Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6220881
-
Patent Number
6,220,881
-
Date Filed
Monday, March 29, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 24, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Armstrong, Westerman, Hattori, McLeland & Naughton, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 329
- 439 67
- 439 267
- 439 260
- 439 262
- 439 637
-
International Classifications
- H01R1315
- H01R1362
- H01R2400
-
Abstract
A card edge connector is provided. This card edge connector comprises: a first connector housing and a second connector housing to be inserted into a connector receiving chamber provided with a wiring substrate having terminal connecting portions; a plurality of terminals each having an elastic contact segment provided with a contact portion; assisting members (spring members) for helping the elastic contact segments to resist separation of the first connector housing and the second connector housing in the connector receiving chamber; and a holding mechanism provided to the first connector housing and the second connector housing for holding the assisting members by engaging them with the rotary support axes and the bearings.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card edge connector which is inserted into a connector receiving chamber provided with a wiring substrate having a plurality of rectangular terminal connecting portions disposed in predetermined positions on both front and rear surfaces of the wiring substrate, and into which a plurality of terminals each having an elastic contact segment to be in contact with a terminal contact portion via the opening of a corresponding terminal receiving chamber are inserted.
2. Description of the Related Art
A card edge connector shown in
FIG. 6
has been widely known. The card edge connector
1
of
FIG. 6
includes terminals
5
each having elastic contact segment
4
inserted into terminal receiving chambers
3
and
3
′ on the upper side and the lower side of a rectangular connector housing
2
. The card edge connector
1
is to be inserted into a connector receiving chamber
7
provided with a wiring substrate
6
in the middle.
In the middle of the connector housing
2
, a space
8
for separating the terminal receiving chambers
3
and
3
′ and into which the wiring substrate
6
is inserted is provided. The terminal receiving chambers
3
and
3
′ are provided with openings
9
and
9
′ communicating with the space
8
, respectively.
Each of the terminals
5
is made of a conductive metal material, and comprises an elastic contact segment
4
and a wire connecting portion
11
to which a wire
10
is connected by caulking. The elastic contact segment
4
is provided with a contact portion
12
protruding from the openings
9
and
9
′ by a predetermined length. The contact portion
12
is situated in the middle of the bent portion.
The connector receiving chamber
7
is formed by caving a device casing
13
so as to accommodate the connector housing
2
. Both front and rear surfaces of the wiring substrate
6
are provided with a plurality of rectangular terminal connecting portions (not shown) sandwiched by the elastic contact segments and in contact with the contact portions one by one.
When the card edge connector
1
is inserted into the connector receiving chamber
7
, each of the elastic contact segments
4
is brought into contact with corresponding one of the terminal connecting portions and bent by the front surface or the rear surface of the wiring substrate
6
, so that electric connection can be obtained.
In the prior art, due to variations in lengths A, B, C, and D indicated in
FIG. 6
(length A is the thickness of the wiring substrate
6
, inclusive of the thickness of the terminal connecting portions; length B is the distance between two facing contact portions
12
; length C is the distance between the inner walls of the connector receiving chamber
7
; and length D is the height of the connector housing
2
in the direction corresponding to the length C), the contact load of the respective elastic contact segments against the respective terminal connecting portions cannot be stabilized, which might result in a fault in electric contact.
Since the device casing
13
, the connector receiving chamber
7
, and the connector housing
2
are all made of a synthetic resin material, they are liable to be adversely affected by a change in the environment. When they are used at a high temperature, the length C of the connector receiving chamber
7
and the length D of the connector housing
2
are increased, with the elastic contact segments
4
being in contact. As the increased amount becomes larger, the contact load becomes smaller.
Meanwhile, the elastic contact segments
4
are limited in terms of width, thickness, and flexibility, due to the limited spaces in the terminal receiving chamber
3
and
3
′ and the space
8
. Moreover, only limited types of material can be used for the elastic contact segments
4
, in view of conductive efficiency. As a result, it becomes difficult to absorb the contact load by adjusting the lengths, and a fault occurs in electric contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a card edge connector which can ensure stable contact between terminal connecting portions of a wiring substrate and elastic contact segments.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the card edge connector comprises a first connector housing, a second connector housing, a plurality of terminals, an assisting unit, and a holding mechanism. The first connector housing is to be received by either the front surface or the rear surface of a wiring substrate of a connector housing. The first connector housing has a plurality of first terminal chambers and first openings communicating with the plurality of first terminal chambers. The wiring substrate has a plurality of rectangular terminal connecting portions disposed in predetermined positions on the front surface and the rear surface. The first openings face the surface receiving the first connector housing. The second connector housing is to be received by either the front surface or the rear surface of the wiring substrate whichever does not receive the first connector housing. The second connector housing has a plurality of second terminal chambers and second openings communicating with the second terminal chambers. The second openings face the surface receiving the second connector housing. The plurality of terminals are to be inserted into the first terminal chambers and the second terminal chambers. Each of the terminals is provided with a wire connecting portion and an elastic contact segment having a contact portion to be in contact with corresponding one of the terminal connecting portions via corresponding one of the first openings or the second openings. The edge of each elastic contact segment is bent back toward the wire connecting portion. Each of the contact portions is formed in the middle of the bent portion of the corresponding elastic contact segment. The assisting unit assists the elastic contact segments in resisting separation of the first connector housing and the second connector housing inside the connector receiving chamber. The holding mechanism holds the assisting unit, and is provided to the first connector housing and the second connector housing. The holding mechanism comprises rotary support axes and bearings for rotatably supporting the first connector housing and the second connector housing.
With this structure, when the card edge connector is inserted into the connector receiving chamber, the wiring substrate is sandwiched by the elastic contact segments pressing its front and rear surfaces. The elastic contact segments are brought into contact with the terminal connecting portions and flexed to press them, thereby obtaining electric connection. Meanwhile, the assisting unit resists separation of the first connector housing and the second connector housing inside the connector receiving chamber, so as to assist the elastic contact segments in securing required contact load. Even if there is a length variation between the inner walls of the connector receiving chamber, or even if the elastic contact segments wear with time, the assisting unit maintain the contact load required between the contact portions and the terminal connecting portions.
As the contact load of the elastic contact segments against the terminal connecting portions of the wiring substrate provided to the connector receiving chamber is stabilized, insufficient contact can be prevented, and high reliability can be expected.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the assistant unit is made up of spring members each having two arms and a coil to be engaged with the holding mechanism, and each of the coils is formed by rounding the mid section of a metal wire.
With the assisting unit of this structure, when the card edge connector is inserted into the connector receiving chamber, the two arms push in the opposite direction to the separating direction of the first connector housing and the second connector housing by the wiring substrate with the rotary support axes being the center. In such a condition, even if there is a variation in size or length, the assisting unit assists the elastic contact segments to stabilize the contact load. Since the assisting unit does not need to possess a conductive function, a highly durable wire material such as piano wire can be used. Accordingly, the spring members can function as an assisting unit to provide high reliability. The spring members are also advantageous in that they are easy to produce.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the holding mechanism is provided with arm hooks for receiving the two arms and the rotary support axes to be inserted into the coils.
With the holding mechanism of this structure, the two arms become contractible with respect to the coils. As the spring members assist the elastic contact segments within the area determined by the arm hooks, the distribution of the contact load can be controlled by adjusting the positions of the arm hooks. Also, since the holding mechanism has a simple structure, it has no adverse influence on the manufacturing the first and second connector housings.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, the assistant unit is a spring member comprising two coils to be engaged with the holding mechanism, a crossover disposed between the two coils, and two arms facing to each other and extending from the respective two coils. The two coils are formed by rounding two portions of a metal wire.
When the card edge connector is inserted into the connector receiving chamber of the above structure, the two arms and the crossover resist the separation of the first connector housing and the second connector housing by the wiring substrate with the rotary support axes being the center. Even if there is a variation in size or length, the assisting unit assists the elastic contact segments so as to constantly stabilize the contact load. Also, since the assisting unit has no need to have conductive properties, a highly durable material having a high allowable stress, such as piano wire, can be used for the assisting unit. Thus, the spring members can sufficiently function as an assisting unit, thereby providing high reliability. The spring members are also advantageous in that they are easy to produce.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, the holding mechanism is provided with arm hooks for receiving the rotary support axes to be inserted into the respective coils, and a crossover hook for receiving the crossover.
With the holding mechanism of this structure, the two arms and the crossover are contractible with respect to the coils. As the spring members assist the elastic contact segments within the area determined by the arm hooks, the distribution of the contact load can be controlled by adjusting the positions of the arm hooks. Also, since the holding mechanism has a simple structure, it has no adverse influence on the manufacturing the first and second connector housings.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is. an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a card edge connector of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an outer perspective view of the card edge connector of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view illustrating another example of the connector receiving chamber of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is an outer perspective view of another embodiment of a card edge connector of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is an outer perspective view of the spring member of
FIG. 4
; and
FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view of a card edge connector of the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following is a description of one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In
FIG. 1
, a card edge connector
21
comprises a first connector housing
22
and a second connector housing
22
′ both made of synthetic resin, a plurality of terminals
23
to be inserted into the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′, and a pair of spring members
24
to be engaged with the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′. For instance, such a card edge connector is inserted into a connector receiving chamber
26
formed on a device casing
25
, so as to obtain electric connection.
The first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′ are formed by injection molding to have a rectangular shape. In this embodiment, they have the identical shape and face to each other. Six terminal chambers
27
and six terminal chambers
27
′ are formed inside the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′, respectively. Each of the terminal receiving chambers
27
and
27
′ is provided with a known terminal stopper (not shown) such as a lance. Six rectangular openings
28
and six rectangular openings
28
′ communicating with the respective terminal receiving chambers
27
and
27
′ are formed on the upper walls
22
a
and
22
a
′ of the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′ corresponding to the front and rear surfaces of a wiring substrate
40
of the connector receiving chamber
26
.
Cylindrical rotary support axes
29
and
29
′, and bearings
30
and
30
′ having notches
30
a
and
30
a
′ for the spring members
24
and
24
′ are formed on the rear side of the side surfaces
22
b
and side surfaces
22
b
′ of the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′, respectively. A pair of cylindrical arm hooks
31
and another pair of cylindrical arm hooks
31
protruding in the opposite directions are formed on the front side of the side surfaces
22
b
and
22
b
′.
Each of the terminals
23
is formed by stamping out a thin conductive metal plate, and includes an elastic contact segment
32
and a wire connecting portion
34
to which an electric wire
33
is connected by caulking. The edge of the elastic contact segment
32
is bent toward the wire connecting portion
34
, and a contact portion
35
to be in contact with a terminal connecting portion
41
of the connecting receiving portion
26
is formed in the meddle of the bent portion via the corresponding opening
28
or
28
′.
The pair of spring members
24
are metal wires, and coil portions
36
are formed in the middle of the respective spring members
24
. The coil portions
36
have a larger diameter than that of the rotary support axes
29
and
29
′. Each of the coil portion
36
is provided with a first arm
37
and a second arm
38
both extending straight. The first arm
37
and the second arm
38
face to each other with the coil portion
36
being the center.
Meanwhile, the connector receiving chamber
26
has a rectangular box-like housing
39
protruding from the device casing
25
, and the wiring substrate
40
is disposed in the middle of the housing
39
. Since the wiring substrate
40
has a conventional structure, it is not described herein in detail. A plurality of rectangular terminal connecting portions
41
communicating with the respective elastic contact segments
32
are formed on the front and rear surfaces of the wiring substrate
40
.
The structure of the wiring substrate
40
is not limited to that of this embodiment, and it is possible to employ a flexible print circuit
43
having terminal connecting portions
42
fixed onto the front and rear surfaces of a substrate
44
.
In the following, the process of attaching and inserting the card edge connector
21
into the connector receiving chamber
26
will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the terminals
34
are inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers
27
and
27
′ of the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′. Each of the inserted terminals
23
is then held by the terminal stopper (not shown) and the contact portion
35
of the elastic contact segment
32
of each of the terminals
23
protrudes from the corresponding opening
28
or
28
′.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the pair of spring members
24
are then engaged with the side surfaces
22
b
and
22
b
′ of the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′, and the rotary support axes
29
and
29
′ are engaged with the respective bearings
30
and
30
′. More specifically, after the coil portions
36
are inserted into the respective rotary support axes
29
and
29
′, the rotary support axes
29
and
29
′ are engaged with the respective bearings
30
and
30
′, and the first arms
37
are hooked by the outer side of the arm hooks
31
. The second arms
38
are pulled and hooked by the outer side of the arm hooks
31
′. Thus, the attachment of the card edge connector
21
is completed, as shown in FIG.
2
.
As the card edge connector
21
is inserted into the connector receiving chamber
26
in the direction of arrow P of
FIG. 1
, the elastic contact segments
32
sandwich the wiring substrate
40
by the front and rear surfaces. Once the card edge connector
21
is brought into contact with the wiring substrate
40
, the wiring substrate
40
starts separating the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′, with the respective rotary support axes
29
and
29
′ being the center. Here, the spring members
24
resist the separation, and the contact portion of each of the elastic contact segments
32
is in contact with the corresponding terminal connecting portion
41
and elastically pushes it so as to obtain electric connection.
Even if there is a variation in the distance between the upper inner wall and the lower inner wall of the connector receiving chamber
26
, in the height of the card edge connector
21
, or in the total height of the first connector housing
22
and the second connector housing
22
′ engaged with each other, or even if the elastic contact segments
32
wear with time, the spring members
24
maintain the contact load between each contact portion
35
and the corresponding terminal connecting portion
41
.
Accordingly, the card edge connector
21
can always have a stable contact load, so that faults in contact can be prevented, and high reliability can be obtained.
Referring now to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the following is a description of another embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted here that like components are indicated by like reference numerals in this embodiment and the foregoing embodiment.
A card edge connector
45
shown in
FIG. 4
differs from the card edge connector
21
in the second connector housing
22
′ and the spring members
24
.
Although the second connector housing
22
′ is provided with the arm hooks
31
′ in the foregoing embodiment, a second connector housing
46
of this embodiment is provided with a groove-like crossover hook
47
, instead of the arm hooks
31
′, on the front wall
46
a of the second connector housing
46
.
The front wall
46
a
is formed with a step, and it is preferable for a crossover
50
to provide claws
46
b
to the front wall
46
a
, as shown in FIG.
4
. The other structural features are the same as those of the second connector housing
22
′.
Meanwhile, a spring member
48
, equivalent to the spring members
24
, is a metal wire, and coils
49
having a larger diameter than the rotary support axes
29
and
29
′ are disposed in such positions that they face to each other, as shown in FIG.
5
. The crossover
50
to be hooked by the crossover hook
47
extends from the coils
49
, and arms
51
also extend straight from the coils
49
.
The card edge connector
45
of this structure can achieve the same effects as the card edge connector
21
. The process of attaching and inserting the card edge connector
45
into the connector receiving chamber
26
is the same as with the card edge connector
21
.
Since any suitable assisting component provided to resist separation of a first connector housing and a second connector housing can bring the above effects when a card edge connector is inserted into a connector receiving chamber, the structure of a card edge connector of this embodiment is not limited to the card edge connectors
21
and
45
. If the assist component is formed from a metal wire spring member, a required contact load for the elastic contact segments can be determined from the spring constant. Also, since such an assist component needs to have no conductive properties, a highly durable material which has a high stress intensity and is hard to wear, such as piano wire, can be employed.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.
Claims
- 1. A card edge connector, comprising:a first connector housing to be received by either a front surface or a rear surface of a wiring substrate of a connector housing, the first connector housing having a plurality of first terminal chambers and first openings communicating with the plurality of first terminal chambers, the wiring substrate having a plurality of rectangular terminal connecting portions disposed in predetermined positions on the front surface and the rear surface thereof, and the first openings facing the surface receiving the first connector housing; a second connector housing to be received by either the front surface or the rear surface of the wiring substrate whichever does not receive the first connector housing, the second connector housing having a plurality of second terminal chambers and second openings communicating with the second terminal chambers, the second openings facing the surface receiving the second connector housing; a plurality of terminals to be inserted into the first terminal chambers and the second terminal chambers, the plurality of terminals each provided with a wire connecting portion and an elastic contact segment having a contact portion to be in contact with corresponding one of the terminal connecting portions via corresponding one of the first openings or the second openings, an edge of the elastic contact segment being bent back toward the wire connecting portion, and the contact portion being formed in the middle of the bent portion of the elastic contact segment; assisting means for assisting an electrically connecting action of the elastic contact segment by resisting separation of the first connector housing and the second connector housing inside the connector receiving chamber; and a holding mechanism for holding the assisting means, the holding mechanism being provided to the first connector housing and the second connector housing, and comprising rotary support axes and bearing for rotatably supporting the first connecting housing and the second connector housing, wherein the assistant means consistent of a pair of spring members each having two arms and a coil to be engaged with each of the rotary support axes of the holding mechanism, and said holding mechanism is provided with two pairs of arm hooks, each pair of arm hooks being inwardly engaged by said two arms from outside of said arm hooks.
- 2. The card edge connector according to claim 1, wherein the coil is formed by rounding a mid section of a metal wire.
- 3. The card edge connector according to claim 1, whereinthe holding mechanism is provided with arm hooks for receiving the two arms and the rotary support axes to be inserted into the coils.
- 4. The edge connector according to claim 1, whereinthe pair of spring members consists of first and second spring members each having a coil to be engaged with the holding mechanism, and wherein a crossover is disposed between first and second spring members and connects one of two arms facing to each other and extending from the coil of the first spring member with one of two arms extending from the coil of the second spring member; from the first and second members.
- 5. The card edge connector according to claim 4, whereinthe holding mechanism is provided with a crossover hook for receiving the crossover.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
10-087538 |
Mar 1998 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5489216 |
Matsushita et al. |
Feb 1996 |
|
5528853 |
Dufaux et al. |
Jun 1996 |
|
5632638 |
Matsushita et al. |
May 1997 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
8-37066 |
Feb 1996 |
JP |