Patent Publication Number: US-2016240944-A1

Title: Connector Assembly and Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. §119 (a)-(d) of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-027764, dated Feb. 16, 2015. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector assembly and, more particularly, to a connector assembly having a pair of connectors mated with each other. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Connector assemblies having a pair of connectors that are mounted on substrates (including flexible printed circuits), respectively, and mated with each other are commonly used. However, such connector assemblies are frequently required to be reduced in size and reduced in height. Further, in recent years, many connector assemblies require multi-polarization. As a result, when a pair of connectors is mated with each other, a predetermined tolerance is required regarding a misalignment to each other. That is, such a structure is required that, even when mating has been performed in a state where misalignment to each other has occurred, the connectors are induced to a right mating position to be mated with each other correctly. 
     In Japanese Patent Application JP 2014-199799 A, a connector having support metal fittings with a guide portion inclined inward to induce a mating connector to a right mating position at both end portions of a housing in a longitudinal direction of the housing is disclosed. 
     However, the support metal fitting provided in the disclosed connector is formed by bending. Therefore, sheared faces are exposed at corners of an upper face of the support metal fitting. When a mating connector mated with this connector is mated with the connector during misalignment to each other, a resin-made housing comes in contact with the support metal fitting. Therefore, there is a possibility that the housing is shaved or deformed by the sheared face of the support metal fitting. 
     As a result, it is considered that the mating connector mated with the connector provided with the support metal fittings is also provided with support metal fittings at portions coming in contact with the support metal fittings of the connector. However, even in this case, when the support metal fitting of the mating connector is also formed by a bending, there is a possibility that the sheared faces of the support metal fittings of both the connectors come in contact with each other. In this case, such an event may occur that guiding function (inducing function) to a right position when a misalignment has occurred is poor. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and an object thereof is to provide a connector assembly and a connector excellent in guiding function to perform guidance to a right mating position. 
     Accordingly, a connector assembly is provided and includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first housing and a pair of first support metal fittings provided at both end portions of the first housing. Each of the pair of first support metal fittings include a pair of first bent portions positioned along sides of the first housing, a second bent portion positioned between the pair of first bent portions, and a pair of third bent portions extending between the pair of first bent portions and the second bent portion. The second connector includes a second housing with first support metal fittings receiving portions and a pair of second support metal fittings. The pair of second support metal fittings are disposed at both end portions of the second housing. Each of the pair of second support metal fitting includes a pair of first reinforcement portions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to embodiments and the appended drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a first connector of a connector assembly according to the invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of first support metal fittings of the first connector of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a second connector of the connector assembly according to the invention, which is to be mated with the first connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of second support metal fittings of the second connector of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view the connector assembly according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4 (A- 1 ) is a front perspective view of the first support metal fitting and the second support metal fitting before mating; 
         FIG. 4 (A- 2 ) is a rear perspective view of the first support metal fitting and the second support metal fitting before mating; 
         FIG. 4 (B- 1 ) is a front perspective view of the first support metal fitting and the second support metal fitting after mating; 
         FIG. 4 (B- 2 ) is a rear perspective view of the first support metal fitting and the second support metal fitting after mating; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the connector assembly according to the invention before the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the connector assembly of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8B  is an enlarged view showing the detail of section R shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of another second connector; and 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the second support metal fittings according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to the Figures. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the first connector  100  is surface-mount type connect to be mounted on a board (not shown; for example, a flexible printed circuit). The first connector  100  generally includes a first housing  110 , a plurality of contacts  120 , and a pair of support metal fittings  130 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the first housing  110  is approximately rectangular shaped. 
     The plurality of contacts  120  are arranged in two rows along two longitudinal sides of the first housing  110 , respectively. The plurality of contacts  120  include first soldering connecting portions  121  projecting from the longitudinal side to outside of the housing  110  are present in these contacts  120 . Further, the plurality of contacts  120  include second soldering connecting portions  122 , which are provided inside the first housing  110 , are also provided. The first soldering connecting portions  121  and the second soldering connecting portions  122  are arranged alternately in each row in which the plurality of contacts  120  are arranged. Further, openings  111  are provided and corresponding to the respective second soldering connecting portions  122  individually. The openings  111  allow visual inspection of soldered states of the second soldering connecting portions  122  that are formed along the first housing  110 . All of the first soldering connecting portions  121  and the second soldering connecting portions  122  are configured to be soldered to the board. 
     In addition, the first support metal fittings  130  are structural members that reinforce the mounting strength of the first housing  110  to the board. The first support metal fittings  130  provided at both end portions of the first housing  110 , along a length thereof. Each first support metal fitting  130  includes board connecting portions  131  provided along three sides thereof that correspond to an end face of the housing  110 . The board connecting portions  131  are configured to be soldered and secured to the board. That is, the first support metal fitting  130  holds the end portion of the housing  110  along a length thereof and it is soldered and secured to the board. Thereby, the first housing  110  is firmly secured to the board using the first support metal fittings  130 . 
     Here, the first support metal fittings  130  include a pair of first bent portions  132   a  bent toward the soldering connecting portion  131  along both sides of the first housing  110  with respect to a width thereof. The soldering connecting portion  131  is bent away from a second connector  200  (see  FIG. 2 ) described later in a direction of mating to the second connector  200 . 
     Further, the first support metal fitting  130  includes a second bent portion  132   b  bent toward the soldering connecting portion  131  at the end portion of the housing  110  along a length thereof. 
     Furthermore, the first support metal fitting  130  includes third bent portions  132   c  bend toward the soldering connecting portion  131  and formed at two portions in an oblique direction intersecting both of the above-described longitudinal direction and widthwise direction. This third bent portion  132   c  is a portion composed of bending continued to both of the first bent portion  132   a  which is bending in the widthwise direction and the second bent portion  132   b  which is bending along a length thereof. That is, a bent portion  132  composed of the first to third bent portions  132   a  to  132   c  continued is formed in the first support metal fitting  130 . That is, the bent portion  132  is continued from one of the first bent portions  132   a  formed in a first direction of the widthwise direction to the second bent portion  132   b  using one of the third bent portions  132   c.  In addition, the bent portion  132  is further continued from the second bent portion  132   b  to the other of the first bent portion  132   a  formed in a second direction of the widthwise direction via the other of the third bent portion  132   c.  In the shown embodiment, the continued bent portion  132  is drawn. 
     If misalignment is present when the first connector  100  is attempted to be mated with the second connector  200  (see  FIG. 2 ), any portion of the continuing bent portion  132  comes in contact with the second connector  200 . This will be described in detail later. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the second connector  200  is shown and a surface-mount type connector for mounting to a board (for example, a ridge board; not shown). The second connector  200  is to be mounted to a board different from the board on which the first connector  100  is mounted. The second connector  200  generally includes a second housing  210 , a plurality of contacts  220 , and a pair of second support metal fittings  230 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the second housing  210  is approximately rectangular shaped. The second housing  210  has receiving portions  212  disposed at both end portions of the second housing  210  along a length thereof. The pair of first support metal fittings  130  provided on the first connector  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) correspond to receive the recessed portions  212 , respectively. 
     The plurality of contacts  220  are contacts which are configured to be connected to the plurality of contacts  120  of the first connector  100 , respectively. The plurality of contacts  220  are arranged in two rows along a length thereof and in the same manner as the plurality of contacts  120  of the first connector  100 . 
     Each contact  220  includes a first soldering connecting portion  221  projecting largely from the housing  210  along a width thereof. Further, each contact includes a second soldering connecting portion  222  which does not protrude largely from the housing  210 . The plurality of contacts  220  are arranged along two rows in the embodiment shown. The plurality of contacts  220  are also arranged alternately. The first soldering connecting portions  221  and second soldering connecting portions  222  are configured to be soldered and connected on the board. 
     Further, the second support metal fittings  230  are provided at both end portions of the second housing  210  along a length thereof and they are members for reinforcing mounting strength of the second housing  210  to the board. The second support metal fitting  230  is provided with two board connecting portions  231  extending in a direction of projecting from an end face of the second housing  230  along a length thereof. Further, the second support metal fitting  230  is also provided with board connecting portions  231  extending in directions of projecting from both side faces of the second housing  210 , respectively. The second support metal fitting  230  holds the end portion of the second housing  210  along a length thereof and a total of four board connecting portions  231  are configured to be soldered and secured to the board regarding one of the second support metal fittings  230 . The second housing  210  is firmly secured to the board via the second support metal fittings  230 . 
     As shown, the second support metal fitting  230  includes a pair of first reinforcement portions  232  and a second reinforcement portion  233 . The pair of first reinforcement portions  232  reinforces both side portions defining the receiving portion  212  of the second housing  210 . Further, the second reinforcement portion  233  reinforces an end portion positioned further beyond the receiving portion  212 . The pair of first reinforcement portions  232  and the second reinforcement portion  233  have first support metal fittings receiving portions angled sections  232   a  and  233   a  constituting a downward slope toward the receiving portion  212 . In the shown embodiment, these angled sections  232   a  and  233   a  are downward slopes inducing the first support metal fitting  130  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the first connector  100  to be mated into the receiving portion  212 . 
     Here, the first reinforcement portions  232  connect to lower ends of the board connecting portions  231  and rise alongside walls of the second housing  210  to form the above-described angled sections  232   a.  These first reinforcement portions  232  further extend from the angled sections  232   a  along inner walls forming the receiving portion  212  of the second housing  210 . That is, the first reinforcement portion  232  has such a shape as to straddle a side face of the second housing  210  and the inner wall forming the receiving portion  212 . The first reinforcement portion  232  continues to the second reinforcement portion  233  in the inner wall side. 
     Further, the second reinforcement portion  233  is configured such that a lower end thereof connects to the board connecting portions  231  on the side of the end face along a length thereof and rises along the side wall of the second housing  210  to form the above-described angled section  233   a.  The second reinforcement portion  233  further extends from the angled section  233   a  along the inner wall forming the receiving portion  212  of the second housing  210 . That is, the second reinforcement portion  233  has a shape straddling the end face of the housing  210  and the inner wall forming the receiving portion  212  and similar to that of the first reinforcement portion  232 . The second reinforcement portion  233  continues to each of the pair of first reinforcement portions  232  along both sides of the inner wall side of the second reinforcement portion  233  to form the receiving portion  212  along a width thereof. 
     As shown, the second reinforcement portion  230  further includes a pair of contacts  234  electrically connected to (transmitting power to) the first reinforcement metal  130  (see  FIG. 1 ). Each of these contacts  234  has such a shape as to extend the inner wall side of each first reinforcement portion  232  inward along a length thereof of the second housing  210 . A distal end portion extending inward along a length thereof is configured to electrically connect to the first support metal fitting  130 . 
     When the contacts  234  are electrically connected to (transmit power to) the first support metal fitting  130 , the contacts  234  must come in contact with the first support metal fitting  130  through a predetermined pressure of contact. Here, in the second support metal fitting  230 , the first reinforcement portion  232  doubles as a spring applying contact pressure on the contact  234 . Thereby, the predetermined contact pressure is realized by utilizing a small space. 
     Now with reference to  FIG. 3 , a connector assembly  300  according to the invention is shown and includes the first connector  100  shown in  FIG. 1  and the second connector  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown, the first connector  100  put in such an attitude that the upper face shown in  FIG. 1  faces downward (toward the second connector  200 ) is shown. The first connector  100  is mated with the second connector  200  with this attitude at a mating time. 
     Incidentally, though a board is also not shown here, mounting is carried out such that the lower face of the first connector  100  shown so as to face upward comes in contact with the board. Further, the second connector  200  is mounted to another board different from the board of the first connector  100 , such that a lower face thereof comes in contact with the other board. 
     Now with reference to  FIGS. 4 (A- 1 ) and  4 (B- 2 ), mating between the first support metal fitting  130  and the second support metal fitting  230  will be described. The first support metal fitting  130  is fitted in a space surrounded by the pair of first reinforcement portions  232  and the second reinforcement portion  233  of the second support metal fitting  230 . In the second housing  210 , the reception space  212  (see  FIG. 2 ) receiving the first support metal fitting  230  therein is formed at a portion corresponding to the surrounded space. 
     Further, the contacts  234  provided on the second support metal fitting  230  come in contact with distal ends of the first bent portions  132   a  of the first support metal fitting  130 , so that the first support metal fitting  130  and the second support metal fitting  230  are electrically connected to each other. In the first support metal fitting  130 , the board connecting portions  131  are soldered and secured to pads on the board (not shown) on which the first connector  100  is mounted. Further, in the second support metal fitting  230 , the board connecting portions  231  are soldered and secured to the pads on the board (not shown) on which the second connector  200  is mounted. Therefore, when the first connector  100  and the second connector  200  are mated with each other, the unillustrated pads on both of the first connector  100  and the second connector  200  are connected to be put in the same potential via the first support metal fittings  130  and the second support metal fitting  230 . 
     Now with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the connector assembly is shown and includes the first connector  100  and the second connector  200 . The first connector  100  and the second connector  200  are positioned relative to each other. On the other hand, the first connector  100  shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  is put in a position misaligned to the second connector  200  regarding an orientation in a widthwise direction X, and it is also put in a position misaligned regarding an orientation in a longitudinal direction Y. In this embodiment, even when a misalignment in a range from +0.3 mm to −0.3 mm is present in each of the widthwise direction and the longitudinal direction, guiding to a right mating position is performed at a mating time. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the first connector  100  may come near the second connector  200  when it has been misaligned to the second connector  200  in an orientation of arrow X. At this time, as shown in this  FIG. 7 , one of the first bent portions  132   a  forming the bent portion  132  of the first support metal fitting  130  comes in contact with the angled section  232   a  of one of the second reinforcement portions  232  of the second support metal fitting  230 . The angled section  232   a  forms a downward slope toward the receiving portion  212  of the second housing  210 . 
     Further, the third bent portion  132   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) continues to the first bent portion  132   a  of the first support metal fitting  130 , where a sheared face is not present. Therefore, the first support metal fittings  130  are guided smoothly into the receiving portions  212  by the second support metal fittings  230  so that the first connector  100  is securely mated with the second connector  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first connector  100  comes near the second connector  200  when it has been misaligned to the second connector  200  in an orientation of arrow Y along a length thereof. At this time, the second bent portion  132   b  of the first support metal fitting  130  comes in contact with the angled section  233   a  of the second reinforcement portion  233  of the second support metal fitting  230 . The angled section  233   a  is also a downward slope toward the receiving portion  212 . The third bent portions  132   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) continues to both sides of the second bent portion  132   b  of the first support metal fitting  130  along a width thereof, where a sheared face is not present. Therefore, the first support metal fitting  130  is smoothly guided toward the receiving portion  212  by the second support metal fitting  230 , so that the first connector  100  is securely mated with the second connector  200 . 
     Here, even if a misalignment is present, contact occurs between the first support metal fitting  130  and the second support metal fitting  230 . On the other hand, if a metal and a resin come in contact with each other, the resin tends to be shaved or crushed, which may result in occurrence of mating failure. In the case of the invention, a structure where metals come in contact with each other is adopted, so that occurrence of mating failure is avoided. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , another second connector  200 ′ is shown and is also a connector configured to be mated with the first connector  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A difference between the second connector  200 ′ shown in  FIG. 9  and the second connector shown in  FIG. 2  lies in a shape of a second support metal fitting  230 ′. As shown, the second support metal fitting  230 ′ does not include contacts  234  provided on the second support metal fitting  230  shown in  FIG. 2 . That is, the second connector  200 ′ is a connector that does not support electrical connection. 
     In the second support metal fitting  230 ′, board connecting portions  231 ′ are also provided on inner wall sides of each of a pair of first reinforcement portions  232  and a second reinforcement portion  233  facing the receiving portion  212 . Thereby, the second connector  200 ′ is further secured to a board by the board connecting portions  231 ′ together with the board connecting portions  231  of the side face sides and the end face side. In the case of the second support metal fitting  230 ′ shown in this  FIG. 9 , however, a shape of the board connecting portion  231  of the first reinforcement portion  232  on a side of an outer face of the second housing  210 ′ is different from that shown in  FIG. 2 . In the case of the second support metal fitting  230 ′ shown in  FIG. 9 , since the board connecting portions  231 ′ are provided on the side of the receiving portion  212 , the board connecting portion  231  on the side of the outer wall face suffices for a shape shown in this  FIG. 9 . Further, a widthwise size of the second connector  200 ′ is narrowed by the shape shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     According to the embodiment and the modified embodiment described above, even if a misalignment is present at a mating time, metal members come in contact with each other. Thereby, contact with resin is avoided, so that shaving or deformation of the resin is prevented and occurrence of mating failure is prevented. Further, the bent portion  132  continued from an end face side of the first connector  100  to both side face sides thereof is formed in the first support metal fitting  130  by drawing. Therefore, a sheared face of metal is not brought in contact with the support metal fitting  230 ,  230 ′, so that even if a misalignment is present, smooth inducement is performed. 
     Incidentally, the first support metal fitting may be formed by metal forming or cutting instead of the drawing work. 
     It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrated, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle. 
     Although exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 
     As used herein, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.