This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-108025, filed on Jun. 5, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector and a connector device.
International Publication No. 2013/145527 discloses an electrical connector provided with a connector having a contact to which an electric wire is attached and a receptacle connector having a receptacle contact electrically connected to the contact and mounted on a main surface (connector mounting surface) of a substrate and connecting the substrate and the electric wire. In the electrical connector, the connector is fitted to the receptacle connector along a direction toward the main surface of the substrate from above the receptacle connector. This type of fitting is also referred to as vertical fitting.
In a vertical fitting-based electrical connector, an external force in a direction away from the main surface of the substrate may be generated in a plug connector due to, for example, displacement (hereinafter, referred to as “bending”) of an electric wire attributable to lifting of a part close to the terminal of the electric wire to which the plug connector is attached. In some examples, a fitted state is maintained without the plug connector being separated from the receptacle connector, such that conduction may be maintained between both connectors even when the external force acts. Additionally, operability of the connector may be preserved during removal or the like with the fitted state firmly maintained.
Accordingly, the electrical connector and a connector device may be reliably maintained in a fitted state even when an external force acts.
An example electrical connector disclosed herein may include a connector portion configured to be fitted to an opposing connector along a first direction, a connection body extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction being connected to the connector portion, and a lock member attached to the connector portion and configured to maintain a fitted state where the connector portion and the opposing connector are fitted together. The lock member has a main body portion configured to sandwich the connector portion in the fitted state between the opposing connector and the lock member and at least one lock engagement portion configured to be engageable with at least one connector engagement portion provided in the opposing connector. The lock engagement portion has a hanging portion extending toward the opposing connector in a downward direction from a part of the main body portion close to or adjacent an outside in a third direction, the third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. In some examples, the downward direction is the first direction. Additionally, the lock engagement portion may have a folded portion extending so as to be folded back inward in the third direction from a lower end of the hanging portion, and an extending portion extending away from the opposing connector in an upward direction from a part of the folded portion close to or adjacent an inside in the third direction. In some examples, the extending portion may include an engagement portion engaging with the connector engagement portion, the upward direction being the first direction.
In some examples, the lock engagement portion of the lock member and the connector engagement portion of the opposing connector can be engaged with each other. As a result, the lock member may be connected to the opposing connector, and thus an upward movement of the connector portion sandwiched between the opposing connector and the lock member is regulated. Accordingly, the fitted state may be maintained even when an external force attributable to bending or the like acts on the connector portion through the connection body. Further, the lock engagement portion has the hanging portion extending downward, the folded portion folded back inward from the lower end of the hanging portion, and the extending portion extending upward from the part close to or adjacent the inside of the folded portion. In some examples, the lock engagement portion is formed in a substantially U-shape. The engagement state of the engagement portion of the lock engagement portion and the connector engagement portion of the opposing connector is released during removal. In some examples, the lock engagement portion is displaced (e.g., bent or deformed) when the engagement state is released. When the lock engagement portion is formed in a U-shape, the spring length of the lock engagement portion (length of the part functioning as a spring) can be increased such that the engagement release (disengagement) operation can be performed with appropriate predetermined force under limited connector height conditions. Accordingly, the fitted state may be reliably maintained even when the external force acts and the operability may be preserved during the removal process and the like.
In some examples, a slit may be formed in the lock engagement portion to facilitate bending or displacement of the lock engagement portion and to preserve operability during the removal process and the like.
The lock engagement portion may be disposed close to or adjacent a rear of the connector portion in a case where a direction in which the connection body extends toward the connector portion is forward in the second direction and a direction in which the connection body extends away from the connector portion is rearward in the second direction. An external force in a direction away from the opposing connector (external force attributable to bending) may be applied to the part of the connector portion close to or adjacent the rear to which the connection body is attached in a case where the connection body is displaced by the part of the connection body close to or adjacent the connector portion being lifted (in the case of so-called bending reception). For examples, the lock engagement portion may be disposed close to or adjacent the rear of the connector portion, and thus the fitted state can be reliably maintained even in a case where the external force attributable to bending acts.
The lock member may further have at least one release operation portion connected to the lock engagement portion and configured such that operation for releasing the engagement between the connector engagement portion and the lock engagement portion is performed. The engagement between the connector engagement portion and the lock engagement portion can be released by the release operation portion to facilitate operability during the removal process.
The release operation portion may be disposed close to or adjacent the rear of the connector portion. The connection body extends behind the connector portion. As a result of the disposition of the release operation portion at the position close to or adjacent the rear where another member (connection body) is provided, the space on a wiring substrate on which the opposing connector is mounted can be effectively used.
The release operation portion may release the engagement between the connector engagement portion and the lock engagement portion by being operated or displaced upward. In some examples in which engagement between the connector engagement portion and the lock engagement portion is released by the release operation portion being pressed, the pressing may cause a high load to be applied to a solder portion of the wiring substrate on which the opposing connector is mounted by solder or the like. The configuration in which the release operation portion is operated upward is adopted in this regard, and thus the engagement may be released while reducing the load on the wiring substrate to avoid a connection failure.
The lock member may be attached to the connector portion so as to be pivotable about a pivot shaft extending along the third direction. The lock is readily released or disengaged by the lock member pivoting around the pivot shaft, and thus the removal work can be further facilitated. In addition, dissipation of parts can be suppressed since the lock member is attached to the connector portion via the pivot shaft.
The pivot shaft of the lock member may be disposed close to or adjacent a front of the connector portion. As a result, a predetermined distance can be maintained between the pivot shaft disposed close to or adjacent the front and the release operation portion disposed close to or adjacent the rear to facilitate releasing the lock by pivoting the lock member about the pivot shaft.
The lock engagement portion may be disposed between the pivot shaft and the release operation portion in the second direction. As a result, the release operation portion, the lock engagement portion, and the pivot shaft may be sequentially disposed from the rear toward the front. During the lock release, the lock member is pivoted after the engagement of the connector engagement portion and the lock engagement portion is released by the release operation portion being operated. The above-described example disposition may result in a sequential operation from the configuration disposed in the rear toward the configuration disposed in the front to facilitate operability of the connector.
A main surface of the release operation portion may be disposed so as to be substantially flush with a main surface of the main body portion. To facilitate operating (lifting) the release operation portion, the release operation portion may not be disposed at an extremely low part of the main body portion. In a case where the release operation portion is disposed above the main body portion, the height of the connector may be increased. The main surface of the release operation portion may be disposed so as to be substantially flush with the main surface of the main body portion in this regard to avoid an increase in the height of the connector, and to facilitate the operability of the connector.
In some examples, a connector device may include a first connector, a second connector configured to be fitted to the first connector along a first direction, a connection body extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction being connected to the second connector, and a lock member attached to the second connector and configured to maintain a fitted state where the second connector and the first connector are fitted together. The first connector has at least one connector engagement portion. The lock member has a main body portion configured to sandwich the second connector in the fitted state between the first connector and the lock member and at least one lock engagement portion configured to be engageable with the at least one connector engagement portion. The lock engagement portion has a hanging portion extending toward the first connector in a downward direction from a part of the main body portion close to or adjacent an outside in a third direction. In some examples, the third direction is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and the downward direction is the first direction. Additionally, the lock engagement portion may have a folded portion extending so as to be folded back inward in the third direction from a lower end of the hanging portion, and an extending portion extending away from the first connector in an upward direction from a part of the folded portion close to or adjacent an inside in the third direction. In some examples, the extending portion may include an engagement portion engaging with the connector engagement portion, the upward direction being the first direction.
The first connector may further have a protective portion positioned outside the hanging portion in the third direction in the state where the second connector and the first connector are fitted together. In a case where the lock engagement portion is deformed outward in the third direction, for example, engagement between the lock engagement portion and the connector engagement portion may not be sufficiently performed. The protective portion may be provided outside the lock engagement portion (for example, outside the hanging portion positioned on the outermost side in the lock engagement portion) to prevent an outward deformation of the lock engagement portion. In addition, even in a case where the lock engagement portion is deformed, the protective portion may be configured to hit the lock engagement portion and to correct or adjust a position of the lock engagement portion inward in the third direction during the fitting. Accordingly, engagement between the lock engagement portion and the connector engagement portion can be facilitated.
The protective portion may be provided at a position where the lock engagement portion is sandwiched between the connector engagement portion and the protective portion. As a result, during the fitting, the protective portion is disposed outside the place of engagement between the lock engagement portion and the connector engagement portion to prevent an outward deformation of the lock engagement portion, and to facilitate the inward correction of the lock engagement portion.
The protective portion may be a part of a conductive shell covering an outer surface of the first connector, at least in part. As a result, the protective portion can be provided without an increase in the number of parts.
Example electrical connectors and connector devices are therefore disclosed herein for reliably maintaining a fitted state even when an external force acts.
In the following description, with reference to the drawings, the same reference numbers are assigned to the same components or to similar components having the same function, and overlapping description is omitted. With respect to the drawings, the positive Z-axis direction will be referred to as “upward direction” and the negative Z-axis direction will be referred to as “downward direction” in some cases. Further, with respect to the drawings, the positive X-axis direction will be referred to as “rearward direction” and the negative X-axis direction will be referred to as “forward direction” in some cases. It is to be understood that not all aspects, advantages and features described herein may necessarily be achieved by, or included in, any one particular example. Indeed, having described and illustrated various examples herein, it should be apparent that other examples may be modified in arrangement and detail.
Connector Device
An example connector device 1 is described with reference to
The receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20 are configured such that the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20 can be fitted together and removed from each other along a first direction (such as the Z-axis direction) perpendicular to a main surface 50s (such as the XY plane) of the circuit board 50. The lock member 30 is configured to maintain a fitted state where the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20 are fitted together. In the fitted state of the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20, a conductive path (such as wiring) formed on the main surface 50s of the circuit board 50 and the electric cable 60 is electrically connected. In some examples, the connector device 1 is a device for electrically and physically connecting the conductive path and an electric cable.
The circuit board 50 is an example substrate on which electronic circuits and electronic components may be mounted. The circuit board 50 may comprise, for example, a printed wiring board or a flexible printed board. The receptacle connector 10 may be mounted on the main surface 50s of the circuit board 50 by solder connection or the like.
The electric cable 60 is wiring used for a signal or the like to be transmitted between various circuit boards incorporated in a small electronic device such as a mobile phone. In the fitted state of the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20, the electric cable 60 extends along a second direction (such as the X-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction. The electric cable 60 includes an internal conductor 61, an insulator 62, an external conductor 63, and a protective coating 64 (see
In the electric cable 60, the internal conductor 61, the insulator 62, the external conductor 63, and the protective coating 64 may be sequentially exposed in steps in this order from the distal end portion (terminal part) to which the plug connector 20 is attached toward the proximal end portion (terminal part opposite to the distal end portion). The electric cable 60 is a coaxial cable or the like. The plug connector 20 may be a connector for a coaxial cable extending along a third direction (such as the Y-axis direction) perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.
In some examples, the first direction is along the Z-axis direction, the second direction is along the X-axis direction, and the third direction is along the Y-axis direction.
Receptacle Connector
The receptacle connector 10 is described in additional detail with reference to
A resin-containing insulating material constitutes the housing 12. The housing 12 holds the plurality of conductive terminals 13 and provides insulation between the shell 11 and the conductive terminal 13. As illustrated in
The side walls 12a and 12b are respectively positioned near the long sides of the bottom wall 12e and extend in the Y-axis direction along the long sides. Accordingly, the side walls 12a and 12b face each other in the X-axis direction. The side wall 12a is provided such that a part of the conductive terminal 13 is accommodated in the side wall 12a (e.g., so as to surround a part of the conductive terminal 13). The outer and inner surfaces of the side wall 12b in the X-axis direction are covered by a side wall 11b (described in additional detail later) of the shell 11. The side walls 12d and 12d are respectively positioned near the short sides of the bottom wall 12e and extend in the X-axis direction along the short sides. Accordingly, the side walls 12d and 12d face each other in the Y-axis direction. The outer and inner surfaces of the side walls 12d and 12d in the Y-axis direction are covered by a side wall 11c (described in additional detail later) of the shell 11.
The middle wall 12c is positioned in the space that is surrounded by the side walls 12a, 12b, 12d, and 12d in a state where the middle wall 12c is apart from the side walls 12a, 12b, 12d, and 12d. The middle wall 12c extends along the side walls 12a and 12b between the side walls 12a and 12b (in the Y-axis direction, which is the direction of extension of the side walls 12a and 12b). Accordingly, the middle wall 12c faces the side walls 12a and 12b in the X-axis direction. A plurality of notches 12x for exposing the conductive terminal 13 are formed in the surface of the middle wall 12c that faces the side wall 12a.
The housing 12 has a concave recess V having a square ring shape by being configured to include the side walls 12a and 12b, the middle wall 12c, the side walls 12d and 12d, and the bottom wall 12e. The recess V is a space accommodating the plug connector 20 and has a pair of recesses V1 and V2. The first recess V1 is formed by the space that is surrounded by the side wall 12a, the middle wall 12c, and the bottom wall 12e and accommodates a protrusion W1 (see
A pressed metallic and plate-shaped member or the like constitutes the shell 11. The shell 11 has elasticity and conductivity. As illustrated in
The side walls 11a and 11b face each other in the X-axis direction and extend along the Y-axis direction as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The connector engagement portions 11g and 11g are configured to be engageable with a lock engagement portion 32 (described in additional detail later) of the lock member 30. The connector engagement portions 11g and 11g are disposed in the end portions 10a and 10b, respectively. As illustrated in
A pressed metallic and plate-shaped member or the like constitutes the plurality of conductive terminals 13. The plurality of conductive terminals 13 have elasticity and conductivity. As illustrated in
The proximal end portion 13a is disposed on the main surface 50s of the circuit board 50 and is connected to the conductive path of the circuit board 50 by solder or the like. The proximal end portion 13a is positioned below the side wall 12a of the housing 12.
The intermediate portion 13b connects the proximal end portion 13a and the contact portion 13c. The intermediate portion 13b is bent in a U-shape in the side wall 12a of the housing 12 and then extends to the vicinity of the middle wall 12c along the main surface 50s of the circuit board 50.
As illustrated in
Plug Connector Next, the plug connector 20 is described in further detail with reference to
A resin-containing insulating material constitutes the housing 22. The housing 22 holds the plurality of conductive terminals 23 and provides insulation between the shell 21 and the conductive terminal 23. As illustrated in
The side walls 22a and 22b are respectively positioned near the long sides of the upper wall 22d and extend in the Y-axis direction along the long sides. Accordingly, the side walls 22a and 22b face each other in the X-axis direction. The side wall 22a is provided with the conductive terminal 23 as illustrated in
The side walls 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22c are accommodated in the recess V of the receptacle connector 10 when the plug connector 20 and the receptacle connector 10 are fitted together. Accordingly, the side walls 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22c constitute a protrusion W having a protruding shape as a whole. The side walls 22a and 22b constitute the pair of protrusions W1 and W2 and are accommodated in the pair of recesses V1 and V2. In some examples, the side wall 22a constituting the protrusion W1 is accommodated in the recess V1 and the side wall 22b constituting the protrusion W2 is accommodated in the recess V2 (see
A pressed metallic and plate-shaped member or the like constitutes the shell 21. The shell 21 has elasticity and conductivity. As illustrated in
The upper wall 21a covers the distal end portion of the electric cable 60 and covers the upper surface of the upper wall 22d of the housing 22 as illustrated in
The side wall 21b is provided so as to cover the side wall 22b of the housing 22 as illustrated in
The front portion 21c covers the outer surface of the upper wall 22d of the housing 22 in the X-axis direction as illustrated in
The ground contact portion 21d is provided so as to cover a part of the outer surface of the side wall 22c of the housing 22 in the Y-axis direction as illustrated in
The bearing 21e holds a pivot shaft 34 (described in additional detail later) of the lock member 30. As illustrated in
A pressed metallic and plate-shaped member or the like constitutes the plurality of conductive terminals 23. The plurality of conductive terminals 23 have conductivity. As illustrated in
The connection portion 23a extends on the upper end surface of the side wall 22b along the internal conductor 61 in the distal end portion of the electric cable 60 and is connected by solder or the like to the internal conductor 61 that is in an exposed state. The intermediate portion 23b connects the connection portion 23a and the contact portion 23c. The intermediate portion 23b is contiguous with the front end of the connection portion 23a in the X-axis direction. The intermediate portion 23b extends downward and then extends rearward (in the direction of the middle wall 12c of the receptacle connector 10) along the lower surface of the side wall 22a. The contact portion 23c is in contact with the conductive terminal 13 of the receptacle connector 10 in the fitted state of the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20. The contact portion 23c is contiguous with the rear end of the intermediate portion 23b in the X-axis direction and extends upward along the side wall 22a.
Lock Member
The lock member 30 is described in further detail with reference to
A pressed metallic and plate-shaped member or the like constitutes the lock member 30. The lock member 30 has elasticity and conductivity. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The lock engagement portions 32 and 32 are members configured to be engageable with the connector engagement portions 11g and 11g disposed in the end portions 10a and 10b of the receptacle connector 10. In a case where the direction in which the electric cable 60 extends toward the plug connector 20 is forward in the X-axis direction and the direction in which the electric cable 60 extends away from the plug connector 20 is rearward in the X-axis direction, the lock engagement portions 32 and 32 are disposed close to the rear of the plug connector 20. Here, close to the rear means, for example, the region that is behind at least half of the entire region of the plug connector 20 in the X-axis direction. In some examples, the lock engagement portions 32 and 32 are disposed behind the pivot shaft 34 and in front of the release operation portions 33 and 33 in the X-axis direction, (that is, at positions sandwiched between the pivot shaft 34 and the release operation portions 33 and 33). As illustrated in
The hanging portion 32a is a part extending downward (in the Z-axis direction that is toward the receptacle connector 10 in the fitted state) from the part of the main body portion 31 (outer end portion 31b to be specific) that is close to or adjacent the outside in the Y-axis direction. The hanging portion 32a has a first part 32d contiguous with the outer end (end portion close to or adjacent the outside) of the outer end portion 31b and extending downward and a second part 32e contiguous with the lower end of the first part 32d and extending downward. The second part 32e is approximately half of the first part 32d in length (width) in the X-axis direction. Further, the second part 32e is contiguous only with the middle part of the lower end of the first part 32d in the X-axis direction. A slit 36 is formed at the middle part of the second part 32e in the X-axis direction and the second part 32e bifurcates in the X-axis direction. The slit 36 is continuously formed up to the folded portion 32b (described in additional detail later) and the extending portion 32c (described in additional detail later). In this manner, the slit 36 is formed in the lock engagement portion 32.
The folded portion 32b is a part curving and extending so as to be folded back inward in the Y-axis direction from the lower end of the hanging portion 32a (e.g., the lower end of the second part 32e of the hanging portion 32a). As illustrated in
The extending portion 32c is a part extending upward (e.g., in the Z-axis direction that is away from the receptacle connector 10 in the fitted state) from the part of the folded portion 32b that is close to or adjacent the inside in the Y-axis direction. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The pivot shaft 34 extends along the Y-axis direction as illustrated in
Fitted State
Next, the fitted state of the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20 are described with reference to
As illustrated in
Further, the engagement portion 32h provided on the extending portion 32c of the lock engagement portion 32 of the lock member 30 is engaged with the connector engagement portion 11g of the receptacle connector 10 in the fitted state, as illustrated in
Fitting Procedure
Next, an example procedure for fitting the plug connector 20 to the receptacle connector 10 (hereinafter, referred to as “fitting procedure”) is described with reference to
Removal Procedure
Next, an example procedure for removing the plug connector 20 from the receptacle connector 10 (hereinafter, referred to as “removal procedure”) is described with reference to
Subsequently, the plug connector 20 is removed from the receptacle connector 10 as illustrated in
Action
As described above, the connector device 1 may be provided with the plug connector 20 configured to be fitted to the receptacle connector 10 along the Z-axis direction, the electric cable 60 extending in the X-axis direction being connected to the plug connector 20, and the lock member 30 attached to the plug connector 20. Additionally, the lock member 30 may be configured to maintain the fitted state where the plug connector 20 and the receptacle connector 10 are fitted together, in which the lock member 30 has the main body portion 31 configured to sandwich the plug connector 20 in the fitted state between the receptacle connector 10 and the main body portion 31. In some examples, the lock engagement portions 32 and 32 may be configured to be engageable with the connector engagement portions 11g and 11g provided in the receptacle connector 10, and the lock engagement portion 32 may have the hanging portion 32a extending downward from the part of the main body portion 31 close to or adjacent the outside in the Y-axis direction. Still further, the folded portion 32b may extend so as to be folded back inward in the Y-axis direction from the lower end of the hanging portion 32a, and the extending portion 32c may extend upward from the part of the folded portion 32b close to or adjacent the inside in the Y-axis direction and including the engagement portion 32h engaging with the connector engagement portion 11g.
In some examples, the lock engagement portion 32 of the lock member 30 and the connector engagement portion 11g of the receptacle connector 10 can be engaged with each other. As a result, the lock member 30 may be connected to the receptacle connector 10, and thus a removal-direction movement of the plug connector 20 sandwiched between the receptacle connector 10 and the lock member 30 is regulated. Accordingly, the fitted state may be maintained even when an external force attributable to bending or the like acts on the plug connector 20 through the electric cable 60. Further, the lock engagement portion 32 has the hanging portion 32a extending downward, the folded portion 32b folded back inward from the lower end of the hanging portion 32a, and the extending portion 32c extending upward from the inner end (end portion close to or adjacent the inside) of the folded portion 32b and is formed in a substantially U-shape. The engagement state of the engagement portion 32h of the lock engagement portion 32 and the connector engagement portion 11g of the receptacle connector 10 is released during the removal process and the lock engagement portion 32 is displaced (bent) when the engagement state is released. By the lock engagement portion 32 being formed in a U-shape as described above, the spring length of the lock engagement portion 32 (length of the part functioning as a spring) can be selectively increased and the engagement release operation can be performed with predetermined force under limited connector height conditions. Accordingly, the fitted state may be maintained even when the external force acts and the operability may be preserved during the removal process.
The slit 36 may be formed in the lock engagement portion 32. As a result, the lock engagement portion 32 can be readily bent and the operability during the removal process and the like can be preserved.
The lock engagement portion 32 is disposed close to or adjacent the rear of the plug connector 20 in the X-axis direction. In the plug connector 20, an external force in a direction away from the receptacle connector 10 (external force attributable to bending) is likely to be applied to the part close to or adjacent the rear to which the electric cable 60 is attached in a case where the electric cable 60 is displaced by the part of the electric cable 60 close to or adjacent the plug connector 20 being lifted (in the case of so-called bending reception). The lock engagement portion 32 is disposed close to or adjacent the rear of the plug connector 20 in this regard, and thus the fitted state can be maintained even in a case where the external force attributable to bending acts.
The lock member 30 further has the release operation portions 33 and 33 connected to the lock engagement portion 32 and configured such that the operation for disengaging the lock engagement portion 32 from the connector engagement portion 11g is performed. Engagement between the connector engagement portion 11g and the lock engagement portion 32 can be released by the release operation portion 33 to facilitate operability during the removal process.
The release operation portion 33 is disposed close to or adjacent the rear of the plug connector 20. The electric cable 60 extends behind the plug connector 20. As a result of the disposition of the release operation portion 33 at the position close to or adjacent the rear where another member (e.g., electric cable 60) is provided, the space on the circuit board 50 on which the receptacle connector 10 is mounted can be effectively used.
The release operation portion 33 releases an engagement between the connector engagement portion 11g and the lock engagement portion 32 by being operated upward. In examples in which engagement between the connector engagement portion 11g and the lock engagement portion 32 is released by the release operation portion 33 being pressed, the pressing may cause a high load to be applied to a solder part of the circuit board 50 on which the receptacle connector 10 is mounted by solder or the like. The configuration in which the release operation portion 33 is operated upward is adopted in this regard, and thus it is possible to release the engagement while reducing the load on the circuit board 50 and avoiding connection failures.
The lock member 30 is attached to the plug connector 20 so as to be pivotable about the pivot shaft 34 extending along the Y-axis direction. The lock may be readily released by the lock member 30 pivoting around the pivot shaft 34, and thus the removal work can be further facilitated. In addition, dissipation of parts can be suppressed since the lock member 30 is attached to the plug connector 20 via the pivot shaft 34.
The pivot shaft 34 of the lock member 30 is disposed close to or adjacent the front of the plug connector 20 to maintain a predetermined distance between the pivot shaft 34 disposed close to or adjacent the front and the release operation portion 33 disposed close to or adjacent the rear. Accordingly, the lock may be readily released by pivoting the lock member 30 about the pivot shaft 34.
The lock engagement portion 32 is disposed between the pivot shaft 34 and the release operation portion 33 in the X-axis direction. As a result, the release operation portion 33, the lock engagement portion 32, and the pivot shaft 34 may be sequentially disposed from the rear toward the front. During the lock release, the lock member 30 is pivoted after the engagement of the connector engagement portion 11g and the lock engagement portion 32 is released by the release operation portion 33 being operated. The above-described disposition may result in a sequential operation from the configuration disposed in the rear toward the configuration disposed in the front.
The upper surface (e.g., main surface) of the operation portion 33b of the release operation portion 33 is disposed so as to be substantially flush with the upper surface of the main body portion 31 (e.g., outer end portion 31b of the main body portion 31). To facilitate operation of the release operation portion 33, the release operation portion 33 may not be disposed at an extremely low part of the connector. The height of the connector device 1 may be increased as a result of the release operation portion 33 being provided above the main body portion 31. In some examples, the main surface of the release operation portion 33 is disposed so as to be substantially flush with the main surface of the main body portion 31 to avoid an increase in the height of the connector device 1 attributable to the location of the release operation portion 33.
Hereinafter, another example connector is described with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The base portion 151 has a first part 151a and a second part 151b. The first part 151a extends outward in the Y-axis direction so as to be contiguous with the outer surface of the side wall 11a. The second part 151b is contiguous with the upper end of the first part 151a and extends rearward in the X-axis direction.
The connector engagement portion 152 is configured to be engageable with the lock engagement portion 32 of the lock member 30. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In some examples, the protective portion 153 is provided outside the hanging portion 32a in the Y-axis direction as illustrated in
In some examples, the protective portion 153 is provided at a position where the lock engagement portion 32 is sandwiched between the protective portion 153 and the connector engagement portion 152. As a result, the protective portion 153 is disposed outside the place of engagement between the lock engagement portion 32 and the connector engagement portion 152 during the fitting, to prevent an outward deformation of the lock engagement portion 32 and the inward correction of the lock engagement portion 32.
Further, the protective portion 153 is formed from the side wall 150 and is a part of a conductive shell that operates to provide protection without an increase in the number of parts.
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