Connector

#This invention relates to a connector which is adapted to be mounted on a surface of a board by soldering metal fixing members (secured respectively to opposite ends of a connector housing) to the board.

#FIG. 5 shows a conventional surface mounting-type connector disclosed in Patent Literature 1. This surface mounting-type connector includes a connector housing 101 of a generally rectangular box-shape made of an insulative resin and adapted to be placed on a board 110, and metal fixing members 103 which are press-fitted to mounting portions 102 (formed respectively on outer surfaces of side walls of the connector housing 101) from their upper side to be fixed respectively to the side walls of the connector housing 101.

#The fixing metal member 103 is formed by bending a strip-like metal plate (or sheet) into a generally L-shaped cross-section, and includes a board fixing portion 103a adapted to be soldered to the surface of the board 110, and a housing mounting portion 103b extending in an upstanding condition relative to the board fixing portion 103a and adapted to be attached to the mounting portion 102 of the connector housing 101. The surface mounting-type connector of FIG. 5 can be mounted on the board 110 by soldering the board fixing portions 103a of the metal fixing members 103 to the board 110.

#The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface mounting-type connector according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention as seen from the lower side;

#FIGS. 2A to 2C show a first step of a process of inserting a fixing metal member into a slot in the connector, and FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view through a plane disposed centrally of a width of the slot, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIb-IIb of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIc-IIc of FIG. 2A;

#A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a connector of the invention as seen from the lower side. FIGS. 2 to 4 sequentially show the steps of a process of inserting a fixing metal member into a slot. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view through a plane disposed centrally of a width of the slot, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIb-IIb of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIc-IIc of FIG. 2A. FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIb-IIIb of FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIc-IIIc of FIG. 3A. FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 2A, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVb-IVb of FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVc-IVc of FIG. 4A.

#As shown in FIG. 1, the surface mounting-type connector of this embodiment includes a connector housing 1 molded of an insulative resin, a plurality of terminals 2 mounted on the connector housing 1, a pair of metal fixing members 10 mounted respectively on opposite end portions of a lower surface of the connector housing 1. The surface mounting-type connector can be mounted on a surface of a board by soldering the metal fixing members 10 to the board.