Floating connector

Abstract

The present invention is a floating connector, which includes a male end, a female end and a fixing member. The male end is provided with a first terminal and forms an extension member. The female end includes a base, a cover body and a second terminal. The base is combined with the cover body to provide a second terminal. Two sides of the cover body respectively form a coupling member to match the extension member. The inner edge of the coupling member forms a protrusion. One end of the fixing member is provided on the surface of the cover body and the other end is fixed to a plate body. When the male end is combined with the female end, the extension member is snapped into the coupling member, thereby limiting the male end in an axial direction and the female end in a planar direction by the fixing member.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of a connector, in particular to a floating connector capable of performing board-to-board connection through a male end and a female end. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, a floating connector allows for a slight offset in, for example, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis after the connector is combined, so that the connector can be easily connected after assembly.

[0003] However, although the conventional floating connector is easy to connect, after the connection is impacted by external force after assembly, the tolerance of the offset may cause the male end of the connector to separate from the female end.

[0004] In view of this, the present invention proposes a floating connector to solve the defects caused by the traditional connector. [Summary of the invention]

[0005] A first object of the present invention is to provide a floating connector that can be used in a board-to-board connection.

[0006] The second objective of the present invention is to prevent the male end portion and the female end portion from being easily disconnected by means of a locking structure according to the aforementioned floating connector.

[0007] The third object of the present invention is to provide a one-time locking structure based on the aforementioned floating connector and provide an offset in the axial direction and the planar direction to facilitate installation.

[0008] The fourth object of the present invention is to restrict the movement of the male end and the female end in a certain axial direction or a certain plane based on the aforementioned floating connector by means of an extension piece, a coupling piece and a fixing piece.

[0009] The fifth object of the present invention is to achieve the purpose of multiple assembly based on the aforementioned floating connector by means of the corresponding inclined surface structures of the protrusions of the extension piece and the coupling piece.

[0010] The sixth object of the present invention is to provide a second terminal having a protruding piece and an elastic piece based on the aforementioned floating connector, wherein the protruding piece is connected to the cover body and cooperates with the elastic piece, so that the protruding piece can drive the elastic piece to deform according to an external force from the cover body, allowing the cover body to move in a planar direction.

[0011] A seventh objective of the present invention is that according to the aforementioned floating connector, the female end portion comprises a base, a cover and a second terminal, wherein the cover is floating relative to the base.

[0012] To achieve the above and other purposes, the present invention provides a floating connector, which connects a first plate body and a second plate body, and the floating connector includes a male end, a female end and a fixing member. The male end forms a first accommodation space for arranging a first terminal. Two sides of the male end form extension members respectively. Among them, one end of the first terminal can be connected to the first plate body and a rib is formed on the side of the extension member. The female end includes a base, a cover body and a second terminal. The base and the cover body are combined to form a second accommodation space for arranging a second terminal. Among them, one end of the second terminal can be connected to the second plate body. The other end of the second terminal can be connected to the other end of the first terminal. Among them, two sides of the cover body respectively form a coupling member to match the extension member. In addition, the inner edge of the coupling member forms a protrusion. The fixing member is arranged on two sides of the female end. One end of the fixing member is arranged on the surface of the cover body and the other end of the fixing member can be fixed to the second plate body. Among them, when the male end and the female end are combined, the rib of the extension member can be snapped on the protrusion of the coupling member, thereby limiting the male end in the axial direction and the female end in the plane direction by the fixing member. Furthermore, the axial direction is perpendicular to the plane direction.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the floating connector provided by the present invention can be easily installed during the assembly process of the male end and the female end, and can also prevent the male end and the female end from being disconnected due to external force.

[0014] The specific technology adopted by the present invention will be further described through the following embodiments and attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a floating connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2a This invention is explained Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the female end of the floating connector.

[0017] Figure 2b This invention is explained Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the combination of the male end and the female end of the floating connector.

[0018] Figure 2c This invention is explained Figure 1 Another schematic diagram of the combination of the male end and the female end of the floating connector.

[0019] Figure 3a This invention is explained Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the second terminal of the floating connector.

[0020] Figure 3b This invention is explained Figure 1 Another structural schematic diagram of the second terminal of the floating connector.

[0021] Figure 4 This invention is explained Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of the male and female ends of a floating connector.

[0022] Description of main component symbols:

[0023] 10 Floating connector

[0024] 12 male end

[0025] 122 Extension

[0026] 1222 Rib

[0027] 124 First terminal

[0028] 126 ribs

[0029] 128 Extended Slope

[0030] 14 Female end

[0031] 141 Base

[0032] 142 Joints

[0033] 1422 Incline

[0034] 1424 Groove

[0035] 1426 protrusion

[0036] 1428 Bump Bevel

[0037] 1430 Terminal slot

[0038] 143 Cover

[0039] 144, 144' Second terminal

[0040] 1442, 1448

[0041] 1444 Protrusions

[0042] 1446, 1446' Elastic parts

[0043] 16 Fixing parts

[0044] FSP first accommodation space

[0045] SSP Second Storage Space [Specific implementation method]

[0046] In order to fully understand the purpose, features and effects of the present invention, the present invention is described in detail through the following specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The description is as follows.

[0047] In the present invention, "a" or "an" is used to describe the units, elements and components described herein. This is only for the convenience of description and to provide a general meaning to the scope of the present invention. Therefore, unless it is obvious that it is otherwise intended, such description should be understood to include one, at least one, and the singular also includes the plural.

[0048] In the present invention, the terms "comprise", "include", "have", "contain" or any other similar terms are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a component, structure, article or device containing multiple elements is not limited to those listed herein, but may include other elements that are not explicitly listed but are generally inherent to the component, structure, article or device. In addition, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the term "or" refers to an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or".

[0049] Please refer to Figure 1 , is a schematic diagram of the structure of a floating connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 In the embodiment, the floating connector 10 can connect an external first board (not shown) and a second board (not shown). The first board and the second board can be printed circuit boards.

[0050] The floating connector 10 includes a male end 12, a female end 14 and a fixing member 16. In this embodiment, the first plate is connected to the male end 12 and the second plate is connected to the female end 14.

[0051] In this embodiment, the male end portion 12 is illustrated as a long rectangular connecting terminal, and its material can be plastic. The content of the male end portion 12 forms a first accommodation space FSP (refer to Figure 4 As shown), a first terminal 124 is provided. In the present embodiment, the first accommodating space FSP can also form a groove (not shown) for fixing the first terminal 124. Furthermore, extension pieces 122 are respectively formed on both sides of the male end portion 12. In the present embodiment, the structural shape of the extension piece 122 is illustrated by taking an L-shape similar to the English letter as an example. Among them, one end of the first terminal 124 (the end contacting the first plate body) can be connected to the first plate body for transmitting electrical signals with the first plate body. In addition, a rib 126 is formed on the side of the extension piece 122, which can be referred to as well. Figure 2b shown.

[0052] The female end portion 14 includes a base 141 , a cover 143 and a second terminal 144 .

[0053] The base 141 and the cover 143 are combined to form a second accommodation space SSP (see also Figure 4 As shown) to set the second terminal 144.

[0054] The two sides of the cover 143 are respectively formed with a coupling member 142 to match the extension member 122. In addition, the inner edge of the coupling member 142 is formed with a protrusion 1426, which can be referred to Figure 2a and Figure 2b In this embodiment, the protrusion 1426 forms a point on the inner edge of the coupling member 142, and the height of the point determines the amount of movement of the male end portion 12 in the axial direction (for example, the Z-axis direction of the figure) of the female end portion 14. Figure 2b When the male end portion 12 is combined with the female end portion 14, the rib 126 of the extension member 122 can be snapped into the protrusion 1426 of the combination member 142, thereby limiting the male end portion 12 in the axial direction and limiting the female end portion 14 in the planar direction by the fixing member 16. In this embodiment, the axial direction is perpendicular to the planar direction. The cross-sectional view of the combination of the male end portion 12 and the female end portion 14 can be referred to Figure 4 .

[0055] In addition, the shape of the notch of the coupling member 142 is an L-shaped English letter, and in other embodiments, the shape of the notch can also be other shapes. In addition, the coupling member 142 has an inclined surface 1422, which is formed on the side where the coupling member 142 is connected to the extension member 122, so that the extension member 122 can slide into the coupling member 142. In addition, in this embodiment, the female end portion 14 can also provide a terminal groove 1430 for connecting the first terminal 124 with the second terminal 144.

[0056] In another embodiment, the coupling member 142 forms a groove 1424 to connect the notch of the coupling member 142 so that the coupling member 142 has elasticity, just like the elastic arm has mobility.

[0057] For reference Figure 3a and 3b , is to illustrate the present invention Figure 1Schematic diagram of the structure of the second terminal of the floating connector. One end 1448 of the second terminal 144 is connected (e.g., welded) to the second plate. The other end 1442 of the second terminal 144 can be connected (e.g., electrically contacted) to the other end of the first terminal 124 (the end that does not contact the first plate). In this embodiment, the second terminal 144 further includes a protruding member 1444 and an elastic member 1446. The protruding member 1444 is formed between one end of the elastic member 1446 and the end 1442. The protruding member 1444 can be connected (e.g., inserted into) the cover body 143. For example, the cover body 143 can form a slot (not shown) in the second accommodating space SSP to allow the protruding member 1444 to be inserted, so as to combine the second terminal 144 and the cover body 143. The other end of the elastic member 1446 is connected to the end 1448. The protruding member 1444 can receive an external force from the cover 143 (such as the force generated during assembly or the stress acting on the floating connector during movement, etc.) to drive the elastic member 1446 to deform, thereby allowing the cover 143 to move in a plane direction (such as the plane direction formed by the X-axis and the Y-axis in this figure). Figure 3a The second terminal 144 and Figure 3b The difference between the second terminal 144' is that Figure 3a The elastic member 1446 of the second terminal 144 is perpendicular to the plane formed by the X-axis and the Y-axis, and Figure 3b The elastic member 1446 ′ of the second terminal 144 ′ is parallel to the plane formed by the X-axis and the Y-axis.

[0058] The fixing member 16 is disposed on both sides of the female end portion 14. In this embodiment, the fixing member 16 can be made of metal. One end of the fixing member 16 is non-fixedly disposed on the surface of the cover 143 and the other end of the fixing member 16 is fixed to the second plate, so that the fixing member 16 cannot move. In addition, the fixing member 16 is at a distance from the surface of the cover 143, and the distance can determine the amount of movement of the female end portion 14 in the axial direction or the plane direction.

[0059] You can also refer to Figure 2c The extension member 122 can form an extension slope 128 and the protrusion 1426 can form a protrusion slope 1428. The extension slope 128 is opposite to the protrusion slope 1428 so that the extension member 122 can be separated from the coupling member 142, that is, a connector that can be repeatedly plugged and unplugged can be formed.

[0060] Although the embodiments of the present invention are disclosed as described above, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the relevant art may make slight changes to the shapes, structures, features, methods and quantities described in the claims of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of patent protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the claims attached to this specification.

Claims

1. A floating connector is used to connect a first plate and a second plate, characterized in that: The floating connector comprises: A male end portion, forming a first accommodation space for arranging a first terminal, and two sides of the male end portion respectively forming extension pieces, wherein one end of the first terminal is used for connecting the first plate body and a rib body is formed on the side of the extension piece; The female end portion has a base, a cover and a second terminal, wherein the base and the cover are combined to form a second accommodation space for arranging the second terminal, wherein one end of the second terminal is connected to the second plate, and the other end of the second terminal is connected to the other end of the first terminal, wherein two sides of the cover are respectively formed with a coupling piece to match the extension piece, and the inner edge of the coupling piece forms a protrusion; as well as A fixing member is arranged on two sides of the female end portion, one end of the fixing member is arranged on the surface of the cover body and the other end of the fixing member is fixed to the second plate body; The male end is combined with the female end so that the rib is snapped onto the protrusion, thereby limiting the male end in an axial direction and limiting the female end in a planar direction by the fixing member, wherein the axial direction is perpendicular to the planar direction.

2. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The structural shape of the extension piece is an L-shape similar to the English letter, and the shape of the notch of the combining piece is an L-shape similar to the English letter.

3. The floating connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The combining piece has an inclined surface formed on one side where the combining piece is connected to the extending piece, so that the extending piece can slide into the combining piece.

4. The floating connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The combining piece forms a groove to communicate with the notch, so that the combining piece has elasticity.

5. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protrusion forms a point on the inner edge of the coupling member, and the height of the point on the inner edge determines the amount of movement of the male end portion in the axial direction of the female end portion.

6. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing member is at a distance from the surface of the cover body, and the distance determines the movement amount of the female end portion in the axial direction or the plane direction.

7. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing member is fixed to the base, limiting the base from moving in the plane direction.

8. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second terminal further includes a protruding piece and an elastic piece, wherein the protruding piece is formed between one end of the elastic piece and the end of the second terminal, the protruding piece is connected to the cover body, and the other end of the elastic piece is connected to the other end of the second terminal, wherein the protruding piece is configured to receive an external force from the cover body to drive the elastic piece to deform, thereby allowing the cover body to move in the plane direction.

9. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover body forms a slot in the second accommodating space for the protruding piece to be inserted.

10. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extending member forms an extending inclined surface and the protruding block forms a protruding block inclined surface. The extending inclined surface is arranged relative to the protruding block inclined surface so that the extending member can be separated from the combining member.

Images