Source: {"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"}

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a board connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,910 discloses a board connector with a synthetic resin housing configured to receive a mating connector from the front. Mounting grooves are formed on side surfaces of the housing. Fixtures are mounted in mounting grooves and lower end portions of the fixtures are fixed to a circuit board by soldering. More specifically, the fixtures are formed by press-working a metal plate. Locks are formed at upper end portions of each fixture and project laterally from the opposite lateral edges. On the other hand, the mounting grooves each are formed to have a stepped shape with a widened upper end. The fixture is inserted into the mounting groove from above along the side surface of the housing, and a part of the fixture below the locks is pushed and press-fit into a narrow part of the mounting groove. This pushing operation is stopped when the locks contact step surfaces of the mounting groove. In this way, the fixtures are mounted while downward movements with respect to the housing are prevented. Thus, when the fixtures are fixed to the circuit board, the step surfaces of the mounting grooves are engaged with the locks of the fixtures to prevent upward detachment of the housing.
The above-described board connector is mounted on the circuit board and used with a mating connector that is fit in the housing. A wiring harness pulled vertically out from the mating connector may move due to vibration or the like and the wiring harness could be pulled up during use. Thus, a force acts to tear the housing from the circuit board and the front step surfaces formed in the mounting grooves are mainly engaged with the front locks on the fixtures to prevent the housing from being torn from the circuit board.
On the other hand, there is a tendency to thin the fixtures for weight saving and the like. If a large force acts on the housing in a direction to tear the housing, the locking portions may be deformed and bent so that engagement areas with the step surfaces are reduced. Therefore, the locks may disengage from the step surfaces and the synthetic resin step surfaces may be scraped away.
The invention was developed in view of the above situation and an object thereof is to increase fixing strength of a board connector to a board.