Connector for use in substrate

Abstract

A fixing part (12) has two resiliently deformable legs (18) separated by a slot (17). A locking projection (19) is formed at a distal end (19C) of the fixing part (12) and has a locking surface (19A) spaced from the distal end (19C). A maximum cross-sectional dimension (A) of the fixing part (12) at the locking surface (19A) exceeds the diameter (d) of a through-hole (71) in a substrate (70). A tapered sliding-contact surface (19B) extends from the locking surface (19A) to the distal end (19C). Noncontact surfaces (21) are at opposite circumferential ends of each sliding contact surface (19B) and substantially adjacent the slot (17). The noncontact surfaces (22) of each locking projection (19) are spaced from one another at the slot (17) by distances that are no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a connector for use in a substrate of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the connector for use in the substrate.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connector for use in the substrate.

FIG. 4A is a main portion-enlarged front view of a state in which a fixing part is started to be inserted into a through-hole of the substrate.

FIG. 4B is a main portion-enlarged bottom view of the state in which the fixing part is started to be inserted into the through-hole of the substrate.

FIG. 5A is a main portion-enlarged front view of a state in which the fixing part is being inserted into the through-hole of the substrate.

FIG. 5B is a main portion-enlarged bottom view of the state in which the fixing part is being inserted into the through-hole of the substrate.

FIG. 6A is a main portion-enlarged front view of a state in which the fixing part has been normally inserted into the through-hole of the substrate.

FIG. 6B is a main portion-enlarged bottom view of the state in which the fixing part has been normally inserted into the through-hole of the substrate.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom view of the fixing part.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the fixing part.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a terminal metal fitting before it is bent.

Claims

1. A connector (10) for mounting to a substrate (70) having at least one through-hole (71), the through-hole (71) having an inside diameter (d), the connector (10) comprising: a housing (11) for mounting on the substrate (70), at least one fixing part (12) having a proximal end at the housing (11), a distal end (19C) projecting from the housing (11), a slot (17) extending from the distal end (19C) towards the proximal end and defining at least two legs (18) that are elastically deformable into said slot (17), side edges (22) extending along each of said legs (18) substantially from the proximal end towards the distal end (19C) and adjacent the slot (17), the side edges (22) on each said leg (18) being spaced apart by a distance (w) no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71), a lock (19) substantially adjacent the distal end (19C) of each of said legs (18), each of said locks (19) having a locking surface (19A) facing away from the distal end (19C), a maximum cross-sectional dimension (A) of the fixing part (12) at the locking surface (19A) exceeding the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71), a tapered sliding-contact surface (19B) extending from the locking surface (19A) towards the distal end (19C) of each of said locks (19) and tapering to smaller cross-sectional dimensions towards the distal end (19C), each of said locks (19) having two noncontact surfaces (21) formed respectively at opposite circumferential ends of each of the sliding contact surfaces (19B) and substantially adjacent the slot (17), the two noncontact surfaces (22) of each said lock (19) being spaced from one another at the slot (17) by distances that are no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71) whereby the noncontact surfaces (21) do not contribute to insertion forces for inserting the fixing part (12) into the through-hole (71).

2. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein each of said locking surfaces (19A) is substantially orthogonal to an axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end (19C) of the fixing part (12).

3. The connector (10) of claim 2, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) becomes gradually narrower towards the distal end (19C).

4. The connector (10) of claim 3, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) is substantially triangular and has a base edge (21B) at the locking surface (19A).

5. The connector (10) of claim 4, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) has a first side edge (21A1) adjacent the slot (17) and a second side edge (21A2) adjacent the respective sliding contact surface (19B), the first and second side edges (21A1, 21A2) intersecting one another substantially at the distal end (19C).

6. The connector (10) of claim 5, wherein a maximum distance between the base edges (21B) of the two noncontact surfaces (21) on each of said locks (19) is no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71).

7. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the fixing part (12) is formed unitarily with the housing (11).

8. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the housing (11) has two fixing parts (12).

9. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein each of said sliding contact surfaces (19B) is a section of a substantially frustum shape.

10. A fixing part (12) for mounting a housing (11) to a substrate (70), a through hole (71) extending through the substrate (70) and having an inside diameter (d), the fixing part (12) having first and second resiliently deformable legs (18) separated from one another by a slot (17), two edges (22) being formed on each of said legs (18) adjacent the slot (17) and being spaced apart by a distance (w) that is no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71), a lock (19) on each of said legs (18) substantially adjacent the distal end (19C) of said fixing part (12), each of said locks (19) comprising: a locking surface (19A) spaced from the distal end (19C) and facing oppositely from the distal end (19C), a maximum cross-sectional dimension (A) of the fixing part (12) at the locking surface (19A) exceeding the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71);a tapered sliding-contact surface (19B) extending from the locking surface (19A) to the distal end (19C); andnoncontact surfaces (21) at opposite circumferential ends of each of the sliding contact surfaces (19B) and substantially adjacent the slot (17), the noncontact surfaces (22) of each of said locks (19) being spaced from one another at the slot (17) by distances that are no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71).

11. The fixing part (12) of claim 10, wherein each of said locking surfaces (19A) is substantially orthogonal to an axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end (19C) of the fixing part (12).

12. The fixing part (12) of claim 11, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) becomes gradually narrower towards the distal end (19C).

13. The fixing part (12) of claim 12, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) is substantially triangular and has a base edge (21B) at the locking surface (19A).

14. The fixing part (12) of claim 13, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) has a first side edge (21A1) adjacent the slot (17) and a second side edge (21A2) adjacent the respective sliding contact surface (19B), the first and second side edges (21A1, 21A2) intersecting one another substantially at the distal end (19C).

15. The fixing part (12) of claim 14, wherein a maximum distance between the base edges (21B) of the two noncontact surfaces (21) on each of said locks (19) is no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71).

16. A fixing part (12) for mounting to a substrate (70), a through hole (71) extending through the substrate (70) and having an inside diameter (d), the fixing part (12) comprising: first and second legs (18) separated from one another by a slot (17) and being resiliently deformable towards one another into the slot (17) along deforming directions (DD), two edges (22) being formed on each of said legs (18) adjacent the slot (17) and being spaced apart by a distance (w) that is no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71);first and second locks (19) projecting out from the respective first and second legs (18) substantially at the distal end (19C) of said fixing part (12), each of said locks (19) having a locking surface (19A) facing away from the distal end (19C), a maximum cross-sectional dimension (A) of the fixing part (12) at the locking surfaces (19A) and along the deforming direction (DD) exceeding the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71), a tapered sliding-contact surface (19B) extending from the locking surface (19A) to the distal end (19C), and noncontact surfaces (21) extending between the sliding contact surfaces (19B) and the slot (17), the noncontact surfaces (22) of each lock (19) facing directions substantially transverse to the deforming directs (DD) and being spaced from one another at the slot (17) by distances that are no greater than the diameter (d) of the through-hole (71)

17. The fixing part (12) of claim 16, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) becomes gradually narrower towards the distal end (19C).

18. The fixing part (12) of claim 17, wherein each of said noncontact surfaces (21) is substantially triangular and has a base edge (21B) at the locking surface (19A).