IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,494,345
Granted Patent B2
US 7,494,345 · App. 11/953,772 · Granted Feb 24, 2009

Electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,494,345
App. No.
11/953,772
Granted
Feb 24, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device has provided therein at least a first circuit board 11 and a second circuit board 12 , which are electrically connected together, the device including: a female connector 3 secured to the first circuit board 11 and having an opening; a male connector 2 secured to the second circuit board 12 and inserted into the opening; and a connector reinforcement member 8 provided close to the female connector 3 , wherein the connector reinforcement member 8 is brought into contact with the female connector 3 , which is about to be distorted by an external force, thereby suppressing distortion of the female connector 3.

Claims (18)

1. An electronic device having provided therein at least a first circuit board and a second circuit board, which are electrically connected together, the device comprising:

a female connector secured to the first circuit board and having an opening;

a male connector secured to the second circuit board and inserted into the opening; and

a connector reinforcement member provided close to the female connector, the connector reinforcement member being brought into contact with the female connector, which is about to be distorted by an external force, thereby suppressing distortion of the female connector, wherein:

the connector reinforcement member includes alignment means placed in contact with both the first circuit board and the second circuit board to hold the first circuit board and the second circuit board so as to be respectively spaced apart at first and second predetermined distances from the connector reinforcement member.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector reinforcement member is provided around the female connector.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second predetermined distances are set, such that the connector reinforcement member is out of contact with both the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector reinforcement member has a spacer for holding the first circuit board and the second circuit board so as to be spaced apart at a predetermined distance from each other.

5. A connector reinforcement structure formed by integrating together a plurality of connector reinforcement members of claim 1 .

6. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the connector reinforcement member has an elongated rectangular ring portion roughly analogous to the opening of the female connector, and the female connector is enclosed by the elongated rectangular ring portion, which applies tension to suppress distortion of the female connector.

7. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the connector reinforcement member has a snap portion by which to secure the connector reinforcement member in at least one place around the female connector to the first circuit board.

8. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the alignment means is integrally formed with the spacer.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined distance is smaller than a distance between an end portion of the opening in the female connector and the second circuit board.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein the connector reinforcement member has a guiding portion provided at a surface facing the second circuit board, the guiding portion having a slope portion inclined toward the opening of the female connector.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the guiding portion is provided so as to partially cover the end portion of the opening in the female connector with the slope portion.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the slope portion is positioned on the end portion of the opening in the female connector.

13. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the guiding portion is provided in a longitudinal direction of the connector reinforcement member.

14. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the connector reinforcement member is provided with a plurality of the guiding portions.