  is separated from the basal end of the associated flexible piece  13   d  by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the printed-circuit board P. The two flexible pieces  13   d  are inserted through the printed-circuit board P and are slightly longer than the bent portions  15   a  of the metal plates  15 . The two bent portions  15   a  and the two flexible pieces  13   d  are inserted through the printed-circuit board P to temporarily fix the case  12  to the printed circuit board P. 
     Two grooves  13   f  are formed in the bottom surface of the base  13   a  with the support  13   b  located in between. The grooves  13   f  extend parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base  13   a.    
     The procedure for coupling the female connector  11  to the printed-circuit board P will now be described. 
     The printed-circuit board P, which has a plurality of holes (not shown) associated with the support  13   b , the terminals  14 , and the metal plates  15 , is first prepared. The female connector  11  is arranged above the printed-circuit board P so that the bottom surface of the base  13   a  faces the printed circuit board P. Then, the support  13   b , the terminals  14 , and the metal plates  15  are inserted in the associated holes. In this state, the two flexible pieces  13   d  of the support  13   b  are flexed toward each other when inserted through the associated holes. As the flexible pieces  13   d  extend out of the printed-circuit board P, the flexible pieces  13   d  return to their original state from the flexed state. This hooks the protrusions  13   e  to the bottom surface of the printed-circuit board P. As a result, the female connector  11  is temporarily fixed to the printed-circuit board P so that it does not fall out of the board P. When the female connector  11  is in a temporarily fixed state, the metal plates  15  and the terminals  14  extend out of the bottom surface of the printed-circuit board P, as shown in FIG.  1 ( a ). 
     Then, flow soldering is performed to solder the metal plates  15  and the terminals  14  to the bottom surface of the printed-circuit board P. When doing so, the female connector  11  is held in the temporarily fixed state by the two protrusions  13   e  engaging the bottom surface of the printed-circuit board P. Thus, soldering is easily and stably performed. The coupling of the female connector  11  is completed in this manner. 
     Subsequently, when using the female connector  11 , a male connecter (not shown) is fitted to the socket  12   b . When doing so, the metal plates  15  and the support  13   b  absorb the force applied to the female connector  11 . Therefore, the force applied to the terminals  14  is relatively small when the male connector is attached to or detached from the female connector. 
     The female connector  11  of the first embodiment has the advantages described below. 
     (1) The base  13   a  is formed integrally with the bottom surface of the case  12 , and the two metal plates  15  are attached to the sides of the base  13   a . The distance between the bent portions  15   a  of the two metal plates  15  is substantially the same as the length of the case  12 . Accordingly, the connector  11  is easily mounted on the printed-circuit board P without using screws. Further, the area of the printed-circuit board P occupied by the connector  11  is decreased. 
     When projected toward the printed-circuit board P, the projected area of the connector  11  is defined by the contour of the case  12  and the terminals  14 . A portion of the base  13   a  extends from the bottom surface of the case  12  within the contour. Thus, the coupler  13  including the base  13   a  is mostly arranged in the projection area. This increases the area of the printed-circuit board to which components may be mounted. 
     (2) The protrusions  13   e  formed on the flexible pieces  13   d  hold the connector  11  on the printed-circuit board P. That is, the connector  11  is temporarily fixed in a state in which the metal plates  15  and the terminals  14  are inserted in the holes of the printed-circuit board P. This reduces the number of operations required to mount the female connector  11  on the printed-circuit board P in comparison to the mounting procedure of the prior art that uses screws. 
     (3) The metal plates  15  and the terminals  14  are soldered to the printed-circuit board P in a state in which the female connector  11  is temporarily fixed to the printed-circuit board P. Thus, the female connector  11  is securely mounted on the printed-circuit board. 
     (4) The two metal plates  15  are located near the terminals  14 . Accordingly, when a male connector is attached to or detached from the female connector  11 , the metal plates  15  absorb most of the force applied to the female connector  11 . Thus, the force applied to the terminals  14  is relatively small. 
     (5) The support  13   b  and the metal plates  15  are separated from the center of the case  12  and located near the terminals  14 . Thus, even if force acting in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.  2 ( a ), is applied to the female connector  11  when the male connector is attached or detached, the support  13   b  and the metal plates  15  absorb the force. Thus, the force applied to the terminals  14  is rather small. 
     (6) The metal plates  15  are formed separately from the base  13   a . This inhibits the transmission of heat to the case  12  during soldering. 
     It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Particularly, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in the following forms. 
     (A) With reference to FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ), a single metal plate  25  may be insert molded in the base  13   a . In this case, the single flat metal plate  25  is insert molded so that the two ends of the metal plate  25  extend out of the base  13   a . The two extending portions of the metal plates  25  are bent to form two bent portions  25   a . The distance between the two bent portions  25   a  is substantially the same as the length of the case  12 . The metal plates  25 , the support  13   b , and the terminals  14  are inserted through associated holes of the printed-circuit board P so that the female connector  11  is temporarily fixed to the printed-circuit board. The insert molding of the single metal plate  25  in the base  13   a  eliminates the press-fitting operation of the first embodiment in which the metal plates  15  are press-fitted in the openings  13   c.    
     (B) With reference to FIG. 4, two metal plates  35  may be insert-molded in the base  13   a . Each metal plate  35  extends vertically from the bottom surface of the base  13   a  at one of the two ends of the base  13   a . In this case, the surface of the base  13   a  facing the terminals  14  is substantially flush with the surface of the case  12  facing the terminals  14 . Accordingly, the coupler  13  does not overhang from the case  12 . Since the two metal plates  35  are insert molded in the base  13   a , the press-fitting and bending operations of the metal plates  15  in the first embodiment are eliminated. 
     (C) Instead of using the metal plates  15 , only one metal plate  15  may be used. In this case, the opening  13   c  extends through the base  13   a , and the single metal plate  15  is press-fitted in the opening  13   c  so that the ends of the metal plate  15  extend out of the base  13   a . The two portions extending out of the metal plate  15  are bent to form two bent portions  15   a . The distance between the two bent portions  15   a  is substantially the same as the length of the case  12 . 
     (D) The distance between the two holes of the printed-circuit board P associated with the metal plates  15  may be slightly greater than or less than the distance between the two bent portions  15   a . In this case, the two metal plates  15  are inserted in the associated holes of the printed-circuit board P in a flexed state. The flexing of the metal plates  15  produces a resilient force. The resilient force fixes the metal plates  15  in the associated holes of the printed-circuit board P. 
     (E) The two metal plates  15  may extend from the longer sides of the base  13   a  instead of the shorter sides of the base  13   a . In this case, it is preferred that the metal plates  15  do not overhang from the contour of the case  12  and the terminals  14 . This arranges the coupler  13 , which includes the metal plates  15 , within the area where the female connector  11  is projected on the printed-circuit board P. 
     (F) The number of the metal plates  15  is not limited to one or two and may be three or more. 
     (G) The metal plates  15  and the support  13   b  may be arranged along the same line. 
     (H) The support  13   b  does not necessarily have to have the protrusions  13   e.    
     (I) The support  13   b  may be eliminated. 
     (J) The support  13   b  may be shorter than the bent portions  15   a  of the metal plates  15 . 
     (K) Instead of flow soldering, reflow soldering may be performed to solder the female connector  11 . 
     The present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.