Patent Abstract:
A bent connector terminal with improved stability when held within a groove ( 23 ) of a comb-shaped, press-fit jig ( 20,22 ), the terminal aligned with a hole ( 32 ) of a printed circuit board ( 30 ) and to be press-fitted into the hole. In one embodiment, at least one widened portion ( 12   e ) is formed on the connector terminal between a tip flange part ( 12   b ) and a swelled or widened part ( 12   c ), the widening of the part ( 12   c ) caused by bending of the connector terminal. The widened portion ( 12   e ) and the swelled part ( 12   c ) serve to stabilize the connector terminal within the groove ( 23 ) of the press-fit jig as the jig is used to press on the tip flange part ( 12   b ). In another embodiment, the connector terminal includes notches ( 12   d ) at the location where the connector terminal is to be bent, to compensate for widening caused by the bending step so that no swelled or broadened area is produced at this region. In this embodiment, since no widening is produced at the bent region the press-fit jig grooves may be narrowed so that the bent connector terminal is supported evenly between the bend and the flange part ( 12   b ) and stability is improved.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a connector terminal material used for a press-fit connector, a connector terminal, a method for producing a connector terminal, and a method for producing a substrate with a connector. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIGS. 6  are illustrations showing one example of a state before a terminal of a conventional press-fit connector is press-fitted to a substrate.  FIG. 6A  is a front view including a section along a terminal array of a front side.  FIG. 6B  is a side view. Void arrow marks shown in  FIG. 6  show the mounting direction of each part at the time of press fitting. Conventionally, a so-called press-fit connector is widely used as a connector which can be simply connected by press-fitting a terminal to a substrate without soldering. For instance, a method of press-fitting the terminal shown in  FIGS. 6  is known. In this method, the flange part  512   b  of each terminal  512  is pushed by the pressed surface  521  of the connector fixture  520  with a plurality of terminals  512  having flange parts extending from the housing  511  of the press-fit connector  510  interposed in comb-teeth lined in the lateral direction (the right and left direction of  FIG. 6A  of the connector fixture  520 . An elastic part  512   a  swelled in a needle shape at the vicinity of the end part of each terminal  512  is press-fitted into penetrating hole  532  formed in the substrate body  531  of the printed circuit board  530  (This method is similarly adopted for a so-called pin connector which solders each terminal to the substrate (for instance, pin connectors described in JP-A-6-224597 or JP-A-10-41026). Numeral  550  shown in  FIG. 6  designates a substrate fixture with which the printed circuit board  530  is brought into contact from the back thereof at the time of press-fitting, and the end of each terminal  512  is entered into a bottomed hole  552  formed in the fixture body  551 , and the end of each terminal  512  is protected. The comb-teeth of the connector fixture  520  are composed by a deep groove  523 , and a shallow groove  524 . The deep groove  523 has an inducing part  523   b  which induces the terminal  512  and has a slope surface, and a guide part  523   a  which guides the terminal  512  induced to the pressed surface  521  and has a parallel surface. The shallow groove  524  has also a similar guide part  524   a , and a similar inducing part  524   b.    
     FIG. 7  is a view showing a state before and after bending a terminal according to a prior art, wherein  7 A is a partial perspective view showing a state before bending a terminal,  7 B is a partial perspective view showing a state after the bending, and  7 C is a plan view of  FIG. 7B . Also,  FIG. 8  is a view describing conditions in bending a terminal according to a prior art, and  FIG. 9  is a view describing conditions in pressure-fitting a terminal into a substrate according to a prior art. 
   It is common that respective terminals  512  are molded so that, after a material is punched out by a press, and a flat plate-shaped connector terminal material  512 ′ having a terminal width W as shown in  FIG. 7A  is molded, the material is inserted into a through hole  513  of a housing  511  of a connector  510  supported on a supporting base  50  as shown in  FIG. 8 , the material is bent in a right-angled direction at a prescribed bending radius R by pressing the tip end side thereof by a presser  570  as shown in the same drawing. At this time, as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7C , it has been known that the terminal width W′ of the above-described bent part  512   c  is made wider than the terminal width W of the other parts, that is, flat parts which are not bent, (that is, W′.W). 
   In a conventional connector fixture  520 , the distance between the comb-teeth is usually widely set according to the extending terminal width W′. However, in this case, since the clearance between the body portion of the terminal  512  and the inner side surface of the guide portion  523   a  is increased, an accurately vertical posture of the terminal  512  cannot be maintained as shown in  FIG. 9A  when pressure-fitting the terminal  512  into the penetrating hole  532  of the substrate  530  , and as shown in  FIG. 9B , the terminal  512  will be turned and moved centering around the portion  512   c  bent by the pressure-fitting part  512   a  of the terminal  512  between wide comb teeth. And, in the worst case, there is a problem in that it is difficult to press-fit the terminal to the penetrating hole  532  of the substrate  530  , and the yield of the product decreases. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a connector terminal material which can easily set a connector fixture and improve the yield of the product. It is another object of the invention to provide a connector terminal, a method for producing a connector terminal and a method for producing a substrate with a connector. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a connector terminal material which extends in one direction including: an intermediate part including a specified part which is bent to form a connector terminal; a notched part provided at both end portions of the intermediate part in a width direction of the connector terminal which is orthogonal to a direction along which the bending is performed, wherein 
   the specified part is formed by the notched part of the connector terminal is made narrower in width than a portion adjacent to the specified part. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the width of the specified part is set roughly to the same width as that of parts adjacent to the specified part when the specified part is bent to the final angle. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a method for producing a connector terminal material, including: molding a connector terminal material; and forming a connector terminal which is bent at the specified part by bending the connector terminal material at the specified part. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, in the method for producing a connector terminal material further comprising: molding a plate material shaped so that, by punching out a metal plate, a plurality of the connector terminal materials are juxtaposed in the terminal width direction and the respective specified parts of the respective connector terminal materials are connected to each other by means of a carrier portion extending along the terminal width direction; and 
   dividing the connector terminal materials from each other and simultaneously forming a notched part on the specified parts of the connector terminal materials thus divided, by punching out the carrier portion in the plate material and portions corresponding to the notched part at both sides of the carrier portion. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a method for producing a substrate with a connector, including: 
   producing a connector terminal material, which has a flange part the inner side of the tip end thereof is swelled in the terminal width direction; forming a connector terminal by bending the connector terminal material at the specified part with the connector terminal material implanted in a connector housing fixed on a substrate; and inserting the connector terminal into a grooved part of a fixture having a grooved part which is narrower than the flange part of the connector terminal and wider than the other parts thereof and fitting the tip end of the connector terminal into a hole part of the substrate while pressing the flange part at the edge of an open end of the grooved part of the fixture. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the method of producing the substrate with a connector terminal, further including: molding a plate material shaped so that, by punching out a metal plate, a plurality of the connector terminal materials are juxtaposed in the terminal width direction and the respective specified parts of the respective connector terminal materials are connected to each other by means of a carrier portion extending along the terminal width direction; and dividing the connector terminal materials from each other and simultaneously forming a notched part on the specified parts of the connector terminal materials thus divided, by punching out the carrier portion in the plate material and portions corresponding to the notched part at both sides of the carrier portion. 
   According to the structure, since the connector terminal materials can be divided from each other and notched parts are formed at specified parts of the connector terminal materials thus divided, by which the connector terminal materials are made narrower, by only the step of punching the carrier parts and the portions corresponding to the notched parts at both sides of the corresponding carrier parts after a plate material in which a plurality of connector terminal materials are linked like a chain in the terminal width direction via the carrier parts, it is possible to mass-produce connector terminal materials with a few steps at high efficiency. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a connector terminal including: an intermediate part bent in the lengthwise direction; a swelling part is formed, which swells in the terminal width direction orthogonal to the bending direction, at the bending part; a flange part shaped so as to swell in the terminal width direction is formed at an inner portion of the terminal tip end part so that it becomes wider than the swelling part; and a widened part which is narrower than the flange part and wider than the other parts is formed at at least one portion in an area between the flange part and the swelling part. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, in the connector terminal, the widened part includes a widened part formed at a position close to the flange part. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a method for producing a substrate with a connector, including: 
   inserting a connector terminal into a grooved part of a fixture having the grooved part which is wider than the widened part of the connector terminal and narrower than the flange part of the corresponding connector terminal; and fitting the tip end of the connector terminal into a hole part of a substrate while pressing the flange part at the edge part of an open end of the grooved part of the fixture. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, if the connector terminal is inserted into a grooved part of a fixture having the grooved part which is wider than the widened part of the connector terminal and narrower than the flange part of the corresponding connector terminal, and the tip end of the connector terminal is fitted into a hole part of a substrate while pressing the flange part at the edge part of an open end of the grooved part of the fixture, the connector terminals can be supported at least two points, which are the swelling part and the widened part thereof, when being guided by the grooved part of the fixture, wherein a stabilized posture can be secured. At this time, the contacting force between the connector terminal and the grooved part decreases, and at the same time, the tip end of the connector terminal hardly turns and moves with respect to the substrate. Resultantly, production of substrates with a connector can be achieved, by which fitting of the connector terminal into the substrate can be facilitated and yield of the products can be improved. 
   Therefore, it is further preferable that the widened part and swelling part will have roughly the same width. 
   In addition, if the above-described widened part includes a widened part formed at a position in the vicinity of the flange part in the connector terminal, the span between the above-described two points is increased, and a further stabilized guiding posture can be brought about. 
   As a result, it is easy to engage the connector terminal into the substrate. The producing method of the substrate with a connector realized to improve the yield of a product. 
   The connector terminals can be supported at least two points, which are the swelling part formed by bending and the widened part thereof, when being guided by the grooved part of the fixture, wherein a stabilized posture can be secured in the press-fit connector. By using the press-fit connector, the producing method of the substrate with a connector can improve the yield of a product. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1A  is a front view including a section along a terminal array of a front side showing a state before a terminal of a press-fit connector of Embodiment 1 of the invention is press-fitted to a substrate; 
       FIG. 1B  is a side view showing a state before a terminal of a press-fit connector of Embodiment 1 of the invention is press-fitted to a substrate; 
       FIG. 2A  is a plan view showing a shape example of a plate material to be punched out to mold a connector terminal plate; 
       FIG. 2B  is a plan view showing a punching process with respect to the plate material; 
       FIG. 2C  is a partial perspective view before bending the terminal; 
       FIG. 2D  is a partial perspective view after the bending is finished; 
       FIG. 2E  is a plan view showing the terminal shown in  FIG. 2D ; 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration showing a state of setting the terminal of Embodiment 1 to a fixture; 
       FIG. 4A  is a front view including a section along a terminal array of a front side before a terminal of a press-fit connector of Embodiment 2 of the invention is press-fitted to a substrate; 
       FIG. 4B  is a side view before a terminal of a press-fit connector of Embodiment 2 of the invention is press-fitted to a substrate; 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration showing a state of setting the terminal of Embodiment 2 to a fixture; 
       FIG. 6A  is a front view including a section along a terminal array of a front side before a terminal of a conventional press-fit connector is press-fitted to a substrate; 
       FIG. 6B  is a side view before a terminal of a conventional press-fit connector is press-fitted to a substrate; 
       FIG. 7A  is a partial perspective view showing a state before bending the conventional terminal; 
       FIG. 7B  is a partial perspective view showing a state after bending the conventional terminal; 
       FIG. 7C  is a plan view of  FIG. 7B ; 
       FIG. 8  is an illustration showing a state of bending a 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrations showing a state of setting the conventional terminal to a fixture. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   (Embodiment 1) 
     FIG. 1  is an illustration showing a state before a terminal of a press-fit connector of Embodiment 1 of the invention is press-fitted to a substrate.  FIG. 1A  is a front view including a section along a terminal array of a front side.  FIG. 1B  is a side view. 
     FIG. 2  is a view showing a state before and after bending a terminal according to Embodiment 1, wherein  2 A is a plan view showing a shape example of a plate material to be punched out to mold a connector terminal plate,  2 B is a plan view showing a punching process with respect to the plate material,  2 C is a partial perspective view showing a state before bending the terminal,  2 D is a partial perspective view showing a state after the bending is finished, and  2 E is a plan view showing the terminal shown in  FIG. 2D . 
     FIG. 3  is an illustration showing a state of setting the terminal of Embodiment 1 to a fixture. Void arrow marks shown in  FIG. 1A ,  1 B show the mounting direction of each part at the time of press-fitting. 
   In  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , numeral  10  designates a press-fit connector as one example of a connector, and numeral  20  designates a connector fixture for terminal press-fitting of the press-fit connector  10 . Numeral  30  designates a printed circuit board as a substrate, and numeral  50  designates a substrate fixture. 
   As shown  FIG. 1 , the press-fit connector  10  is provided with a synthetic resin housing  11  in which the entire shape is substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and pin-shaped metal terminals  12  (corresponding to a connector terminal) extending in parallel from the housing  11 . In  FIG. 1 , each terminal  12  is projected out from the housing  11  in a horizontal direction, and is bent upwardly and perpendicularly such that each terminal  12  is formed in an L-shape in a side view. Three terminals are arranged in the vertical direction (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 1A , and in the right and left direction of  FIG. 1B  in a plan view, and ten terminals are arranged in the lateral direction (in the right and left direction of  FIG. 1A , and in the direction perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 1B ) such that the terminals  12  do not mutually interfere. The shape and number of each terminal  12  are different according to the type and size of the press-fit connector  10 . 
   An elastic part  12   a  swelled in a needle shape is formed at the vicinity of the end part of each terminal  12  such that each terminal  12  can be elastically press-fitted to each penetrating hole  32 (corresponding to a hole part) of the printed circuit board  30  . A flange part  12   b  is formed at the intermediate part of the terminal  12 , and the flange part  12   b  overhung from the terminal body in the right and left direction terminal width direction) is hooked on a pressed surface  21  as the edge part of the open end of the groove part of the connector fixture  20 . 
   The connector fixture  20  supports each terminal  12  at the time of press-fitting. The connector fixture  20  is provided with a metal fixture body  22  in which the shape is substantially rectangular parallelepiped, deep grooves  23  as a groove part carved in the fixture body  22  so as to be lined in the lateral direction, and shallow grooves  24  carved so as to be lined in the vertical direction. Therefore, the fixture body  22  is made into a deep comb-teeth shape in a front view, and is made into a shallow comb-teeth shape in a side view. 
   Herein, the deep groove  23  inductively guides each terminal  12 , and positions the flange part  12   b  in the lateral direction (the terminal&#39;s width direction). The shallow groove  24  inductively guides each terminal  12 , and positions the flange part  12   b  in the vertical direction (a terminal thickness direction). 
   Therefore, the deep groove  23  and the shallow groove  24  have inducing parts  23   b  and  24   b  having slope surfaces formed to taper upwardly in  FIG. 1 , and guide parts  23   a  and  24   a  having parallel surfaces. When the connector  10  is descended, and the terminal  12  is inserted into the connector fixture  20 , each terminal  12  is smoothly guided along the inducing parts  23   b  and  24   b  and the guide parts  23   a  and  24   a . Thereby, the flange part  12   b  is accurately lined up in both vertical and horizontal directions on the pressed surface  21 . 
   Particularly, the guide surface  23   a  of the deep groove  23  has a groove width which is narrower than that of the flange part  12   b  and is wider than that of the other part including the bending part  12   c  so as to smoothly guide the terminal body under the flange part  12   b  for a relatively long distance. 
   The printed circuit board  30  has a thin plate-like substrate body  31 , and penetrating holes  32  for penetrating the substrate body  31  at positions corresponding to the terminals  12 . 
   The substrate fixture  50  is intended to press the printed circuit board  30  at the time of press-fitting, and has a thick plate-like fixture body  51 . The fixture body  51  has bottomed holes  52  for inserting the respective terminals  12  penetrating holes  32  of the printed circuit board  30  and protecting the terminals. 
   Hereinafter, a description is given of a method for producing the press-fit connector  10  and a substrate with the same connector  10 . 
   First, a connector terminal material  12 ′ as shown in  FIG. 2C  is molded. The connector terminal material  12 ′ extends in one direction and is to form a terminal  12  in which an intermediate part (specified) is bent by bending the intermediate part. However, the connector terminal material  12 ′ is featured in that the above-described intermediate part has a smaller width than the width W of the portion adjacent to the specified part by being provided with a notched part  12  formed at both end parts of the terminal width direction orthogonal to the direction along which the above-described bending is carried out. When producing the connector terminal plate  12 ′, for example, a flat plate may be molded, which has, a notched part  12   d  at both end sides of the terminal body of a fixed width W by punching a metal plate, which is a material by means of a press. 
   The following is preferable as its detailed molding method. 
   First, a plate material  14  shaped as shown in  FIG. 2A  is molded by punching a metal plate which is a material. The plate material  14  is shaped so that a plurality of the above-described connector terminal plates  12 ′ are disposed in the terminal width direction and the above-described intermediate parts of the respective connector terminal material  12 ′ are linked with each other by carrier parts  14   c  extending in the above-described terminal width direction. That is, in the plate material  14 , a plurality of connector terminal materials  12 ′ are connected to each other via the carrier parts  14   c  in the terminal width direction. The positions of the respective carrier parts  14   c  are established at intermediate parts of the respective connector terminal materials  12 ′, that is at the positions where specified parts in which a bending process is intended to be performed, are linked with each other. 
   Next, the carrier parts  14   c  of the plate material  14  and portions corresponding to the above-described notched parts  12   d  at both sides of the carrier parts  14   c  are punched by a punch P as shown in  FIG. 2B . By the punching process, it is possible to separate or divide the connector terminal materials  12 ′, which have been linked with each other. Simultaneously, the above-described notched parts  12   d  may be formed at specified parts of the connector terminal materials  12  thus divided, and the corresponding specified parts may be made narrower. For example, if a punch P whose section is circular as shown in the drawing is used, it is possible to simultaneously form arcuately notched parts  12   d  at one side end part of one connector terminal plate  12 ′ of the connector terminal plates  12 ′ which are divided from each other, and at one side end part of the other connector terminal plates  12 ′ adjacent thereto, respectively. 
   After the connector terminal material  12 ′ is formed, for instance, in the same manner as in  FIG. 8 , the intermediate position at which the notched parts  12   d  are formed is bent in a predetermined radius R in a right-angled direction with the connector terminal material  12 ′ inserted into the housing  11 . As shown in  FIG. 2C ,  FIG. 2D , and  FIG. 2E , the bent part (bending part)  12   c  has the almost same width as that of a non-bending part, that is a portion except for the bent part, and the swelling of the bending part  12   c  of each terminal  12  at the time of bending is suppressed. 
   Strictly speaking, since the swelling amount changes to a degree according to processing conditions (spring back amount or the like), the bending part may swell slightly after the bending process, and oppositely, the concave part may remain slightly. However, the slight swelling or the existence of the concave part can be disregarded compared with the case in which the concave part is not formed at all as in the conventional example. 
   Each terminal  12  is brought into contact with the pressed surface  21  and is supported by inserting each terminal  12  into the deep groove  23  and shallow groove  24  of the connector fixture  20  from the root side of the terminal body having the bending part  12   c  of each terminal  12  of the press-fit connector  10  in the height direction of the housing  11  in the supporting state, the main body of the terminal is inserted into each deep groove  23  of the connector fixture  20 , the flange portion  12   b  is inserted into the shallow groove  24 , and the back end of the inserted flange portion  12   b  is abut with a press-fit surface  21 , that is a bottom face of the shallow groove  24  which is positioned at an edge portion of the open terminal of the deep groove  23 . 
   Then, each terminal  12  is press-fitted to the printed circuit board  30  by pressing the substrate fixture  50  (then, the pressed surface  21  of the connector fixture  20  presses the back portion of the flange portion of each terminal  12  from backward)with the printed circuit board  30  with which the substrate fixture  50  is brought into contact from the back thereof and each terminal  12  supported by the connector fixture  20  of the press-fit connector opposed to each other. 
   Thus, as shown in  FIG. 3 , when each terminal  12  is guided by the deep groove  23  of the connector fixture  20  in the press-fit connector  10  of Embodiment 1, each terminal  12  is supported in almost even force across the full length thereof, and thereby the guide posture is stabilized. 
   In that case, the contact force between each terminal  12  and inside surface of the guide surface  23   a  of the deep groove  23  decreases, and the end of each terminal  12  is hardly turned and moved to penetrating hole  32  of the printed circuit board  20 . As a result, it is easy to press-fit each terminal  12  to the penetrating hole  32  of the printed circuit board  20 , and the yield of a product of a substrate with a connector is improved in the producing method of the connector. 
   Since an intermediate portion of each terminal  12  of the press-fit connector  10  has a narrow width by previously forming the notched portions  12   d , in first embodiment, the swelling of the bending part  12   c  which is formed by bending the intermediate portion of each terminal  12  is almost lost in each terminal  12  of the press-fit connector  10 . Thus, the groove width of the deep groove  23  of the connecter fixture  20  can be much narrower, so that a further miniaturization of the press-fit connector  10  can be achieved. 
   (Embodiment 2) 
     FIG. 4  is an illustration showing a state before a terminal of a press-fit connector of Embodiment 2 of the invention is press-fitted to a substrate.  FIG. 4A  is a front view including a section along a terminal array of a front side.  FIG. 4B  is a sideview.  FIG. 5  is an illustration showing a state of setting the terminal of Embodiment 2 to a fixture. Hereinafter, an explanation of elements which are common to Embodiment 1 is omitted. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bent part (bending part)  12   c  of the terminal body of the terminal  12  of Embodiment 2 swells in the specified direction crossing at right angles of the bending direction by bending the intermediate part in the longitudinal direction. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bent portion  12  forms the swelling portion by swelling in a direction of the terminal width crossing the at right angles bending direction. 
   A flange part  12   b  swelling in the above-described terminal width direction is formed at this side (inner side) of the tip end part of the terminal  12  so that the flange part becomes wider than the above-described swelling part. Also, a widened part  12   e  in which both side parts thereof in the terminal width direction protrude outwardly is formed at at least one point (point in the vicinity of the above-described flange part  12   b  in the illustrated example) in an area between the flange part  12   b  and the above-described swelling part, and the widened part  12   e  is narrower than the above-described flange part  12   b  and is made wider than the other portions including the bending part  12   c . It is further preferable that the width of the widened part  12   e  is roughly the same as the width of the above-described swelling part. 
   Although the widened part  12   e  is shaped so that the flange part  12   b  is turned upside down, it is not limited to this shape. However, with respect to the terminal body, the upside is made properly arcuate (not illustrated), and an inclined portion is provided at the underside thereof, whereby stress concentration is suppressed as much as possible. 
   The widened part  12   e  is prepared at the position in the vicinity of the flange part  12   b  in the illustrated example and is formed at a position right therebelow. However, the forming position thereof may be optionally set in an area from the flange part  12   b  to the bending part  12   c . Also, the widened parts  12   e  may be provided by a plurality. However, if the widened part  12   e  positioned in the vicinity of the above-described flange part  12   b  is included as the widened part  12   e , the span between the supporting points can be secured to be large when the terminal  12  is inserted into the deep groove  23  of the connector fixture  20  and the terminal body is supported on the guide surface  23   a  of the deep groove  23 . As a result, it is advantageous that a further stabilized guiding posture can be secured. 
   Hereinafter, a press-fit connector  10  and a method for producing a substrate with a connector using the press-fit connector  10  of Embodiment 2 will be described. 
   First, a connector terminal material which extends in one direction, and of which the intermediate position (specified position) is bent to form a terminal  12  is formed. As shown in  FIG. 7A , in this embodiment, the flange portion  12   b  and the widened part  12   e  are formed, but basically, as well as connector terminal material  51 , the flat connector terminal material is formed with a predetermined width W with respect to a longitudinal direction. 
   After the flat connector terminal material is formed, for instance, in the same manner as in  FIG. 8 , the intermediate position is bent in a predetermined radius R in a right-angled direction with the connector-terminal material inserted into the housing  11 . As shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , the swelling part due to bending is formed on the bent part (bending part)  12   c . The widened part  12   e  is formed above the swelling part. However, the widened part is not formed on the terminal  12  at the right end shown in  FIG. 4B  since the bending part  12   c  is adjacent to the flange part  12   b.    
   And, as in the case of the above-described embodiment  1 , respective terminals  12  are inserted from the root side of the terminal body where the bending parts  12   c  of the respective terminals  12  of the press-fit connector  10  are provided, into the deep groove  23  and shallow groove  24  of the connector fixture  20  from the height side of the housing  11 , and the respective terminals  12  are thus supported. The supporting state is such that the body parts of the respective terminals  12  are inserted into respective deep grooves  23  of the above-described connector fixture  20 , the flange parts  12   b  are inserted into the shallow grooves  24 , and the rear end part of the flange part  12   b  is brought into contact with the bottom surface, that is, the press-fit surface  21  of the shallow groove  24  at the edge part of the open end of the above-described deep groove  23 . 
   Thus, in a state where the respective terminals  12  of the press-fit connectors  10  supported by the connector fixture  20  and a printed circuit board  30  with which the substrate fixture  50  is brought into contact from the rear side are opposed to each other, the respective terminals  12  are press-fitted into the printed circuit boards  30  by pressing the above-described substrate fixture  50  (at this time, the pressed surface  21  of the connector fixture  20  presses the rear end part of the flange part  12   b  of the respective terminals  12  from rearward). 
   Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when each terminal  12  is guided and inserted into the deep groove  23  of the connector fixture  20  in the press-fit connector  10  of Embodiment 2, each terminal  12  is supported by at least two points of the swelling part of the bending part  12   c  and the widened portion  21   e , and the guide posture is stabilized. In that case, the contact force between each terminal  12  and guide surface  23   a  of the deep groove  23  decreases, and the end of each terminal  12  is hardly turned and, moved to the penetrating hole  32  of the printed circuit board  30  . As a result, it is easy to press-fit each terminal  12  to the penetrating hole  32  of the printed circuit board  30  , and the yield of a product of a substrate with a connector is improved in a producing method of the substrate with the connector. 
   In Embodiments 1 and 2, the terminal body of each terminal  12  protruding from the housing  11  of the press-fit connector  10  is perpendicularly bent to the upward side of the housing  11 . However, the terminal body may be bent downward, and may not be bent perpendicularly. For instance, the terminal body may be bent at 45°. 
   The example of the press-fit connector  10  is described in Embodiments 1 and 2. However, the applicable scope of the invention is not limited thereto, and the invention can be applied to other kinds of connectors for a substrate such as a pin connector. However, the end of terminal  12  of the pin connector is not press-fitted to the penetrating hole  32  of the printed circuit board  30  , and the end of terminal  12  is soldered after the end of terminal  12  is engaged into the penetrating hole  32 . 
   The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7