Board-to-board connectors and socket connectors

Abstract

The present invention discloses a board-to-board connector and a socket connector, wherein the board-to-board connector includes a socket connector and a plug connector that cooperate with each other. The socket connector includes two side walls and two end walls connected to the two side walls, and is surrounded by a socket slot. The socket protection bracket is provided with an end wall reinforcement sheet located on the end wall and a side wall reinforcement sheet located on the side wall. The side wall reinforcement sheet includes a side wall covering portion and an elastic arm located on the inner wall surface side of the side wall. The elastic arm of the socket protection bracket has a long force arm, which not only ensures the stable assembly of the board-to-board connector, but also solves the problem of large yielding of the elastic arm after the board-to-board connector is plugged in and out, so that the contact of the board-to-board connector is stable and reliable during plugging.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a board-to-board connector, and in particular to a board-to-board connector capable of stable connection. Background Art

[0002] Electrical connectors are used to make electrical connections and transmit signals between devices, components, and systems, and are essential basic components for forming a complete system. At present, electrical connectors are widely used in various electronic products. Board-to-board connectors (BTB) are used to electrically connect two parallel circuit boards, and usually include plug connectors and socket connectors that cooperate with each other. The plug connector and the socket connector respectively include an insulating body and a conductive terminal, the insulating body mainly plays the role of insulation and positioning the conductive terminal, and the conductive terminal mainly plays the role of conduction. Usually, the plug connector and the socket connector of the board-to-board connector will also add a protective bracket to improve their own strength, and the protective bracket of the socket connector has a spring for overcurrent. However, due to the height limit of the insulating body of the socket connector, the force arm of the spring is short, that is, the yield of the spring is too large, and the force of the spring of the socket connector is significantly attenuated after plugging and unplugging, so that the contact stability of the board-to-board connector is poor.

[0003] Therefore, it is hoped to provide a new board-to-board connector to overcome the above defects. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a board-to-board connector and a socket connector with a protection bracket, wherein the protection bracket ensures the strength of the board-to-board connector itself and improves the contact stability during insertion.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme: a board-to-board connector, including a socket connector and a plug connector that cooperate with each other, the socket connector including a socket body extending in the longitudinal direction, a socket terminal fixed on the socket body and a socket protection bracket located at the longitudinal ends of the socket body, the socket body is provided with two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction and two end walls connected to the two side walls, the two end walls of the socket body and the two side walls are surrounded to form a socket slot; at least one socket protection bracket is provided with an end wall reinforcement piece located on the end wall side and a side wall reinforcement piece located on the side wall side, the side wall reinforcement piece is connected to the lateral ends of the end wall reinforcement piece, the side wall reinforcement piece includes a side wall covering portion that abuts against the inner wall surface of the side wall, a bent portion bent from the top of the side wall covering portion and an elastic arm extending downwardly obliquely from the end of the bent portion, the elastic arm protruding into the socket slot and adjacent to the side wall covering portion to press the two sides of the plug connector.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the side wall covering portion is provided with a protrusion or a groove protruding toward the elastic arm, and the elastic arm is provided with a groove or a protrusion corresponding to the protrusion, and when the socket connector is mated with the plug connector, the protrusion is accommodated in the groove.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the bending portion is bent outward and arranged on the side wall of the socket body, and the bending portion does not exceed the outer wall surface of the side wall of the socket body when extending outward, and does not exceed the top surface of the side wall of the socket body when bending back inward.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the end wall reinforcement plate includes an end wall covering portion adhered to the inner wall surface of the end wall and an end wall reinforcement portion bent outward and extended from the top end of the end wall covering portion, and the side wall covering portion is connected to the two lateral ends of the end wall covering portion; the end wall reinforcement portion covers the top surface of the end wall and at least partially covers the outer wall surface of the end wall, and the end wall reinforcement portion does not exceed the top surface and the outer wall surface of the end wall.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the end wall reinforcement sheet further includes a welding foot extending outward from the bottom end of the end wall covering portion, wherein the welding foot is exposed to the bottom surface of the socket body and extends longitudinally out of the socket body.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the plug connector includes a plug body extending in the longitudinal direction, plug terminals retained on the plug body, and plug protection brackets located at both longitudinal ends of the plug body, the plug body being provided with two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction and two end walls connected to the two side walls, the plug protection bracket being fixed on the end wall and including an end wall shielding portion covering the top surface of the end wall and an outer wall shielding portion at least partially covering the outer wall surface of the side wall, the outer wall shielding portion being connected to the lateral ends of the end wall shielding portion, the outer wall shielding portion being provided with a contact bulge protruding outward, and when the socket connector is mated with the plug connector, the contact bulge of the plug protection bracket abuts against the elastic arm of the socket protection bracket.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the plug protection bracket includes a side wall shielding portion that at least partially covers the top surface of the side wall portion, the side wall shielding portion is formed by extending longitudinally from the lateral ends of the end wall shielding portion, and the outer wall shielding portion is formed by bending downward and extending from the lateral outer side of the side wall shielding portion, and the contact bulge of the outer wall shielding portion protrudes outward from the outer wall surface of the side wall portion.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the plug protection bracket is integrally injection molded on the plug body, and the plug protection bracket includes an outer shielding portion of the end wall portion that is bent and extended from the longitudinal outer side of the end wall portion shielding portion, and the outer shielding portion of the end wall portion covers the outer side of the end wall portion and does not extend beyond the outer side surface of the end wall portion.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the plug protection bracket also includes a welding portion bent inward from the bottom edge of the shielding portion outside the end wall portion, the welding portion is exposed to the bottom surface of the plug body and extends out of the plug body laterally, and the welding portion is provided with a hook protruding inward into the plug body.

[0014] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme: a socket connector for docking with a plug connector, the socket connector comprising a socket body extending in the longitudinal direction, a socket terminal fixed on the socket body and a socket protection bracket located at the longitudinal ends of the socket body, the socket body is provided with two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction and two end walls connected to the two side walls, the two end walls of the socket body and the two side walls are surrounded to form a socket slot; it is characterized in that: at least one socket protection bracket is provided with an end wall reinforcement piece located on the end wall side and a side wall reinforcement piece located on the side wall side, the side wall reinforcement piece is connected to the lateral ends of the end wall reinforcement piece, the side wall reinforcement piece comprises a side wall covering portion abutting against the inner wall surface of the side wall, a bent portion bent from the top end of the side wall covering portion and an elastic arm extending obliquely downward from the end of the bent portion, the elastic arm protrudes into the socket slot and presses against the two sides of the plug connector.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the side wall covering portion is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the socket slot or a groove recessed into the side wall, and the elastic arm is provided with a groove or a protrusion corresponding to the protrusion, and when the plug connector is inserted into the socket slot, the protrusion protrudes into the groove.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: the side wall reinforcement sheet is provided with a side wall covering portion and an elastic arm extending obliquely downward, the elastic arm protrudes into the socket slot and is adjacent to the side wall covering portion. The elastic arm of the socket protection bracket has a long force arm, which not only ensures the strength of the board-to-board connector itself, but also solves the problem of large yield of the elastic arm after the board-to-board connector is plugged in and out, so that the contact of the board-to-board connector is stable and reliable during plugging. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a board-to-board connector in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a board-to-board connector is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a socket protection bracket in a board-to-board connector is shown.

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the socket protection bracket is shown.

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a plug protection bracket in a board-to-board connector is shown.

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the plug protection bracket is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] See also Figure 1 to Figure 2 As shown, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a board-to-board connector, which includes a socket connector 100 and a plug connector 200 that cooperate with each other. The socket connector 100 includes a socket body 10 extending in the longitudinal direction, a socket terminal 20 fixed on the socket body 10, and a socket protection bracket 30 located at both ends of the socket body 10 in the longitudinal direction. The socket body 10 is provided with a central island portion 11 extending in the longitudinal direction, two side walls 12 located at both sides of the island portion 11 in the transverse direction, and two end walls 13 connected to the two side walls 12. The island portion 11, the two side walls 12 and the two end walls 13 jointly define a socket slot 14, and the socket slot 14 can be inserted into the plug connector 200.

[0024] Combination Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the socket protection bracket 30 is fixed on the end wall 13 of the socket body 10 to increase the overall strength of the socket connector 100. The socket protection bracket 30 is provided with an end wall reinforcement piece 31 located on the side of the end wall 13 and a side wall reinforcement piece 32 located on the side of the side wall 12, and the side wall reinforcement piece 32 is connected to the lateral ends of the end wall reinforcement piece 31. The end wall reinforcement piece 31 includes an end wall covering portion 33 abutting against the inner wall surface of the end wall 13 and an end wall reinforcement portion 34 bent and extended outward from the top end of the end wall covering portion 33, and the end wall reinforcement portion 34 covers the top surface of the end wall 13 and at least partially covers the outer wall surface of the end wall 13.

[0025] The end wall reinforcement portion 34 does not extend beyond the top surface and the outer wall surface of the end wall 13, that is, the end wall reinforcement portion 34 improves the strength of the end wall 13 of the socket body 10 without increasing the overall volume of the socket connector 100. The end wall reinforcement piece 31 also includes a welding foot 331 extending outward from the bottom end of the end wall covering portion 33, the welding foot 331 is exposed to the bottom surface of the socket body 10 and extends longitudinally out of the socket body 10, and the welding foot 331 can be fixedly mounted on a circuit board (not shown) electrically connected to the socket connector 100.

[0026] The side wall reinforcement piece 32 includes a side wall covering portion 35 located on the inner wall surface of the side wall 12, a bent portion 36 bent downward from the top of the side wall covering portion 35 and folded back inward, and an elastic arm 37 extending downward and obliquely from the free end of the bent portion 36, the elastic arm is used to press the two sides of the plug connector, and the side wall covering portion 35 is connected to the lateral ends of the end wall covering portion 33. The elastic arm 37 protrudes into the socket slot 14 and is adjacent to the side wall covering portion 35, that is, a gap is formed between the elastic arm 37 and the side wall covering portion 35, so that the elastic arm 37 has enough movement space when elastically deforming.

[0027] The side wall covering portion 35 is provided with a protrusion 351 protruding toward the elastic arm 37, and the elastic arm 37 is provided with a groove 371 corresponding to the protrusion 351. When the socket connector 100 is mated with the plug connector 200, the protrusion 351 of the side wall covering portion 35 protrudes into or is accommodated in the groove 371 of the elastic arm 37. The cooperation between the protrusion 351 and the groove 371 ensures that when the socket connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are plugged in, the protrusion 351 and the groove 371 realize a self-locking function with each other, that is, the elastic arm 37 can stably contact with the plug protection bracket 60 of the plug connector 200, and avoids the situation where the elastic arm 37 is misaligned when the elastic deformation occurs and the poor contact is avoided.

[0028] Of course, the protrusion can also be arranged on the elastic arm and protrude toward the side wall covering portion, and the groove is arranged on the side wall covering portion. Similarly, when the plug connector is inserted, the plug connector will squeeze the elastic arm and make the groove and the protrusion cooperate with each other, which can also solve the above problem.

[0029] The elastic arm 37 of the socket protection bracket 30 protrudes into the socket slot 14 and is adjacent to the side wall covering portion 35, so that the elastic arm 37 of the socket protection bracket 30 has a longer force arm, which ensures the strength of the socket connector 100 and realizes the conduction of large current, and solves the problem that the elastic arm 37 is greatly reduced after the socket connector 100 is plugged in and out, so that the contact of the socket connector 100 is stable and reliable during plugging. At the same time, the bending portion 36 is accommodated on the side wall 12 of the socket body 10, and the bending portion 36 does not exceed the outer wall surface of the side wall 12 of the socket body 10 when extending outward and does not exceed the top surface of the side wall 12 of the socket body 10 when folding back inward. The bending portion 36 allows the elastic arm 37 to have a longer force arm without additionally increasing the overall volume of the socket connector 100.

[0030] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the plug connector 200 includes a plug body 40 extending in the longitudinal direction, a plug terminal 50 fixed on the plug body 40, and a plug protection bracket 60 located at both ends of the plug body 40 in the longitudinal direction. The plug body 40 is provided with two side walls 41 extending in the longitudinal direction and two end walls 42 connected to the two side walls 41. The plug protection bracket 60 is integrally injection-molded on the plug body 40, thereby improving the strength of the plug body 40 and avoiding damage to the plug body 40 when the plug connector 200 is plugged in or out.

[0031] The plug protection bracket 60 includes an end wall shielding portion 61 covering the top surface of the end wall portion 42, a side wall shielding portion 62 at least partially covering the top surface of the side wall portion 41, and an outer wall shielding portion 63 at least partially covering the outer wall surface of the side wall portion 41. The side wall shielding portion 62 is formed by extending from both ends of the end wall shielding portion 61 in the longitudinal direction. The outer wall shielding portion 63 is formed by bending and extending from the outer side of the side wall shielding portion 62 in the transverse direction, that is, the outer wall shielding portion 63 is also connected to the two ends of the end wall shielding portion 61 in the transverse direction. The outer wall shielding portion 63 is provided with a contact convex bump 631 protruding outward, and the contact convex bump 631 of the outer wall shielding portion 63 protrudes outward from the outer wall surface of the side wall portion 41; when the socket connector 100 is mated with the plug connector 200, the contact convex bump 631 of the plug protection bracket 60 abuts against the elastic arm 37 of the socket protection bracket 30. The cooperation between the contact protrusion 631 of the plug protection bracket 60 and the elastic arm 37 of the socket protection bracket 30 ensures the stability of the contact between the plug protection bracket 60 and the socket protection bracket 30 .

[0032] The plug protection bracket 60 includes an end wall outer shielding portion 64 that is bent and extended from the longitudinal outer side of the end wall shielding portion 61. The end wall outer shielding portion 64 covers the outer side of the end wall 42 and does not extend beyond the outer side surface of the end wall 42, so that the plug protection bracket 60 increases the strength of the plug body 40 without additionally increasing the overall volume of the plug connector 200. The plug protection bracket 60 also includes a welding portion 65 that is bent inwardly from the bottom edge of the end wall outer shielding portion 64. The welding portion 65 is exposed to the bottom surface of the plug body 40 and extends out of the plug body 40 in the transverse direction. The welding portion 65 can be fixedly mounted on a circuit board (not shown) that is electrically connected to the plug connector 200. The welding portion 65 is provided with a hook 651 that protrudes inwardly into the plug body 40 to firmly fix the plug protection bracket 60 to the plug body 40.

[0033] In the present invention, when the socket connector 100 is matched with the plug connector 200, the elastic arm 37 is squeezed and matched with the protective bracket 60 of the plug connector 200 to achieve stable elastic contact, thereby realizing the large current conduction function. The elastic arm 37 of the socket protective bracket 30 has a long force arm, which not only ensures the stable assembly of the board-to-board connector, but also solves the problem of large yield of the elastic arm 37 after the socket connector 100 is plugged in and out, so that the contact of the socket connector 100 is stable and reliable when in use.

[0034] In summary, the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. That is, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present invention should still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

Claims

1. A board-to-board connector, comprising a socket connector and a plug connector that cooperate with each other, the socket connector comprising a socket body extending in the longitudinal direction, a socket terminal fixed on the socket body, and a socket protection bracket located at both ends of the socket body in the longitudinal direction, the socket body is provided with two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction and two end walls connected to the two side walls, the two end walls of the socket body and the two side walls are surrounded to form a socket slot; characterized in that: At least one socket protection bracket is provided with an end wall reinforcement piece located on the end wall side and a side wall reinforcement piece located on the side wall side, wherein the side wall reinforcement piece is connected to the lateral ends of the end wall reinforcement piece, and the side wall reinforcement piece includes a side wall covering portion abutting against the inner wall surface of the side wall, a bent portion bent from the top end of the side wall covering portion, and an elastic arm extending downwardly obliquely from the end of the bent portion, wherein the elastic arm protrudes into the socket slot and is adjacent to the side wall covering portion to press against the two sides of the plug connector.

2. The board-to-board connector according to claim 1, wherein: The side wall covering portion is provided with a protrusion or a groove protruding toward the elastic arm, and the elastic arm is provided with a groove or a protrusion corresponding to the protrusion. When the socket connector is matched with the plug connector, the protrusion is accommodated in the groove.

3. The board-to-board connector according to claim 2, wherein: The bending portion is bent outward and arranged on the side wall of the socket body. When the bending portion extends outward, it does not exceed the outer wall surface of the side wall of the socket body, and when the bending portion is bent inward, it does not exceed the top surface of the side wall of the socket body.

4. The board-to-board connector according to claim 2, wherein: The end wall reinforcement plate includes an end wall covering portion that is adhered to the inner wall surface of the end wall and an end wall reinforcement portion that is bent outward and extends from the top end of the end wall covering portion, and the side wall covering portion is connected to the two lateral ends of the end wall covering portion; the end wall reinforcement portion covers the top surface of the end wall and at least partially covers the outer wall surface of the end wall, and the end wall reinforcement portion does not exceed the top surface and the outer wall surface of the end wall.

5. The board-to-board connector according to claim 3, wherein: The end wall reinforcement piece also includes a welding foot extending outward from the bottom end of the end wall covering portion. The welding foot is exposed to the bottom surface of the socket body and extends longitudinally out of the socket body.

6. The board-to-board connector according to claim 2, wherein: The plug connector includes a plug body extending in the longitudinal direction, plug terminals retained on the plug body, and plug protection brackets located at the longitudinal ends of the plug body. The plug body is provided with two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction and two end walls connected to the two side walls. The plug protection bracket is fixed on the end wall and includes an end wall shielding portion covering the top surface of the end wall and an outer wall shielding portion at least partially covering the outer wall surface of the side wall. The outer wall shielding portion is connected to the lateral ends of the end wall shielding portion. The outer wall shielding portion is provided with a contact bulge protruding outward. When the socket connector is mated with the plug connector, the contact bulge of the plug protection bracket abuts against the elastic arm of the socket protection bracket.

7. The board-to-board connector according to claim 6, wherein: The plug protection bracket includes a side wall shielding portion that at least partially covers the top surface of the side wall portion, the side wall shielding portion is formed by extending longitudinally from the lateral ends of the end wall shielding portion, the outer wall shielding portion is formed by bending downward and extending from the lateral outer side of the side wall shielding portion, and the contact bulge of the outer wall shielding portion protrudes outward from the outer wall surface of the side wall portion.

8. The board-to-board connector according to claim 6, wherein: The plug protection bracket is integrally injection molded on the plug body, and includes an end wall outer shielding portion that is bent and extended from the longitudinal outer side of the end wall shielding portion, and the end wall outer shielding portion covers the outer side of the end wall portion and does not exceed the outer side surface of the end wall portion.

9. The board-to-board connector according to claim 8, wherein: The plug protection bracket also includes a welding portion bent inwardly from the bottom edge of the shielding portion outside the end wall portion, the welding portion is exposed to the bottom surface of the plug body and extends out of the plug body in the transverse direction, and the welding portion is provided with a hook protruding inwardly into the plug body.

10. A socket connector for docking with a plug connector, the socket connector comprising a socket body extending in the longitudinal direction, a socket terminal fixed on the socket body, and a socket protection bracket located at both ends of the socket body in the longitudinal direction, the socket body is provided with two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction and two end walls connected to the two side walls, the two end walls of the socket body and the two side walls are surrounded to form a socket slot; characterized in that: At least one socket protection bracket is provided with an end wall reinforcement piece located on the end wall side and a side wall reinforcement piece located on the side wall side, wherein the side wall reinforcement piece is connected to the lateral ends of the end wall reinforcement piece, and the side wall reinforcement piece includes a side wall covering portion abutting against the inner wall surface of the side wall, a bent portion bent from the top end of the side wall covering portion, and an elastic arm extending downwardly obliquely from the end of the bent portion, wherein the elastic arm protrudes into the socket slot and presses against the two sides of the plug connector.

11. The socket connector according to claim 10, wherein: The side wall covering portion is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the socket slot or a groove recessed into the side wall, and the elastic arm is provided with a groove or a protrusion corresponding to the protrusion. When the plug connector is inserted into the socket slot, the protrusion protrudes into the groove.

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