Connector structure and assembling method for connectors

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6183276
  • Patent Number
    6,183,276
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, March 23, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 6, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A connector structure includes a printed board (4), a connector (1) having a frame (11) in which terminals (3) are engaged and a mechanism member (2) being assembled to the connector (1). The mechanism member (2) is provided with a mechanism part (21) to draw a mating connector into the mechanism member (2). The mechanism member (2) and the connector (1) are constituted in different bodies. The mechanism member (2) is provided with a hood part (22) for engagement with the frame (11) of the connector (1). In assembling, the mechanism member (2) is assembled to the connector (1) after soldering the terminals (3) to the printed board (4).
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a connector structure having a mechanism member for mutually engaging multi-polar male and female connectors with each other and a method of assembling the male and female connectors to each other.




2. Description of the Related Art




It is known that the use of a mechanism member for drawing one connector into another connector is one way in view of improving the operability in engaging the multi-polar connectors having many terminals with each other. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (kokai) No. 6-267610 and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (kokai) No. 6-5148 discloses the conventional connector structures adopting the mechanism member.




In the former publication, there is shown a mechanism member of a general U-shaped cross section, which is provided, on upper and lower opposing faces thereof, with a plurality of cam grooves and attachment ribs. According to the disclosed structure, it is possible to assemble the above mechanism member to a male connector by sliding the member with respect to the male connector while respectively inserting the attachment ribs into grooves formed on top and bottom faces of the male connector.




While, a female connector shown in the publication has a plurality of terminals partially drawn out of a body of the female connector. The terminals are soldered to a printed board, so that the installation of the female connector on the board can be completed. In assembling, the male connector equipped with the mechanism member is temporary engaged with the female connector on the printed board and thereafter, the mechanism member


60


is slid in the longitudinal direction of the male connector


64


. In this way, with the respective engagement of cam projections on the female connector with the cam grooves of the mechanism member, the male connector is fitted into the female connector.




In the latter publication, a female connector is provided, at the interior of a housing thereof, with upper and lower accommodation spaces into which a mechanism member is to be inserted. Similarly to the former publication, the mechanism member has a general U-shaped cross section and is provided, in opposing faces thereof, with cam grooves formed. In order to assemble the female connector to a male connector, the opposing faces of the mechanism member are inserted into the accommodation spaces through the side face of the female connector, so that the mechanism member is assembled to the female connector temporarily.




After assembling of the mechanism member, the female connector is integrated with a printed board by soldering terminals drawn out of the female connector to the printed board. On installation of the female connector on the printed board, the male connector is fitted to a front opening of the female connector temporarily. Subsequently, the depression of the mechanism member into the female connector in the lateral direction allows the mechanism member to draw the male connector, whereby the female connector and the male connector can be fitted to each other.




In common with the above-mentioned conventional structures, however, it is necessary that the connector being assembled to the mechanism member has a wide portion overlapping with the mechanism member due to the arrangement where the whole mechanism member is to be overlapped with the connector, thereby causing a depth of the connector to be lengthened. Furthermore, due to a large sliding area of the mechanism member with the connector, there is a problem of large sliding resistance, so that the smooth sliding of the mechanism member is obstructed.




In addition, there is a possibility that due to the structure where the connector is integrated with the printed board by soldering the terminals, the connector housing and the mechanism member are deformed by heat at the time of soldering. In such a case, the deformation may cause the sliding resistance in fitting to be increased, thereby causing the difficulty in fitting the male and female connectors to each other.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector structure which is capable of decreasing an overlapping portion of the mechanism member with the connector and which does not influence the fitting of the male and female connectors in spite of thermal deformation occurring when soldering the terminals to the printed board, whereby the fitting of the connectors can be completed smoothly.




Additionally, it is another object to provide a method of assembling the male connector to the female connector in accordance with the above connector structure.




The former object of the present invention described above can be accomplished by a connector structure comprising:




a printed board;




a first connector having a frame in which one or more terminals are engaged, respective ends of the terminals being soldered to a wiring pattern on the printed board to assemble the first connector to the printed board; and




a mechanism member being assembled to the first connector, the mechanism member having a mechanism part to draw a second connector being mated with the first connector into the mechanism member to fit the first connector and the second connector to each other;




wherein the mechanism member and the connector are constituted in different bodies, while the mechanism member is provided with a hood part which can engage with the frame of the first connector and which allows the mechanism member to be assembled to the first connector.




According to this invention, since the mechanism member is assembled to the first connector while the hood part of the mechanism member overlaps the frame of the first connector, it is unnecessary to put the mechanism part of the mechanism member on the first connector, whereby the depth of the connector can be reduced. Additionally, since the mechanism part for drawing the second connector thereinto is not overlapped with the connector, it is possible to reduce the sliding resistance between the first connector and the second connector, whereby the mechanism member can operate smoothly.




Furthermore, since the mechanism member and the first connector are constituted by the different bodies, the heat generated in soldering the terminals of the connector to the printed board does not act on the mechanism member. Therefore, there is no possibility that the function of the mechanism member to draw the second connector thereinto is influenced. That is, even if the first connector is deformed due to the heat at soldering, it is possible to fit the first connector to the mating connector smoothly.




In the present invention, preferably, the frame of the first connector is fixed on the printed board, while the frame is covered with the hood part in the completed assembly of the mechanism member and the first connector.




In this case, there is no need to put the mechanism part of the mechanism member on the printed board. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a portion of the printed board being occupied by the first connector, thereby reducing the size of the printed board.




In the present invention, preferably, the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one key, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one key groove for slidable engagement with the key. In this case, owing to the engagement between the key and the key groove, it is possible to connect the hood part with the frame precisely and smoothly.




In the present invention, preferably, the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one projection, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one engagement hole for engagement with the projection. In this case, owing to the engagement between the projection and the engagement hole, it is possible to connect the first connector to the mechanism member through the hood part and the frame. Therefore, the workability in assembling the connector and the mating connector can be improved.




In the present invention, preferably, the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one key groove, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one key for slidable engagement with the key groove. Also in this case, owing to the engagement between the key and the key groove, it is possible to connect the hood part with the frame precisely and smoothly.




In the present invention, preferably, the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one engagement hole, while the hood of the mechanism member is provided with at least one projection for engagement with the engagement hole. Also in this case, owing to the engagement between the projection and the engagement hole, it is possible to connect the first connector to the mechanism member through the hood part and the frame. Of course, the workability in assembling the connector and the mating connector can be improved.




The latter object of the present invention described above can be accomplished by an assembling method for connectors, comprising the steps of: preparing a printed board and a first connector having a frame in which one or more terminals are engaged;




soldering the terminals to a wiring pattern on the printed board to assemble the first connector to the printed board;




preparing a mechanism member provided with a hood to draw a second connector being mated with the first connector into the mechanism member to fit the first and second connectors to each other; and




putting the hood part on the frame to assemble the mechanism member to the first connector.




According to this assembling method, when soldering the terminals of the first connector to the printed board, the mechanism member has not been assembled to the connector yet. Therefore, the heat generated in soldering the terminals of the first connector to the printed board does not act on the mechanism member. Thus, there is no possibility that the function of the mechanism member to draw the second connector thereinto is influenced, whereby it is possible to fit the connector to the mating connector smoothly.




These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a mechanism member in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view showing a condition before assembling the mechanism member to the connector;





FIG. 4

is a side view showing the condition before assembling the mechanism member to the connector;





FIG. 5

is a side view showing a condition after the mechanism member has been assembled to the connector;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view showing the condition after the mechanism member has been assembled to the connector;





FIG. 7A

is a side view for explanation of the structure of the connector structure of the embodiment; and





FIG. 7B

is a side view of the comparative connector structure, for comparison with the structure of FIG.


7


A.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




One embodiment of the connector structure and the assembling method of the connectors will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a first connector


1


of the connector structure of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a mechanism member


2


.

FIGS. 3 and 4

are perspective and side views showing an assembling operation, respectively.

FIG. 5

is a side view showing the assembled condition.




The first connector


1


of the embodiment, which is a female connector to be mated with a male connector (not-shown second connector), includes a frame


11


on the front side and a casing


12


(

FIG. 3

) on the rear side, both of which are made of synthetic resin.




The frame


11


is in the form of a rectangular frame consisting of a top wall


11




a


, a bottom wall


11




b


and left and right sidewalls


11




c


,


11




c


. The interior of the frame


11


is divided into left and right chambers through a partition wall


11




d


. In addition, a pair of extension walls


11




e


,


11




e


are formed so as to extend backward from the sidewalls


11




c


,


11




c


, respectively. Each of the extension walls


11




e


,


11




e


is provided, in integral with an exterior face thereof, with a fixing block


13


for thread-engagement with a not-shown screw for fixing the frame


11


on a printed board


4


.




On the boundary between the sidewalls


11




c


,


11




c


and the extension walls


11




e


,


11




e


, keys


14


,


14


are formed to extend up and down of the frame


11


. These keys


14


,


14


engage with key grooves


24


,


24


(mentioned later) formed on the side of the mechanism member


2


. Furthermore, an engagement projection


15


is formed on an outer face of each sidewall


11




c


of the frame


11


. The engagement projection


15


is engaged in an engagement hole


25


(also mentioned later) formed on the side of the mechanism member


2


.




Engageably retained in the frame


11


are a plurality of terminals


3


which are soldered to the printed board


4


. Each terminal


3


is bent in L-shaped manner and has a leading contact


3




a


retained in the frame


11


to be connected to each mating terminal retained in the mating male connector. While, as shown in

FIG. 7A

, a rear contact


3




b


of each terminal


3


penetrates through the printed board


4


and is soldered to a pattern (not shown) on the printed board


4


for electrical connection.




The casing


12


arranged behind of the frame


11


is provided, on the front side, with an accommodating recess


12




a


for accommodating the frame


11


. On both sides of the accommodating recess


12




a


, screw-taps


12




b


,


12




b


are formed to accept screws


16


(see

FIG. 6

) for thread-engagement with the casing


12


.




The accommodating recess


12




a


of the casing


12


is formed to have a length (width) larger than that of the frame


11


. Thus, when the casing


12


accepts the frame


11


therein, then a clearance


17


is defined between each sidewalls


11




c


and the casing


12


. Respectively inserted into the clearances


17


,


17


are a pair of sidewalls


22




b


,


22




b


constituting a hood part


22


of the mechanism member


2


, which will be described later. Further, the accommodating recess


12




a


is provided, on a rear end thereof, with a flange groove


18


which is longer than the frame


11


. The hood part


22


of the mechanism member


2


has a pair of flange ribs


28


,


28


formed to engage in the flange groove


18


. Owing to the engagement of the flange groove


18


with the flange ribs


28


,


28


, the assembling of the mechanism member


2


to the connector


1


can be guided to prevent the member


2


from disengaging from the connector


1


undesirably.




In assembling, after soldering the terminals


3


to the printed board


4


, the frame


11


is secured on the board


4


by means of the screws through the fixing blocks


13


,


13


, as shown in FIG.


1


. Next, the printed board


4


is overlaid with the casing


12


and thereafter, it is fixed on the board


4


by not-shown screws.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the mechanism member


2


is constituted by a mechanism part


21


for drawing the mating male connector into the connector


1


and the hood part


22


for assembling the mating connector to the connector


1


. Both of the mechanism part


21


and the hood part


22


are made of synthetic resin, integrally.




The mechanism part


21


comprises a cylindrical part


23


having a rear opening


23




a


through which the mating connector is to be inserted, upper and lower slide grooves


30


,


30


formed on the cylindrical part


23


, a pair of slide members


31


,


31


which can slide in the slide grooves


30


,


30


reciprocatively and a manipulating lever


32


allowing the respective slide members


31


,


31


to reciprocatively slide for engagement or disengagement of the multi-polar female connector


1


with the mating male connector.




The cylindrical part


23


is in the form of an elongated rectangular cylinder which consists of top and bottom walls


23




b


,


23




c


and left and right sidewalls


23




d


,


23




d


opposing each other. The interior of the cylindrical part


23


is divided into two connector accommodating chambers through a partition wall


23




e


provide corresponding to the partition wall


11




d


of the connector


1


.




Integrally standing from the top wall


23




b


are front and rear walls


23




f


,


23




g


between which an upper slide groove


30


is defined. Similarly, a lower slide groove


30


is also defined between the front wall


23




f


and the rear wall


23




g


both standing from the bottom wall


23




c


. Additionally, in the front walls


23




f


, a plurality of notch guides


23




h


are formed to introduce guide pins (not shown) of the mating connector into guide grooves


33


in the slide members


31


, respectively.




The guide grooves


33


are formed in the opposite faces of the pair of slide members


31


,


31


. Each guide groove


33


is inclined to the sliding direction of the slide member


30


at a designated angle. The guide grooves


23


are adapted so as to engage with the guide pins of the mating connector, which are introduced through the notch guides


23




h


. With the sliding movement of the slide members


31


,


31


while engaging the guide pins, the mating connector is drawn into the cylindrical part


23


.




The manipulating lever


32


serves to reciprocatively slide the pair of slide members


31


,


31


in the opposite directions to each other and has a pivot center hole


32




a


formed at a center of the base part of the lever


32


.




Inserted into the pivot center hole


32


is a support shaft


34


which projects from the cylindrical part


23


and through which the manipulating lever


32


is rotatably supported up and down, by the part


23


. In the manipulating lever


32


, a pair of long holes


32




b


,


32




b


are formed on both sides of the pivot center hole


32




a


. While, the upper and lower slide members


31


,


31


are respectively provided with column-shaped attachment bosses


31




a


,


31




a


which are inserted into the long holes


32




b


,


32




b


in the lever


32


, respectively. By rotating the manipulating lever


20


up and down, the upper and lower slide members


31


,


31


can be slid in the opposite directions to each other, in reciprocating motion.




Further, the manipulating lever


32


is provided, on its sidewalls close to the leading end, with rectangular engagement holes


32




c


for engagement with not-shown engagement protrusions of the cylindrical part


23


. With the above structure, it is possible to lock the manipulating lever


32


on the cylindrical part


23


.




The hood part


22


on the front side of the cylindrical part


23


has the interior communicating with the interior of the cylindrical part


23


. The hood part


22


consists of a top wall


22




a


and the pair of sidewalls


22




b


,


22




b


hanging from left and right ends of the top wall


22




a


, providing a U-shaped element having an opened lower side. By inserting the frame


11


into the hood part


22


through the above opened lower side, the frame


11


is covered with the hood part


22


.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the hood part


22


is provided, inside both sidewalls


22




b


,


22




b


, with the vertical key grooves


24


,


24


which engage the keys


14


,


14


on the frame


11


of the connector


1


, respectively. By sliding the hood part


22


along the frame


11


while maintaining the above engagement, the hood part


22


and the frame


11


can be mutually guided with no lateral slip, thereby completing to put the hood part


22


on the frame


11


.




Again, the hood part


22


is provided, outside both sidewalls


22




b


,


22




b


, with the rectangular engagement hole


25


,


25


which engage the engagement projections


15


,


15


formed on the frame


11


, respectively. With this engagement, the hood part


22


can be fixed on the frame


11


. In this way, it is possible to assemble the mechanism member


2


to the connector


1


.




Furthermore, on the outer faces of the sidewalls


22




b


,


22




b


of the hood part


22


, the afore-mentioned vertical flange ribs


28


,


28


are formed for engagement with the flange groove


18


in the casing


12


of the connector


1


.




Next, we describe an assembling method of completing the connector structure in accordance with the embodiment.




First of all, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the frame


11


of the connector


1


is laid on the printed board


4


. Then, the contacts


3




b


of the terminals


3


penetrate respective through-holes (not shown) formed in the printed board


4


.




Thereafter, by screwing the frame


11


to the printed board


4


through the screws penetrating the fixing blocks


13


, the frame


11


is secured on the printed board


4


. Next, by allowing the frame


11


fixed on the printed board


4


to pass through a soldering bath, the respective contacts


3




b


of the terminals


3


are connected to a wiring pattern on the printed board


4


by means of solders


5


, as shown in FIG.


7


A. After that, the casing


12


is laid on the printed board


4


and fixed thereon by screws (not shown). In this way, it can be obtained the connector


1


installed on the printed board


4


, as shown in FIG.


3


.




Note, in the above-mentioned process of installing the connector


1


on the printed board


4


, there is no possibility that heat or fever generated during the soldering process step acts on the mechanism member


2


because the connector


1


is not equipped with the mechanism member


2


. Accordingly, the mechanism member


2


is prevented from being deformed by heat, thereby maintaining the normal condition.




Next, the mechanism member


2


is installed on the connector


1


from the upside. That is, as shown with arrows in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, the sidewalls


22




b


,


22




b


of the hood


22


are inserted into the clearances


17


,


17


each defined between the frame


11


of the connector


1


and the casing


12


, from the upside. Consequently, the frame


11


of the connector


1


enters into the hood part


22


through the opened lower side of the hood part


22


. At this time, the hood part


22


does slide on the frame


11


downward while the keys


14


,


14


on the connector


1


engages with the key grooves


24


,


24


of the mechanism member


2


, respectively. Therefore, in the sliding movement, the hood part


22


and the frame


11


can mutually slide smooth, without being inclined to each other. In addition, since the above-mentioned assembling does not require to move the mechanism member


2


and the connector


1


in two different directions but requires to slide the mechanism member


2


in one direction (downward), it is possible to carry out the assembling operation with ease.




At the end of the sliding movement, the hood part


22


is engaged on the frame


11


with the engagement of the projections


15


,


15


with the engagement holes


25


,


25


, so that the mechanism member


2


is assembled to the connector


1


, as shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

. Under such an assembling condition, since the frame


11


of the connector


1


is covered with the hood part


22


, the mechanism member


2


constitutes a part of the housing of the connector


1


. Note, since the flange ribs


28


,


28


of the hood part


22


are engaged with the flange groove


18


of the connector


1


in this assembling condition, there is no possibility that the mechanism member


2


disengages from the connector


1


undesirably.




According to the embodiment, since the mechanism member


2


is assembled to the connector


1


while the hood part


22


of the mechanism member


2


overlaps the frame


11


of the connector


1


, it is unnecessary to put the mechanism part


21


of the mechanism member


2


on the connector


1


, whereby the depth of the connector


1


can be reduced. Additionally, since the mechanism part


21


and the connector


1


are provided independent of each other, their configurations are not complicated. Consequently, the sliding resistance of the slide members


31


,


31


derived from the deformation during molding etc. can be reduced thereby to realize the smooth drawing of the mating connector into the connector


1


.




Again, since the connector


1


and the mechanism member


2


are constituted by different bodies, it is possible to assemble the connector


1


to the printed board


4


under condition that the mechanism member


2


has not been assembled to the connector


1


. Therefore, there is no possibility that the mechanism member


2


is deformed by the heat at the time of soldering. Thus, the mechanism member's function to drawn the mating connector is not influenced. Consequently, owing to the provision of such a mechanism member


2


, it is possible to accomplish the fitting between the connector


1


and the mating connector, certainly.




Furthermore, since the mechanism member


2


is provided with the hood part


22


which overlaps the frame


11


of the connector


1


in the engagement relationship while the connector


1


and the mechanism member


2


are constituted by different bodies, it is possible to decrease the whole height of the connector structure including the connector


1


and the mechanism member


2







FIGS. 7A and 7B

are views for explanation of the above-mentioned effect.




When the mechanism member is provided without the above hood part


22


, it is necessary that, as shown in

FIG. 7B

, the mechanism member


2


overlapping the connector


1


occupies the printed board


4


, thereby causing a height L


2


to be increased. On the contrary, when the hood part


22


overlaps to covers the frame


11


of the connector


1


, there is no need to put the mechanism part


21


of the member


2


on the printed board


4


, whereby a height L


1


can be decreased in comparison with the height L


2


. Additionally, by the same reason, it is possible to reduce a portion of the printed board


4


being occupied by the connector


1


and alternatively, it is possible to miniaturize the printed board


4


.




Although the female connector


1


is equipped with the mechanism member


2


in the above-mentioned embodiment, the male connector may be equipped with the mechanism member in the modification. Similarly, the above keys


14


,


14


may be formed on the mechanism member


2


while providing the connector


1


with the key grooves


24


,


24


. Similarly, the above engagement projections


15


,


15


may be formed on the mechanism member


2


while providing the connector


1


with the engagement holes


25


,


25


.




Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is related to one preferred embodiment of the disclosed connector structure and the assembling method, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope thereof.



Claims
  • 1. A connector structure comprising:a printed board; a first connector having a frame in which one or more terminals are engaged, respective ends of the terminals being engaged with a wiring pattern on the printed board to assemble the first connector to the printed board; a mechanism member being assembled to the first connector, the mechanism member having a mechanism part to draw a second connector being mated with the first connector into the mechanism member to fit the first connector and the second connector to each other; and wherein the mechanism member and the first connector are constituted in different bodies, while the mechanism member is provided with a hood part having an opened lower side which overlaps at least a portion of the frame of the first connector when the mechanism member is assembled to the first connector by inserting the frame into the hood part through the opened lower side such that when the hood part of the mechanism member is arranged on the printed board and remaining parts of the mechanism member is arranged off the printed board, a combined height of the hood part and a height of the printed board is generally similar to a height of the remaining parts of the mechanism member.
  • 2. A connector structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame of the first connector is fixed on the printed board, while the frame is covered with the hood part in the completed assembly of the mechanism member and the first connector.
  • 3. A connector structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one key, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one key groove for slidable engagement with the key.
  • 4. A connector structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one projection, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one engagement hole for engagement with the projection.
  • 5. A connector structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one key groove, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one key for slidable engagement with the key groove.
  • 6. A connector structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one engagement hole, while the hood of the mechanism member is provided with at least one projection for engagement with the engagement hole.
  • 7. A connector structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminals are soldered to the wiring pattern on the printed board.
  • 8. A connector structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hood part is formed integrally with the mechanism member.
  • 9. An assembling method for connectors, comprising the steps of:preparing a printed board and a first connector having a frame in which one or more terminals are engaged; engaging the terminals to a wiring pattern on the printed board to assemble the first connector to the printed board; preparing a mechanism member provided with an integral hood part having a opened lower side to draw a second connector being mated with the first connector into the mechanism member to fit the first and second connectors to each other; and putting the opened lower side of the hood part on the frame to assemble the mechanism member to the first connector such that when the hood part of the mechanism member is arranged on the printed board and remaining parts of the mechanism member is arranged off the printed board, a combined height of the hood part and height of and the printed board is generally similar to a height of the remaining parts of the mechanism member.
  • 10. An assembling method of connectors as claimed in claim 9, wherein the terminals are soldered to the wiring pattern on the printed board.
  • 11. An assembling method of connectors as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hood part overlaps at least a portion of the frame of the first connector when the mechanism member is assembled to the first connector.
  • 12. A connector structure comprising:a first connector having a frame mounted on a printed board; and a mechanism member constituting a different body than the first connector and that directly attaches to the first connector, the mechanism member having an integral hood part having an opened lower side that overlaps at least a portion of the first connector when the mechanism member and first connector are engaged by inserting the frame into the hood part through the opened lower side such that when the hood part of the mechanism member is arranged on the printed board and remaining parts of the mechanism member is arranged off the printed board, a combined height of the hood part and a height of and the printed board is generally similar to a height of the remaining part of the mechanism member.
  • 13. A connector structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first connector further comprises a frame portion.
  • 14. A connector structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hood part of the mechanism member overlaps at least a portion of the frame of the first connector.
  • 15. A connector structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one terminal is engaged with the first connector, an end of the at least one terminals being engaged with a wiring pattern on a printed circuit board to assemble the first connector to the printed circuit board.
  • 16. A connector structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one terminal is soldered to the wiring pattern on the printed board.
  • 17. A connector structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the frame of the first connector is fixed on the printed board, while the frame is covered with the hood part in the completed assembly of the mechanism member and the first connector.
  • 18. A connector structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one key, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one key groove for slidable engagement with the key.
  • 19. A connector structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one projection, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one engagement hole for engagement with the projection.
  • 20. A connector structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the frame of the first connector is provided with at least one key groove, while the hood part of the mechanism member is provided with at least one key for slidable engagement with the key groove.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
10-077840 Mar 1998 JP
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
5915982 Kashiyama et al. Jun 1999
5919053 Tsuji et al. Jun 1999
5938458 Krehbiel et al. Aug 1999
5964602 Aoki et al. Oct 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
6-5148 Jan 1994 JP
6-267610 Sep 1994 JP
8-222331 Aug 1996 JP
10-21991 Jan 1998 JP