Connector

• US 9,350,095 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Arichika, Kenta, Someya, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, TRAVIS SLOAN
• Application Number:
  US14/567,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20150263464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 439/374, 439/65, 439/74, 439/353, 439/357, 439/660
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7029 not integral with the coupling device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7052 characterised by the locating members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/73 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

The Present Disclosure is a connector comprising a connector main body, terminals mounted in the connector main body, and a reinforcing main fitting mounted in the connector main body. The connector main body includes a mating guide portion formed on both longitudinal ends, the mating guide portion mating with an opposing mating guide portion formed on both longitudinal ends of the opposing connector main body of an opposing connector. The reinforcing metal fitting includes a pair of left and right contact arm portions, and a pair of left and right side guide portions disposed in the mating guide portions. The side guide portions guide the opposing mating guide portions, and the contact arm portions establishing contact with the opposing reinforcing metal fitting mounted in the opposing connector main body when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body.

Claims

1. A connector, the connector comprising:

a connector main body, the connector main body having an end portion, the connector main body including a mating guide portion formed on the end portion of the connector main body, the mating guide portion mating with an opposing mating guide portion formed on an end portion of the opposing connector main body of an opposing connector;

terminals mounted in the connector main body; and

a reinforcing metal fitting mounted to the connector main body, the reinforcing metal fitting including a main body portion, a pair of left and right connecting arm portions, a pair of left and right contact arm portions, and a pair of left and right side guide portions, the connecting arm portions being connected to opposite ends of the main body portion and extending transversely from the main body portion, the contact arm portions being connected to the connecting arm portions, the side guide portions being connected to the connecting arm portions, the side guide portions being disposed in the mating guide portion, the side guide portions guiding the opposing mating guide portion, and the contact arm portions establishing contact with an opposing reinforcing metal fitting mounted in the opposing connector main body when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the contact arm portions are connected to free ends of the connecting arm portions, and the side guide portions are connected to the connecting arm portions between the free ends and where the connecting arm portions are connected to the main body portion.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the mating guide portion includes a mating recessed portion configured to receive the opposing mating guide portion, the mating guide portion defining a pair of left and right inner wall side surfaces which extend in a longitudinal direction of the connector main body, the side guide portions covering at least a portion of the inner wall side surfaces.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the mating guide portion defines an inner wall end surface which extends in a transverse direction of the connector main body, and wherein the reinforcing metal fitting includes a central guide portion that covers at least a portion of the inner wall end surface, the central guide portion guiding the opposing mating guide portion when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body of the opposing connector.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein each contact arm portion includes a downward curving portion with a protruding curved surface and a bottom end portion, the bottom end portions are displaced outward and inserted into contact arm portion bottom end accommodating holes formed in the connector main body when the downward curving portions come into contact with the opposing reinforcing metal fitting.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the side guide portions are connected to the connecting arm portions between where the contact arm portions are connected to the connecting arm portions and where the connecting arm portions are connected to the main body portion.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the side guide portions are elastically displaceable downward and outward by deformation of the connecting arm portions, and the displacement downward and outward is stopped when bottom end portions of the side guide portions come into contact with at least one stopping portion.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the contact arm portions are elastically displaceable downward and outward even when downward and outward displacement of the side guide portions has been stopped.

9. A connector, the connector comprising:

a connector main body, the connector main body having an end portion, the connector main body including a mating guide portion formed on the end portion of the connector main body, the mating guide portion mating with an opposing mating guide portion formed on an end portion of the opposing connector main body of an opposing connector;

terminals mounted in the connector main body; and

a reinforcing metal fitting mounted in the connector body, the reinforcing metal fitting including a main body portion, a pair of left and right connecting arm portions, a pair of left and right contact arm portions, and a pair of left and right side guide portions, the main body portion extending in a direction transverse to the connector main body, the connecting arm portions having a base end connected to ends of the main body portion, the side guide portions being disposed in the mating guide portion, the side guide portions guiding the opposing mating guide portion, and the contact arm portions establishing contact with an opposing reinforcing metal fitting mounted in the opposing connector main body when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body,

wherein the side guide portions are elastically displaceable downward and outward by deformation of the connecting arm portions, and the displacement downward and outward is stopped when bottom end portions of the side guide portions come into contact with at least one stopping portion.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the mating guide portion defines a pair of left and right inner wall side surfaces which extend in a longitudinal direction of the connector main body, the side guide portions covering at least a portion of the inner wall side surfaces.

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein the contact arm portions are elastically displaceable downward and outward even when downward and outward displacement of the side guide portions has been stopped.

12. The connector of claim 9, wherein the mating guide portion defines an inner wall end surface which extends in a transverse direction of the connector main body, and wherein the reinforcing metal fitting includes a central guide portion that covers at least a portion of the inner wall end surface, the central guide portion guiding the opposing mating guide portion when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body of the opposing connector.

13. A connector, the connector comprising:

a connector main body, the connector main body having an end portion, the connector main body including a mating guide portion formed on the end portion of the connector main body, the mating guide portion mating with an opposing mating guide portion formed on an end portion of the opposing connector main body of an opposing connector, the mating guide portion includes a mating recessed portion configured to receive the opposing mating guide portion, the mating guide portion defining a pair of left and right inner wall side surfaces which extend in a longitudinal direction of the connector main body;

terminals mounted in the connector main body; and

a reinforcing metal fitting mounted in the connector body, the reinforcing metal fitting including a main body portion, a pair of left and right connecting arm portions, a pair of left and right contact arm portions, and a pair of left and right side guide portions, the main body portion extending in a direction transverse to the connector main body, the connecting arm portions having a base end connected to ends of the main body portion, the side guide portions being disposed in the mating guide portion, the side guide portions covering at least a portion of the inner wall side surfaces, the side guide portions guiding the opposing mating guide portion, and the contact arm portions establishing contact with an opposing reinforcing metal fitting mounted in the opposing connector main body when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the mating guide portion defines an inner wall end surface which extends in a transverse direction of the connector main body, and wherein the reinforcing metal fitting includes a central guide portion that covers at least a portion of the inner wall end surface, the central guide portion guiding the opposing mating guide portion when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body of the opposing connector.

15. A connector, the connector comprising:

a connector main body, the connector main body having an end portion, the connector main body including a mating guide portion formed on the end portion of the connector main body, the mating guide portion defining an interior mating recessed portion configured to receive an opposing mating guide portion formed on an end portion of an opposing connector main body of an opposing connector, the mating guide portion further defining an exterior surface;

terminals mounted in the connector main body; and

a reinforcing metal fitting mounted to the connector main body, the reinforcing metal fitting including a main body portion, a pair of left and right connecting arm portions, a pair of left and right contact arm portions, and a pair of left and right side guide portions, the connecting arm portions being connected to opposite ends of the main body portion and extending transversely from the main body portion, the connecting arm portions being positioned against the exterior surface of the mating guide portion, the contact arm portions being connected to the connecting arm portions, the side guide portions being connected to the connecting arm portions, the side guide portions being disposed in the interior mating recessed portion.

16. The connector of claim 15, wherein the mating guide portion defines a pair of left and right inner wall side surfaces which extend in a longitudinal direction of the connector main body, the side guide portions covering at least a portion of the inner wall side surfaces.

17. The connector of claim 15, wherein the mating guide portion defines an inner wall end surface which extends in a transverse direction of the connector main body, and wherein the reinforcing metal fitting includes a central guide portion that covers at least a portion of the inner wall end surface, the central guide portion guiding the opposing mating guide portion when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body of the opposing connector.

18. The connector of claim 15, wherein the side guide portions are connected to the connecting arm portions between where the contact arm portions are connected to the connecting arm portions and where the connecting arm portions are connected to the main body portion.

19. The connector of claim 15, wherein the side guide portions are elastically displaceable downward and outward by deformation of the connecting arm portions, and the displacement downward and outward is stopped when bottom end portions of the side guide portions come into contact with at least one stopping portion.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the contact arm portions are elastically displaceable downward and outward even when downward and outward displacement of the side guide portions has been stopped.