U.S. patent application number 09/768268 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for substrate mount type terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Komatsu, Toshihiko.
Application Number | 20010010626 09/768268 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18548352 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010626 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Komatsu, Toshihiko |
August 2, 2001 |
Substrate mount type terminal
Abstract
A terminal main body portion 2 of a rectangular cylindrical
shape capable of being inserted into an attachment hole formed at a
substrate is provided with a male type coupled terminal at its
upper end portion and an attachment base portion 5 at its lower end
portion. Projection pieces 6 are formed at the lower end portion of
the attachment base portion 5 so as to protrude outward. Engagement
pieces 7 are formed at positions above the respective projection
pieces 6 by a predetermined interval. When the terminal main body
portion 2 is inserted into the attachment hole, the substrate mount
type terminal 1 is attached to the substrate P in a manner that the
substrate P is sandwiched between the projection pieces 6 and the
engagement pieces 7 at the peripheral edge portion of the
attachment hole.
Inventors: |
Komatsu, Toshihiko;
(Nagoya-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
277 S. WASHINGTON STREET, SUITE 500
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Autonetworks Technologies,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
18548352 |
Appl. No.: |
09/768268 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/752 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 439/943 20130101;
H01R 12/718 20130101; H01R 12/58 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/752 |
International
Class: |
H05K 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 31, 2000 |
JP |
2000-022006 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A substrate mount type terminal to be mounted on a substrate in
which an attachment hole is formed, comprising: a terminal main
body portion at which a coupling portion capable of being coupled
to a coupled terminal in a fitting manner is formed at one end side
thereof and an attachment base portion capable of being inserted
into said attachment hole is formed at the other end side thereof;
a projection portion formed so as to protrude outward at an end
portion of said terminal main body portion on said attachment base
portion side; and an engagement portion formed so as to protrude
outward at a position of a side portion of said attachment base
portion which is away from said projection portion to said coupling
portion side by a distance enabling said substrate being sandwiched
between said projection portion and said engagement portion.
2. A substrate mount type terminal according to claim 1, wherein
said terminal main body portion is formed by a member of an almost
cylindrical shape which can be inserted into said attachment hole
of said substrate and one end side thereof is opened, and said
coupling portion is formed as a female coupling portion in a manner
that an extended piece extended from the opened end side of said
terminal main body portion is turned down toward inside to thereby
form a tongue piece for contacting to the coupled terminal side of
male type.
3. A substrate mount type terminal according to claim 1, wherein
said engagement portion is formed as an engagement piece which
extends along insertion direction of said attachment base portion
into said attachment hole portion and has a guide edge portion
extending to outside toward a direction opposite to the insertion
direction.
4. A substrate mount type terminal according to claim 1, wherein
said engagement portion is formed as an elastic engagement piece
which is arranged in a manner that a side plate portion of said
attachment base portion is cut and raised outward while remaining
the coupling portion side as a coupling base portion and which
elastically contacts to a peripheral edge portion of said
attachment hole in a state that said terminal is mounted on said
substrate.
5. A substrate mount type terminal according to claim 4, wherein a
portion of said side plate portion of said attachment base portion
surrounding said elastic engagement piece is cut off at its
periphery while remaining a part thereof thereby to form an elastic
piece which can elastically deform freely within the cut area.
6. A substrate mount type terminal according to claim 1, wherein in
place of arranging said engagement portion so as to protrude
outward at said position of said side portion of said attachment
base portion which is away from said projection portion to said
coupling portion side by said distance enabling said substrate
being sandwiched between said projection portion and said
engagement portion, said engagement portion is arranged in a manner
that said engagement portion is formed so as to protrude outward at
a position of said side portion of said attachment base portion
capable of contacting with pressure to an inner peripheral portion
of said attachment hole in a state that said projection portion
abuts against other surface of said substrate at a peripheral edge
portion of said attachment hole.
7. A substrate mount type terminal according to claim 1, wherein
said projection portion is formed as a projection piece which is
disposed along other surface side of said substrate and capable of
being soldered to a printed wiring formed on said other surface
side by means of reflow soldering.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a substrate mount type
terminal used for the coupling between a vehicle-mounted electronic
unit and a joint box in the wiring within an automobile, for
example.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, in order to couple an electronic unit and a
joint box of an automobile, two kinds of techniques explained
bellow have been put to practical use and actually used.
[0005] According to the first prior art, as shown in FIG. 12, a
plurality of terminals are housed and disposed within a housing and
integrated in a predetermined arrangement state thereby to form a
connector 100. The connector 100 is attached to an electronic unit
side and a connector at the end portions of wire harnesses drawn
from a joint box side is coupled to the connector 100.
[0006] According to the second prior art, as shown in FIG. 13, a
plurality of female terminals 115 are mounted on the substrate 110
of an electronic unit side in a predetermined arrangement state. A
connector of wire harness side is coupled to the female terminals
115 thus arranged on the substrate 110.
[0007] Each of the female terminals 115 is arranged in a manner
that a pair of pin-shaped lead portions 117 are provided so as to
elect at the lower portions of a cylindrical terminal main body
portion 116 into which a corresponding male terminal is inserted
and coupled therewith. Each of the lead portions 117 is inserted
into a through hole 110a formed at the substrate 110. Then, the
lower end portion of each of the lead portions 117 protruded from
the lower portion of the substrate 110 is soldered on a
predetermined wiring pattern formed on the substrate 110. Thus,
each of the female terminals 115 is electrically coupled to the
wiring pattern and also fixed to and mounted on the substrate
110.
[0008] According to the second prior art, since the predetermined
arrangement and posture of the female terminals is held by directly
mounting and fixing each of the female terminals 115 on and to the
substrate 110, there is an advantage that the housing of the
connector 100 employed in the first prior art can be
eliminated.
[0009] However, in the case of the second prior art, in a
provisional mounting state where the lead portions 117 of each of
the female terminals 115 have been inserted into the through hole
110a of the substrate 110 but the lead portions 117 have not been
soldered on the wiring pattern yet, each of the female terminals
115 is apt to move freely with respect to the substrate 110. Thus,
there arises a problem that in case where other members contact to
the female terminals 115 at the time of conveying the substrate
110, for example, the alignment of the respective female terminals
115 can not be held in a constant state.
[0010] Further, when the respective lead portions 117 are soldered
on the wiring pattern, the female terminals 115 also freely move
due to the surface tension etc. of the fused solder, so that the
alignment of the respective female terminals 115 may also not be
held in a constant state.
[0011] Furthermore, even in the state where the respective lead
portions 117 have been soldered on the wiring pattern, a sufficient
fixing force can not be obtained only from the soldering. For
example, when the substrate 110 having the female terminals 115
mounted thereon is housed within the casing of the electronic unit,
the female terminals 115 may contact to the casing etc., so that it
is difficult to keep the alignment of the respective female
terminals 115 in a constant state.
[0012] In this respect, in order to maintain constant the alignment
state of the respective female terminals 115, it may be possible to
employ such a method of using a housing for maintaining constant
the alignment state of the respective female terminals 115 or a
method of using a jig for adjusting the alignment. However, the
former method is not suitable since the advantage of the second
prior art that the connector housing used in the first prior art
can be eliminated is spoiled. Further, the latter method is not
suitable since a process of adjusting the alignment is required in
addition to the process of mounting the female terminals on the
substrate and so the fabricating process of the terminal becomes
complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a
substrate mount type terminal which can maintain predetermined
posture on a substrate as possible.
[0014] In order to attain the aforesaid object, the substrate mount
type terminal according to a first aspect of the invention is
arranged in a manner that in the substrate mount type terminal to
be mounted on a substrate in which an attachment hole is formed,
the substrate mount type terminal includes:
[0015] a terminal main body portion at which a coupling portion
capable of being coupled to a coupled terminal in a fitting manner
is formed at one end side thereof and an attachment base portion
capable of being inserted into the attachment hole is formed at the
other end side thereof;
[0016] a projection portion formed so as to protrude outward at an
end portion of the terminal main body portion on the attachment
base portion side; and
[0017] an engagement portion formed so as to protrude outward at a
position of a side portion of the attachment base portion which is
away from the projection portion to the coupling portion side by a
distance enabling the substrate being sandwiched between the
projection portion and the engagement portion.
[0018] In a second aspect of the invention, the terminal main body
portion may be formed by a member of an almost cylindrical shape
which can be inserted into the attachment hole of the substrate and
one end side thereof is opened, and the coupling portion is formed
as a female coupling portion in a manner that an extended piece
extended from the opened end side of the terminal main body portion
is turned down toward inside to thereby form a tongue piece for
contacting to the coupled terminal side of male type.
[0019] Further, in a third aspect of the invention, the engagement
portion may be formed as an engagement piece which extends along
insertion direction of the attachment base portion into the
attachment hole portion and has a guide edge portion extending to
outside toward a direction opposite to the insertion direction.
[0020] Alternatively, in a fourth aspect of the invention, the
engagement portion may be formed as an elastic engagement piece
which is arranged in a manner that a side plate portion of the
attachment base portion is cut and raised outward while remaining
the coupling portion side as a coupling base portion and which
elastically contacts to a peripheral edge portion of the attachment
hole in a state that the terminal is mounted on the substrate.
[0021] In this case, in a fifth aspect of the invention, a portion
of the side plate portion of the attachment base portion
surrounding the elastic engagement piece is cut off at its
periphery while remaining a part thereof thereby to form an elastic
piece which can elastically deform freely within the cut area.
[0022] Further, in a sixth aspect of the invention, in place of
arranging the engagement portion so as to protrude outward at the
position of the side portion of the attachment base portion which
is away from the projection portion to the coupling portion side by
the distance enabling the substrate being sandwiched between the
projection portion and the engagement portion, the engagement
portion may be arranged in a manner that the engagement portion is
formed so as to protrude outward at a position of the side portion
of the attachment base portion capable of contacting with pressure
to an inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole in a state
that the projection portion abuts against other surface of the
substrate at a peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole.
[0023] Further, in a seventh aspect of the invention, the
projection portion may be formed as a projection piece which is
disposed along other surface side of the substrate and capable of
being soldered to a printed wiring formed on the other surface side
by means of reflow soldering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the substrate mount
type terminal according to the first embodiment of the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section showing a state
where the substrate mount type terminal according to the first
embodiment is attached to a substrate;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a side view partly in section showing a modified
example of the substrate mount type terminal according to the first
embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the substrate mount
type terminal according to the second embodiment of the
invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side view partly in section showing a state
where the substrate mount type terminal according to the second
embodiment is attached to a substrate;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a side view partly in section showing a modified
example of the substrate mount type terminal according to the
second embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the substrate mount
type terminal according to the third embodiment of the
invention;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a side view partly in section showing a state
where the substrate mount type terminal according to the third
embodiment is attached to a substrate;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a side view partly in section showing a modified
example of the substrate mount type terminal according to the third
embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the substrate mount
type terminal according to the third embodiment of the
invention.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a side view partly in section showing a state
where the substrate mount type terminal of FIG. 10 is attached to a
substrate;
[0035] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a conventional
connector; and
[0036] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state where the
conventional terminal is attached to a substrate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Now, a description will be given in more detail of preferred
embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0038] (First embodiment)
[0039] FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing a substrate mount type
terminal 1 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0040] The substrate mount type terminal 1 is configured in a
manner that it is mounted on a predetermined substrate P such as a
printed wiring board used in a vehicle-mounted electronic unit etc.
A rectangular attachment hole Pa is formed at the substrate P in
advance and the substrate mount type terminal is mounted at the
portion where the attachment hole Pa is formed.
[0041] That is, the substrate mount type terminal 1 is formed in a
predetermined shape by subjecting a metal thin plate to a punching
press process etc. The substrate mount type terminal includes a
terminal main body portion 2 of a rectangular cylindrical shape,
projection pieces 6 formed at the lower end portions of the
terminal main body portion 2, and engagement pieces 7 formed at the
center portions along the longitudinal or vertical direction of the
terminal main body portion 2.
[0042] The terminal main body portion 2 is formed in the
rectangular cylindrical shape in a manner that the horizontal
sectional configuration thereof is a rectangular shape
corresponding to the inner peripheral shape of the attachment hole
Pa and slightly smaller than the inner peripheral shape, so that
the terminal main body portion can be inserted from the upper end
side thereof within the attachment hole Pa.
[0043] The upper end portion of the terminal main body portion 2 is
opened. A pair of pieces extended from a pair of opposed side plate
portions at the opened upper end portion of the terminal main body
portion are turned down toward the inside of the terminal main body
portion 2 and bent in an expanded shape so as to expand to opposite
directions within the terminal main body portion thereby to form
tongue pieces 4, respectively. When the plate-shaped tab portion of
a not-shown male type coupled terminal is inserted into the
terminal main body portion 2 from the opened upper end portion side
thereof and coupled thereto, the tab portion is made in contact and
held with pressure between the tongue pieces 4. Thus, a female
coupling portion 3 capable of being coupled with the coupled
terminal in a fitting manner is formed at the upper end side of the
terminal main body portion 2.
[0044] The lower end portion of the terminal main body portion 2 is
formed as an attachment base portion 5 which can be inserted into
the attachment hole Pa. A pair of projection pieces 6 are formed at
the lower end portion of the attachment base portion 5 and further
four engagement pieces 7 are formed at the upper portion of the
attachment base portion 5.
[0045] The projection pieces 6 are formed in a manner that
rectangular-shaped pieces extending from the lower end portions of
the pair of the opposed side plate portions at the attachment base
portion 5 are bent toward the outside so as to protrude outside,
respectively. Thus, when the terminal main body portion 2 is
inserted from the upper end side thereof within the attachment hole
Pa, the projection pieces 6 abut against the lower surface of the
substrate P at the peripheral portions of the attachment hole Pa,
whereby the terminal main body portion 2 is prevented from coming
out of the substrate upward.
[0046] Each of the projection pieces 6 is arranged in a manner that
it extends to the horizontal direction perpendicular to the axial
direction of the attachment base portion 5 and the upper surface
thereof is capable of surface-contacting with the lower surface of
the substrate P in a state that the attachment base portion 5 is
inserted into the attachment hole Pa. In the aforesaid
configuration, a predetermined wiring pattern Pb is formed in
advance by a copper foil etc. on the lower surface side of the
substrate P, then solder paste is coated on the wiring pattern Pb,
and then the solder paste is fused during high temperature
atmosphere in a state that the terminal 1 is inserted into the
attachment hole Pa from the lower direction thereof thereby to
contact the respective projection pieces 6 to the wiring pattern
Pb. Thus, the respective projection pieces 6 are soldered to the
wiring pattern Pb, that is, the substrate mount type terminal 1 is
subjected to the reflow soldering to the substrate P as a surface
mount type component.
[0047] Each of the engagement pieces 7 is formed in a manner that a
portion near the outer peripheral corner portion 5a of the side
plate portion of the attachment base portion 5 is cut and raised
outward from the corner portion 5a serving as a base portion. Two
of the four engagement pieces 7 are protruded outward like the one
of the projection pieces 6 and remaining two of the four engagement
pieces 7 are protruded outward like the other of the projection
pieces 6.
[0048] Each of the engagement pieces 7 is formed at the position
above the corresponding projection piece 6 by a distance almost
equal to the thickness of the substrate P, and arranged in a manner
that the substrate P can be sandwiched between the projection
pieces 6 and the engagement pieces in a state that the terminal 1
is inserted from its upper end side into the attachment hole Pa to
thereby make the projection pieces 6 contact to the lower surface
of the substrate P at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment
hole Pa.
[0049] Each of the engagement pieces 7 is formed in an almost
right-angled triangle plate shape extending along the longitudinal
direction (the insertion direction of the terminal main body
portion 2 into the attachment hole Pa). The projection edge portion
7a on the upper side of each of the engagement pieces is formed as
a slanted guide edge portion 7a which expands outward along the
downward direction (the direction opposite to the insertion
direction). Further, the edge portion 7b on the lower side of each
of the engagement pieces is formed as an abutment portion 7b which
extends along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the axial
direction of the terminal main body portion 2. When the terminal
main body portion 2 is inserted from its upper end side within the
attachment hole Pa, the respective guide edge portions 7a are
slidably made in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the
attachment hole Pa. Thus, the inner peripheral portion of the
attachment hole Pa is elastically deformed so as to be expanded
outward largely, and further the respective engagement pieces 7 are
elastically deformed so as to be pushed toward the center side of
the terminal 1. When the respective engagement pieces 7 move over
the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa, the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa and the respective
engagement pieces 7 are restored to their original configurations,
respectively. Accordingly, the abutment portions 7b of the
respective engagement pieces 7 abut against the upper surface of
the substrate P at the peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa
to thereby prevent the terminal main body portion 2 from coming out
of the attachment hole toward the downward side.
[0050] The substrate mount type terminal 1 thus configured is
mounted on the substrate P in accordance with the following
procedure.
[0051] First, the substrate P is prepared in which the
predetermined attachment hole Pa is formed and the predetermined
wiring pattern Pb is formed by a copper foil etc. on the lower
surface side of the substrate. The wiring pattern Pb is prepared so
as to form the predetermined pattern at the portion including the
peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole Pa on the lower
surface of the substrate P. The wiring pattern is used in order to
electrically connect the substrate mount type terminal 1 to other
electric components etc. mounted on the substrate P.
[0052] Then, solder paste is coated on the wiring pattern Pb formed
at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole Pa and the
substrate mount type terminal 1 is inserted from its upper end side
within the attachment hole Pa from the lower direction. The
substrate mount type terminal 1 is further pushed into the
attachment hole to thereby make the guide edge portions 7a of the
respective engagement pieces 7 slidably contact to the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa. Thus, the attachment
hole Pa is elastically deformed so as to expanded outward, and
further the respective engagement pieces 7 are elastically deformed
so as to be pushed toward the center side of the terminal 1, so
that the respective engagement pieces 7 move over the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa. As a result, the
respective projection pieces 6 engage with the lower surface side
of the substrate P at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment
hole Pa and the respective engagement pieces 7 engage with the
upper surface side of the substrate P at the peripheral edge
portion of the attachment hole Pa, whereby the substrate P can be
sandwiched between the projection pieces 6 and the engagement
pieces 7 at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole Pa.
Accordingly, the substrate mount type terminal 1 is provisionally
mounted on the substrate in a predetermined posture in a state that
the mount type terminal is prevented from coming out of the
attachment hole Pa of the substrate P.
[0053] Thereafter, the solder paste is melted in a high-temperature
atmosphere, so that the respective projection pieces 6 of the
substrate mount type terminal 1 are soldered to the wiring pattern
of the substrate P and hence the mount type terminal is formally
mounted on the substrate.
[0054] The substrate mount type terminal 1 is used actually in a
state, for example, that a plurality of the terminals 1 are mounted
on the substrate P in a predetermined arrangement with a
predetermined interval thereamong. A plurality of the coupled
terminals provided at an external connector are coupled to the
terminals 1 thus arranged, respectively.
[0055] According to the mount type terminal 1 thus configured, the
mount type terminal is provided with the terminal main body portion
2 which has on the upper end side thereof the female coupling
portion 3 into which the male type coupled terminal can be fit and
also has on the lower end side thereof the attachment base portion
5 which is capable of being inserted into the attachment hole Pa,
the pair of the projection pieces 6 which are formed at the lower
end portion of the terminal main body portion 2 so as to protrude
outward, and the four engagement pieces 7 which are formed at the
side portions of the attachment base portion 5 so as to protrude
outward at the position above the respective projection pieces 6 by
such a distance that the substrate P can be sandwiched between the
respective projection pieces 6 and the respective engagement
pieces. Accordingly, the substrate P can be sandwiched by the
projection pieces 6 and the engagement pieces 7 at the peripheral
edge portion of the attachment hole Pa in the state that the
attachment base portion 5 is inserted into the attachment hole Pa,
so that the mount type terminal can be maintained in the
predetermined posture as possible on the substrate P.
[0056] Further, the terminal main body portion 2 is formed by the
almost cylindrical-shaped member which can be inserted into the
attachment hole Pa of the substrate P and has an opened upper end
side. The pieces extending from the opened end side are turned down
toward the inside of the terminal main body portion to thereby form
the tongue pieces 4 to be made in contact with the male type
coupled terminal side. Thus, since the female coupling portion 3 is
formed in this manner, the almost cylindrical-shaped member of the
terminal main body portion 2 can be commonly used as the member in
which the male type coupling terminal is inserted as well as the
attachment base portion 5 which is inserted into the attachment
hole Pa of the substrate P. Accordingly, since the configuration of
the terminal main body portion is simple, the terminal main body
portion can also be manufactured easily.
[0057] When the partner-side external connector is provided with a
female-type coupled terminal, the terminal main body portion maybe
configured to have, in place of the female coupling portion 3, a
male-type coupling portion with a plate-shaped tub portion which
can be coupled in a fitting manner to the female-type coupled
terminal.
[0058] Further, each of the engagement pieces 7 is formed in the
almost right-angled triangle plate shape extending along the
longitudinal direction and the projection edge portion 7a on the
upper side thereof is formed as the guide edge portion 7a which
expands outward along the downward direction. Thus, in the case of
inserting the terminal main body portion 2 within the attachment
hole Pa, the guide edge portions 7a slidably contact with the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa, so that the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa is apt to be deformed
elastically so as to be expanded outward largely, and further the
respective engagement pieces 7 are apt to be deformed elastically
so as to be pushed toward the center side of the terminal 1. As a
result, the respective engagement pieces 7 are able to move over
the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa easily, so
that the terminal 1 can be attached to the substrate P easily.
[0059] Furthermore, each of the projection pieces 6 is arranged in
a manner that it extends along the horizontal surface perpendicular
to the axial direction of the attachment base portion 5 and the
upper surface thereof is made in surface-contact with the lower
surface of the substrate P in the state that the attachment base
portion 5 is inserted into the attachment hole pa. Thus, the solder
past can be coated on the wiring pattern Pb formed on the lower
surface of the substrate P in advance, and the wiring pattern Pb
and the projection pieces 6 can be subjected to the reflow
soldering. Therefore, when the soldering process is performed by
the reflow soldering method, the substrate mount type terminal 1
hardly moves freely and so the terminal can maintain its
predetermined posture.
[0060] In this respect, the wiring pattern Pb and the projection
pieces 6 are not necessarily subjected to the reflow soldering.
[0061] In the first embodiment, like a substrate mount type
terminal 1B representing the modified example shown in FIG. 3, the
distance between the projection pieces 6 and the engagement pieces
7 may be made slightly shorter than the thickness of the substrate
P, and the projection end portions 7Bc of engagement pieces 7B
maybe formed so as to protrude outward at the positions capable of
contacting with pressure to the inner peripheral portion of the
attachment hole Pa.
[0062] In this case, when the projection end portions 7Bc of the
respective engagement portions 7B are made in contact with pressure
to the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa in a
state that the terminal main body portion 2 is inserted into the
attachment hole Pa and the respective projection pieces 6 abut
against the lower surface of the substrate P at the peripheral edge
portion of the attachment hole Pa, the substrate mount type
terminal 1B can be maintained in a predetermined posture on the
substrate P.
[0063] (Second embodiment)
[0064] FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a substrate mount type
terminal 11 according to the second embodiment of the invention. In
FIGS. 4 and 5, constituent elements represented by reference
numerals 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 are similar to the terminal main body
portion 2, the female coupling portion 3, the tongue piece 4, the
attachment base portion 5 and the projection piece 6 of the first
embodiment, respectively, and the explanation of these constituent
elements is eliminated.
[0065] In this substrate mount type terminal 11, engagement pieces
17 of a semi-circular plate shape are provided in place of the
respective engagement pieces 7 of the first embodiment.
[0066] Each of the engagement pieces 17 is formed in a manner that
the edge portion 7a on the upper side thereof expands outward along
the downward direction.
[0067] Thus, when the substrate mount type terminal 11 is inserted
from its upper end side within the attachment hole Pa, the
respective edge portions 17a slidably contact with the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa. Thus, the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa is elastically
deformed so as to be expanded outward largely, and further the
respective engagement pieces 17 are elastically deformed so as to
be pushed toward the center side of the terminal 11. When the
respective engagement pieces 17 move over the inner peripheral
portion of the attachment hole Pa, the inner peripheral portion of
the attachment hole Pa and the respective engagement pieces 17 are
restored to their original configurations, respectively.
Accordingly, the projection pieces 16 abut against the lower
surface of the substrate P at the peripheral edge portion of the
attachment hole Pa and further the edge portions 17b on the lower
side of the respective engagement pieces 17 abut against the upper
surface of the substrate P at the peripheral portion of the
attachment hole Pa. Thus, the terminal can be attached and helment
hole Pa of the substrate P in a predetermined posture in a state
that the terminal main body portion 12 is positioned in the
elevational direction.
[0068] Accordingly, the substrate mount type terminal 11 according
to the second embodiment can also attain the effect similar to that
of the first embodiment.
[0069] In the substrate mount type terminal 11 according to the
second embodiment, like the modified example of the first
embodiment, the projection end portions 17Bc of engagement pieces
17B may be formed so as to protrude outward at positions capable of
contacting with pressure to the inner peripheral portion of the
attachment hole Pa, like a substrate mount type terminal 11B
representing the modified example shown in FIG. 6.
[0070] In this case, when the projection end portions 17Bc of the
respective engagement portions 17B are made in contact with
pressure to the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa
in a state that the terminal main body portion 12 is inserted into
the attachment hole Pa and the respective projection pieces 16 abut
against the lower surface of the substrate P at the peripheral edge
portion of the attachment hole Pa, the substrate mount type
terminal 11B can be maintained in a predetermined posture on the
substrate P.
[0071] (Third embodiment)
[0072] FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing a substrate mount type
terminal 21 according to the third embodiment of the invention. In
FIGS. 7 and 8, constituent elements represented by reference
numerals 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 are similar to the terminal main body
portion 2, the female coupling portion 3, the tongue piece 4, the
attachment base portion 5 and the projection piece 6 of the first
embodiment, respectively, and the explanation of these constituent
elements is eliminated.
[0073] In this substrate mount type terminal 21, in place of the
respective engagement pieces 7 of the first embodiment, a pair of
elastic engagement pieces 27 are provided with a predetermined
distance therebetween along the horizontal direction at each of the
pair of opposed side plate portions of the attachment base portion
25.
[0074] Each of the elastic engagement pieces 27 is formed in a
manner that a part of the side plate portion of the attachment base
portion 25 is cut out in an almost U-shape while remaining an upper
portion thereof as a coupling base portion and the cut-out portion
is bent outward so as to form a downward-slanted shape. In this
case, the tip end portions of the elastic engagement pieces 27 are
arranged so as to elastically contact to the upper surface of the
substrate P at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole
Pa in a state that the terminal main body portion 22 is inserted
into the attachment hole Pa and the respective projection pieces 6
abut against the lower surface of the substrate P at the peripheral
edge portion of the attachment hole Pa.
[0075] According to the substrate mount type terminal 21 thus
configured, when the terminal main body portion 22 is inserted into
the attachment hole Pa, at first, the outer side slanted surfaces
of the respective elastic engagement pieces 27 slidably contact
with the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa, so
that the respective elastic engagement pieces 27 elastically deform
to the inside. Then, when the terminal main body portion 22 is
further pushed into the attachment hole, the respective elastic
engagement pieces 27 move over the inner peripheral portion of the
attachment hole Pa, so that the respective elastic engagement
pieces 27 are restored to their original configurations. Thus, the
substrate mount type terminal 21 is mounted on the substrate P in a
predetermined posture in a state that the mount type terminal is
prevented from coming out of the attachment hole of the substrate,
in a state that the respective projection pieces 26 abut against
the lower surface of the substrate P at the peripheral edge portion
of the attachment hole Pa and the tip end portions of the
respective elastic engagement pieces 27 are elastically made in
contact with the upper surface of the substrate P at the peripheral
edge portion of the attachment hole Pa.
[0076] Accordingly, the substrate mount type terminal 21 can be
attached to the substrate P while maintained in a predetermined
posture as possible on the substrate.
[0077] Further, each of the elastic engagement pieces 27 are formed
by cutting out the side plate portion of the attachment base
portion 25 and electing the cut-out portion outward while remaining
the upper portion as the coupling base portion. Thus, when the
terminal main body portion 22 is inserted from its upper end side
within the attachment hole Pa, the elastic engagement pieces 27
slidably contact to the inner peripheral portion of the attachment
hole Pa, so that the respective elastic engagement pieces
elastically deform to the inside easily, whereby the respective
elastic engagement pieces 27 easily move over the inner peripheral
portion of the attachment hole Pa. Therefore, the terminal 1 can be
attached to the substrate P easily. Further, after the terminal is
attached to the substrate P, since the tip end portions of the
respective elastic engagement pieces 27 are elastically made in
contact with the upper surface of the substrate P at the peripheral
edge portion of the attachment hole Pa, the terminal can be
maintained in a predetermined posture as possible on the substrate
P.
[0078] In the substrate mount type terminal 21 according to the
third embodiment, like the modified example of the first
embodiment, the tip end portions 27Bc of elastic engagement pieces
27B may be formed so as to protrude at the positions capable of
contacting with pressure to the inner peripheral portion of the
attachment hole Pa, like a substrate mount type terminal 11B
representing the modified example shown in FIG. 9.
[0079] In this case, when the projection end portions 27Bc of the
respective elastic engagement portions 27B are made in contact with
pressure to the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa
in a state that the terminal main body portion 22 is inserted into
the attachment hole Pa and the respective projection pieces 26 abut
against the lower surface of the substrate P at the peripheral edge
portion of the attachment hole Pa, the substrate mount type
terminal 21B can be maintained in a predetermined posture on the
substrate P.
[0080] (Fourth embodiment)
[0081] FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams showing a substrate mount type
terminal 31 according to the third embodiment of the invention. In
FIGS. 10 and 11, constituent elements represented by reference
numerals 32, 33, 34, 35 are similar to the terminal main body
portion 2, the female coupling portion 3, the tongue piece 4 and
the attachment base portion 5 of the first embodiment,
respectively, and the explanation of these constituent elements is
eliminated.
[0082] In this substrate mount type terminal 31, a pair of vertical
slits 32a are formed with a predetermined distance therebetween
along the horizontal direction at each of the pair of opposed side
plate portions of the terminal main body portion 32, whereby
elastic pieces 38 are formed each of which is elastically deformed
freely and separated from the peripheral portion while remaining an
upper portion thereof as a base portion.
[0083] The lower end portion of each of the elastic pieces 38 is
extended to the side direction to thereby form a projection piece
36. Thus, when the terminal main body portion 32 is inserted from
the upper end side thereof within the attachment hole Pa, the
respective projection pieces 36 abut against the lower surface of
the substrate P at the peripheral edge portions of the attachment
hole Pa, whereby the terminal main body portion 2 is prevented from
coming out of the substrate upward.
[0084] An elastic engagement piece 37 is formed in a manner that a
substantially center portion of each of the elastic pieces 38 is
cut out in an almost U-shape while remaining an upper portion as a
coupling base portion and the cut-out portion is bent outward so as
to form a downward-slanted shape. The tip end portions of the
elastic engagement pieces 37 are arranged so as to elastically
contact to the upper surface of the substrate P at the peripheral
edge portion of the attachment hole Pa in a state that the terminal
main body portion 32 is inserted into the attachment hole Pa and
the respective projection pieces 36 abut against the lower surface
of the substrate P at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment
hole Pa.
[0085] According to the substrate mount type terminal 31 thus
configured, when the terminal main body portion 32 is inserted into
the attachment hole Pa, at first, the outer-side slanted surfaces
of the elastic engagement pieces 37 slidably contact to the inner
peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa. Thus, each of the
elastic engagement pieces 37 elastically deforms toward the inside,
and each of the elastic pieces 38 is applied with the force toward
the inside from the corresponding elastic engagement piece 37 to
thereby also elastically deforms toward the inside. When the
terminal main body portion 32 is further pushed into the attachment
hole, the respective elastic engagement pieces 37 move over the
inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa, so that the
respective elastic engagement pieces 37 and the elastic pieces 38
are restored to their original configurations, respectively. Thus,
the substrate mount type terminal 31 is attached to the substrate P
in a state that the mount type terminal is prevented from coming
out of the attachment hole of the substrate, in a state that the
respective projection pieces 36 abut against the lower surface of
the substrate P at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment
hole Pa and the tip end portions of the respective elastic
engagement pieces 37 are elastically made in contact with the upper
surface of the substrate P at the peripheral edge portion of the
attachment hole Pa.
[0086] Accordingly, the substrate mount type terminal 31 can be
attached to the substrate P while maintained in a predetermined
posture as possible on the substrate.
[0087] Further, the portion surrounding each of the elastic
engagement pieces 37 is cut at its periphery while remaining the
upper portion thereof thereby to form the elastic portion 38 which
can elastically deform freely within the cut area. Thus, when the
terminal main body portion 32 is inserted from its upper end side
within the attachment hole Pa, the elastic pieces 38 elastically
deform easily as well as the elastic engagement pieces 37, so that
the respective elastic engagement pieces 37 easily move over the
inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole Pa. Therefore, the
terminal can be attached to the substrate P easily. Further, after
the terminal is attached to the substrate P, since the tip end
portions of the respective elastic engagement pieces 37 are
elastically made in contact with the upper surface of the substrate
P at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole Pa, the
terminal can be maintained in the predetermined posture as possible
on the substrate P.
[0088] As described above, according to the substrate mount type
terminal of the first aspect, the substrate mount type terminal is
arranged to include: a terminal main body portion at which a
coupling portion capable of being coupled to a coupled terminal in
a fitting manner is formed at one end side thereof and an
attachment base portion capable of being inserted into the
attachment hole is formed at the other end side thereof; a
projection portion formed so as to protrude outward at an end
portion of the terminal main body portion on the attachment base
portion side; and an engagement portion formed so as to protrude
outward at a position of a side portion of the attachment base
portion which is away from the projection portion to the coupling
portion side by a distance enabling the substrate being sandwiched
between the projection portion and the engagement portion. Thus,
the substrate can be sandwiched by the projection pieces and the
engagement pieces at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment
hole in a state that the attachment base portion is inserted into
the attachment hole, so that the mount type terminal can be
maintained in a predetermined posture as possible on the
substrate.
[0089] In the second aspect, the terminal main body portion may be
formed by a member of an almost cylindrical shape which can be
inserted into the attachment hole of the substrate and one end side
thereof is opened, and the coupling portion is formed as a female
coupling portion in a manner that an extended piece extended from
the opened end side of the terminal main body portion is turned
down toward inside to thereby form a tongue piece for contacting to
the coupled terminal side of male type. Thus, the almost
cylindrical-shaped member of the terminal main body portion can be
commonly used as the member in which the male type coupling
terminal is inserted as well as the attachment base portion which
is inserted into the attachment hole of the substrate. Accordingly,
since the configuration of the terminal main body portion is made
simple, the terminal main body portion can also manufactured
easily.
[0090] Further, in the third aspect, the engagement portion may be
formed as an engagement piece which extends along insertion
direction of the attachment base portion into the attachment hole
portion and has a guide edge portion extending to outside toward a
direction opposite to the insertion direction. Thus, in the case of
inserting the terminal main body portion from its one end side
within the attachment hole, the guide edge portions slidably
contact with the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole,
so that the engagement portions elastically deform easily toward
the center side of the terminal main body portion or the attachment
hole deforms elastically so as to be expanded outward, so that the
engagement pieces can move over the attachment hole easily. Thus,
the substrate mount type terminal can be attached to the substrate
easily.
[0091] Alternatively, in the fourth aspect, the engagement portion
may be formed as an elastic engagement piece which is arranged in a
manner that a side plate portion of the attachment base portion is
cut and raised outward while remaining the coupling portion side as
a coupling base portion and which elastically contacts to a
peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole in a state that the
terminal is mounted on the substrate. Thus, in the case of
inserting the terminal main body portion from its one end side into
the attachment hole, the elastic engagement pieces slidably contact
to the inner periphery portion of the attachment hole and so
elastically deform easily to the inner side of the inner periphery
portion. Thus, the elastic engagement pieces easily move over the
attachment hole and so the terminal can be attached to the
substrate easily. Further, after the terminal is attached to the
substrate, since the elastic engagement pieces are elastically made
in contact with the one surface side of the substrate at the
peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole, the terminal can be
maintained in a predetermined posture as possible on the
substrate.
[0092] In this case, in the fifth aspect, a portion of the side
plate portion of the attachment base portion surrounding the
elastic engagement piece is cut off at its periphery while
remaining a part thereof thereby to form an elastic piece which can
elastically deform freely within the cut area. Thus, when the
elastic engagement pieces deform inside, since the elastic pieces
also elastically deform easily to the inside, the terminal can be
attached to the substrate more easily.
[0093] Further, in the sixth aspect, in place of arranging the
engagement portion so as to protrude outward at the position of the
side portion of the attachment base portion which is away from the
projection portion to the coupling portion side by the distance
enabling the substrate being sandwiched between the projection
portion and the engagement portion, the engagement portion may be
arranged in a manner that the engagement portion is formed so as to
protrude outward at a position of the side portion of the
attachment base portion capable of contacting with pressure to an
inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole in a state that the
projection portion abuts against other surface of the substrate at
a peripheral edge portion of the attachment hole. Thus, the
substrate mount type terminal is mounted on the substrate in a
manner that the projection portions abut against the other surface
of the substrate at the peripheral edge portion of the attachment
hole and also the engagement portions is made in contact with
pressure to the inner peripheral portion of the attachment hole in
a state that the terminal main body portion is inserted into the
attachment hole, the terminal can be maintained in a predetermined
posture as possible on the substrate.
[0094] Further, in the seventh aspect, the projection portion may
be formed as a projection piece which is disposed along other
surface side of the substrate and capable of being soldered to a
printed wiring formed on the other surface side by means of reflow
soldering. Thus, at the time of soldering, the substrate mount type
terminal hardly moves freely and so the terminal can maintain its
predetermined posture more stably.
* * * * *