This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-012004, filed on Jan. 30, 2023, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a connector.
A connector disclosed in JP S61-271769 A includes a resin housing (insulative housing) and a terminal fitting (contact pin) that is attached to the housing. The housing is manufactured by filling a metal mold with a molten resin, solidifying the molten resin, and then removing the mold. A gate mark corresponding to an injection port for the molten resin is formed in an outer surface of the housing. A connector that includes a resin housing formed in this manner is also disclosed in JP 2001-088173 A, JP 2009-181847 A, JP 2020-071938 A, and JP 2021-114378 A. Of these, connectors disclosed in JP 2020-071938 A and JP 2021-114378 A each include a tubular housing, and are mounted to the housing by a plurality of terminal fittings passing through a back wall of the housing. The terminal fittings include substrate connection portions that protrude outward from the housing and are connected to a conductive portion formed on a surface of a circuit substrate.
In a connector such as those described above, substrate connection portions of terminal fittings are subjected to a reflow process and are connected to a conductive portion of a circuit substrate through soldering. There are cases where the housing of the connector thermally expands due to heat generated in the reflow process, and the upper end side of the back wall of the housing deforms upward, namely in a direction separating away from the circuit substrate. In this case, there is a concern that the substrate connection portions of the terminals attached on the upper end side of the back wall will rise away from the conductive portion of the circuit substrate, thus inducing a connection failure. In particular, the housing, which is formed by pouring a molten resin from the gate mark in the left-right direction and orienting the resin (fiber) in the left-right direction, is likely to thermally expand upward. For this reason, there has been a problem in that the substrate connection portions of the terminal fittings attached to this housing are likely to rise away from the conductive portion of the circuit substrate.
In view of this, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can improve the reliability of connection of a terminal fitting to a circuit substrate.
A connector according to the present disclosure includes: a terminal fitting and a resin housing to which the terminal fitting is attached, the housing having a tubular shape that is open forward, and including a bottom wall to be placed on a circuit substrate, a ceiling wall opposing the bottom wall, and a back wall linking a rear end portion of the bottom wall to a rear end portion of the ceiling wall in an up-down direction, the terminal fitting being shaped so as to pass through the back wall in a front-rear direction, and including a terminal connection portion disposed inside the housing, and a substrate connection portion disposed outside the housing, and a gate mark being formed in at least one of a ceiling surface at the rear end portion of the ceiling wall and a bottom surface at the rear end portion of the bottom wall, the gate mark corresponding to an injection port for injecting a molding resin.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can improve the reliability of connection of a terminal fitting of a connector to a circuit substrate.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
(1) A connector according to the present disclosure includes: a terminal fitting and a resin housing to which the terminal fitting is attached, the housing having a tubular shape that is open forward, and including a bottom wall to be placed on a circuit substrate, a ceiling wall opposing the bottom wall, and a back wall linking a rear end portion of the bottom wall to a rear end portion of the ceiling wall in an up-down direction, the terminal fitting being shaped so as to pass through the back wall in a front-rear direction, and including a terminal connection portion disposed inside the housing, and a substrate connection portion disposed outside the housing, and a gate mark being formed in at least one of a ceiling surface at the rear end portion of the ceiling wall and a bottom surface at the rear end portion of the bottom wall, the gate mark corresponding to an injection port for injecting a molding resin.
With the above configuration, the flowing direction of a molten resin that flows from the gate mark when the housing is formed can be set to the up-down direction, which is the direction in which the back wall stands upright from the circuit substrate. As a result, the orientation of the resin that forms the housing (fiber orientation when a fiber is contained) after the housing is molded can be set to the up-down direction, and thus a structure is achieved in which the housing is unlikely to thermally expand upward. Therefore, the housing is unlikely to deform upward even in a high-temperature environment in reflow or the like, and it is possible to appropriately maintain a state where the substrate connection portions of the terminal fittings are connected to the circuit substrate.
(2) In the connector according to the above (1), preferably, the gate mark is formed in an intermediate portion in a left-right direction of at least one of the ceiling surface and the bottom surface.
With the above configuration, it is possible to effectively suppress deformation of the intermediate portion in the left-right direction of the housing that may undergo significant thermal expansion in a high-temperature environment in reflow or the like.
(3) In the connector according to the above (1) or (2), preferably, the housing further includes a continuous resin portion made of a resin and extending in a continuous manner in the up-down direction from the ceiling surface to the bottom surface via the gate mark.
With the above configuration, the continuous resin portion is formed so as to extend without discontinuity from the ceiling surface of the housing to the bottom surface, and thus it is possible to more effectively suppress deformation of the housing in a high-temperature environment in reflow or the like.
(4) In the connector according to the above (3), preferably, the ceiling wall includes a plurality of lock portions for holding, in a mated state, a partner housing disposed inside the housing, the plurality of lock portions are aligned in a left-right direction and protrude from a front end portion of the ceiling wall, the ceiling wall includes, in a rear end portion of the ceiling wall that is continuous with the back wall, a plurality of punch holes disposed at positions respectively opposing the plurality of lock portions, and a partition wall separating the plurality of punch holes, and the partition wall constitutes a portion of the continuous resin portion.
If the back wall includes a punch hole at a position that opposes the gate mark in the up-down direction unlike the above configuration, when the housing is formed, the flow of the molten resin is blocked at a position corresponding to the punch hole, and there is a concern that the housing cannot be formed favorably with the resin orientation set to the up-down direction. In this regard, with the above configuration, the partition wall that separates the punch holes constitutes a portion of the continuous resin portion, and thus, the housing can be formed favorably with the resin orientation set to the up-down direction, and it is possible to reliably suppress upward deformation of the housing.
(5) In the connector according to the above (4), preferably, the partition wall extends in the front-rear direction and has a front end portion connected to the plurality of lock portions.
With the above configuration, the ceiling wall is reinforced by the partition wall, thus realizing a structure in which the housing is less likely to deform.
(6) In the connector according to any one of the above (1) to (5), preferably, the ceiling wall has a larger volume than the bottom wall and is overall thicker than the bottom wall in the up-down direction.
With the above configuration, a structure can be realized in which an intermediate portion in the left-right direction of the ceiling wall is unlikely to become warped in a high-temperature environment in reflow or the like.
(7) In the connector according to any one of the above (1) to (6), preferably, one gate mark is formed in one of the ceiling surface and the bottom surface.
With the above configuration, when the housing is formed, the flow of the molten resin can be made uniform, and thus it is possible to prevent the formation of a weld line on an outer surface of the housing.
Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
A connector 3 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of terminal fittings 5 and a housing 10 to which the terminal fittings 5 are attached. The connector 3 is a substrate connector that is to be mounted on a circuit substrate 90. The housing 10 can be fitted to a partner housing 50. Note that, in the following description, regarding a front-rear direction, a side on which a surface of the housing 10 is fitted to the partner housing 50 is defined as a front side. The left side in
The “front side” is denoted by “F” in
The housing 10 will be described. As shown in
The hood portion 20 includes a bottom wall 11 shaped as a flat plate. The lower surface of the bottom wall 11 is a bottom surface that is placed on the circuit substrate 90. The hood portion 20 includes a pair of plate-shaped side walls 13 that rise from right and left end portions of the bottom wall 11. The hood portion 20 includes a plate-shaped ceiling wall 15 that opposes the bottom wall 11 in parallel therewith above the bottom wall 11. The upper surface of the ceiling wall 15 is a flat ceiling surface spreading along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.
The hood portion 20 includes a back wall 19 that links a rear end portion of the bottom wall 11 to a rear end portion of the ceiling wall 15 in the up-down direction. Note that, in the present specification, a “rear end portion” refers to an end portion on the rear side, and conceptually includes a portion positioned forward of the rearmost face of the hood portion 20. The back wall 19 is a vertical wall that has a thickness in the front-rear direction. The rear surface of the hood portion 20 is closed by the back wall 19. The hood portion 20 is open on the front side relative to the back wall 19. The lower edges of the pair of side walls 13 are perpendicularly linked to the right and left end portions of the bottom wall 11. The upper edges of the pair of side walls 13 are perpendicularly linked to right and left end portions of the ceiling wall 15. The rear end edges of the pair of side walls 13 are perpendicularly linked to right and left end portions of the back wall 19.
As shown in
The ceiling wall 15 includes punch holes 16 that are open rearward, in a rear end portion of the ceiling wall 15 that opposes the engagement surfaces 17S. The punch holes 16 are arranged as a pair in the left-right direction in correspondence with the lock portions 17. The punch holes 16 have a quadrangular shape as viewed from the rear side, and are formed as a result of pulling away a metal mold (not illustrated) for molding the engagement surface 17S. An upper end portion of the back wall 19 faces the punch holes 16.
The ceiling wall 15 includes, in a central portion in the left-right direction of the rear end portion thereof, the pair of right and left punch holes 16 that are separated from each other by the partition wall 21. The partition wall 21 extends forward from the rear end portion at a position between the punch holes 16 while being continuous with the inner lower surface of the ceiling wall 15. A front end portion of the partition wall 21 is a portion of the opening end portion of the hood portion 20, and right and left end portions of the front end portion of the partition wall 21 are connected to the corresponding lock portions 17.
A rear surface 15S of the ceiling wall 15 extends along the up-down direction and the left-right direction. The punch holes 16 are open in the rear surface 15S of the ceiling wall 15. A rear surface of the partition wall 21 is a portion of the rear surface 15S of the ceiling wall 15. The back wall 19 has a terminal protruding surface 23 on a rear surface thereof. The terminal fittings 5 protrude from the terminal protruding surface 23 to the outside of the housing 10. The terminal protruding surface 23 is disposed so as to be recessed forward relative to the rear surface 15S of the ceiling wall 15. A stepped surface 25 facing downward and extending in the left-right direction is formed between the terminal protruding surface 23 of the back wall 19 and the rear surface 15S of the ceiling wall 15.
The back wall 19 includes a plurality of terminal accommodation holes 31 that pass therethrough in the front-rear direction, in order to insert the terminal fittings 5. The terminal accommodation holes 31 are aligned in a plurality of rows in the up-down direction and in a plurality of columns in the left-right direction, and are open in the terminal protruding surface 23. As shown in
The housing 10 includes a gate mark 35 in a central portion in the left-right direction of the upper surface in the rear end portion of the ceiling wall 15. The gate mark 35 is shaped as a circular recess, and is formed at a position corresponding to an injection port for injecting a resin (molten resin) for forming the housing 10. The diameter of the gate mark 35 is smaller than the width in the left-right direction of the partition wall 21. The housing 10 includes a continuous resin portion 37 extending in a continuous manner downward from the gate mark 35. The continuous resin portion 37 is a resin portion that passes (vertically) through the ceiling wall 15, the back wall 19, and the bottom wall 11 in the up-down direction. The continuous resin portion 37 is a portion that has the same cross-sectional shape as the cross-sectional shape of the gate mark 35, and passes through the back wall 19 in the up-down direction. An upper surface of the continuous resin portion 37 constitutes the gate mark 35, at the upper surface of the ceiling wall 15. The continuous resin portion 37 has a circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the gate mark 35, and is continuous with the portion of the housing 10 that surrounds the continuous resin portion 37 without a boundary. The continuous resin portion 37 forms a portion of the partition wall 21 on the ceiling wall 15. The continuous resin portion 37 forms a resin portion of the back wall 19 between the terminal accommodation holes 31. A lower surface of the continuous resin portion 37 forms a portion of the lower surface of the bottom wall 11.
As shown in
The partition wall 21 includes a portion that protrudes downward from a central portion in the left-right direction of the reference wall 48. The ceiling wall 15 includes a pair of right and left protruding ribs 39 that protrude downward from the lower surface of the reference wall 48, on opposite sides of the lock portions 17. The protruding ribs 39 extend rearward from the front surface of the ceiling wall 15 in parallel with the partition wall 21, and have rear ends that are connected to the back wall 19. The ceiling wall 15 includes, between the protruding ribs 39, first recessed portions 40 into which lock arms 51 of the partner housing 50 to be described later move forward.
The ceiling wall 15 includes left and right pairs of second recessed portions 43 that are recessed from the lower surface of the reference wall 48, at portions that are respectively closer to left and right end portions of the ceiling wall 15, each pair being disposed between the protruding rib 39 and the side wall 13. The second recessed portions 43 extend in the front-rear direction, front ends thereof are open at the front surface of the ceiling wall 15, and rear ends thereof are closed by the rear end portion of the ceiling wall 15. Each of the second recessed portions 43 is dovetail-shaped with a width in the left-right direction that increases toward the upper side. Ribs (not illustrated) of the partner housing 50 are fitted to the second recessed portions 43.
As shown in
The housing 10 includes a pair of right and left protection walls 60 that protrude in a continuous manner rearward respectively from the side walls 13. The protection walls 60 are shaped as a plate, and are each disposed with the plate surfaces thereof being directed to the right and the left. The protection walls 60 protect the terminal fittings 5 on the right and left sides thereof. The protection walls 60 each include a thick portion 61 having a larger width in the left-right direction. As shown in
A pair of fixing members 47 made of metal are respectively attached to the outer surfaces of the two side walls 13 of the hood portion 20 (right and left end surfaces of the hood portion 20). Bottom surfaces 47S of the fixing members are fixed to the circuit substrate 90 through soldering. The fixing members 47 respectively include a pair of engagement portions 49 that protrude in the front-rear direction. As shown in
The terminal fittings 5 are made of metal, and, as shown in
As shown in
Next, actions of the connector 3 according to the first embodiment will be described. A metal mold (not illustrated) is filled with a molten resin, which is solidified, and the metal mold is then opened to take out the housing 10. On the upper surface of the rear end portion of the ceiling wall 15 of the formed housing 10, the gate mark 35 is formed in correspondence with a position at which the molten resin was injected into the metal mold. The resin orientation (fiber orientation) of the housing 10 corresponds to the direction in which the molten resin flows, and the resin orientation of the housing 10 is set to the direction in which the continuous resin portion 37 extending downward from the gate mark 35 is formed and the up-down direction that is parallel to the continuous resin portion 37 (see the arrow direction in
Note that, in the first embodiment, the housing 10 includes the continuous resin portion 37 extending in a continuous manner from the gate mark 35, and thus the resin orientation can be appropriately set to the up-down direction without blocking the flow of the molten resin.
The connector 3 is mounted on the circuit substrate 90 through reflow. Specifically, the substrate connection portions 9 of the terminal fittings 5 and the fixing members 47 are placed on soldering paste formed on the surface of the circuit substrate 90, and the solder is melted in a reflow furnace (not illustrated). After that, by undergoing cool-solidification, the fixing members 47 are fixed to the circuit substrate 90 through soldering, and the substrate connection portions 9 of the terminal fittings 5 are connected to the conductive portion of the circuit substrate 90 through soldering.
In general, there is a concern that the housing will thermally expand and deform upward away from the circuit substrate 90, by being heated in a reflow furnace. However, in the first embodiment, as described above, the resin orientation of the housing 10 is set to the up-down direction, and thus, even in a high-temperature environment such as the inside of a reflow furnace, it is possible to suppress deformation of the housing 10 in the up-down direction.
In addition, in general, there is a concern that, when the housing 10 is heated in a reflow furnace, a central portion in the left-right direction of the housing 10 will deform so as to curve upward. If the housing is warped in this manner, the terminal fittings 5 become displaced upward, and, in particular, there is also a risk that the substrate connection portions 9 of the terminal fittings 5 on the upper side separate from the conductive portions of the circuit substrate 90, resulting in a connection failure. However, in the first embodiment, as described above, the ceiling wall 15 is overall thicker than the bottom wall 11 in the up-down direction, and has a larger volume than the bottom wall 11. For this reason, an upper end portion of the housing 10 is unlikely to deform in the left-right direction, and warping of the housing 10 can be suppressed. In addition, after reflow, even in a state where the connector 3 is mounted in a vehicle or the like, warping of the housing 10 can be suppressed due to the structure of the ceiling wall 15 being thick. In particular, the step surface 25 extending in the left-right direction is formed between a rear surface of the ceiling wall 15 and the terminal protruding surface 23, and thus warping of the housing 10 can be effectively suppressed.
The flange portion 45 is disposed so as to protrude from the ceiling wall 15 and the outer surfaces of the side walls 13, thereby reinforcing the ceiling wall 15 and the side walls 13 from the outside. Warping of the housing 10 can be more reliably suppressed due to the flange portion 45. In addition, the partition wall 21 extends in the front-rear direction, and a front end portion thereof is connected to each of the lock portions 17, and thus a structure is realized in which the ceiling wall 15 is more unlikely to deform.
The terminal protruding surface 23 is disposed on the front side relative to the rear surface of the ceiling wall 15, and thus the ceiling wall 15 is thick in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, it is also possible to suppress warping of the housing 10 in the front-rear direction. In addition, with this configuration, positions at which the terminal connection portions 8 of the terminal fittings 5 protrude from the terminal protruding surface 23 are also provided on the front side relative to the rear surface of the ceiling wall 15 due to formation of the step surface 25. For this reason, the size in the front-rear direction of the terminal connection portions 8 of the terminal fittings 5 does not need to be unnecessarily large. As a result, there is a shorter distance between the front end of the hood portion 20 and the position at which the substrate connection portions 9 are connected to conductive portions of the circuit substrate 90. That is to say, it is possible to prevent an excessive increase in the distance between the front end position of the connector 3 and the above connection positions in the circuit substrate 90.
The above first embodiment disclosed here is exemplary in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting in any manner.
(1) In the above first embodiment, the gate mark is provided in the upper surface (ceiling surface) of the rear end portion of the ceiling wall. In contrast, according to another embodiment, the gate mark may be provided in a lower surface (bottom surface) of a rear end portion of the bottom wall. In addition, gate marks may be formed in right and left end portions of at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of a rear end portion of the ceiling wall.
(2) The partition wall does not need to be connected to the lock portions. A configuration may also be adopted in which, for example, a front end surface of the partition wall is disposed on the rear side relative to rear end surfaces of the lock portions.
(3) A plurality of gate marks may be formed in either an upper surface or a lower surface of a rear end portion of the ceiling wall.
(4) The continuous resin portion is a resin portion that passes (vertically) through the ceiling wall 15, the back wall 19, and the bottom wall 11 in the up-down direction. The region in which the continuous resin portion is formed is not limited to a columnar shape with a gate mark disposed at an upper surface.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2023-012004 | Jan 2023 | JP | national |