Electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a plug, a housing covering the outside of the plug, a pair of locking members and a pair of buttons located on both sides of the short lateral side of the plug, and conductive terminals disposed within the plug. Each locking member includes a forward-extending elastic arm and a pressing portion bent from the elastic arm. The buttons are mounted within the housing and can press inward against the pressing portion of the locking member, thereby causing the elastic arm to shift laterally. The outer surface of the buttons is exposed on the outer surface of the housing. This invention features buttons and locking members that cooperate, resulting in a simple structure and facilitating locking and unlocking with mating connectors.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to an electrical connector. [Background Technology]

[0002] Chinese Utility Model Patent No. CN201708376U discloses a cable connector, which includes an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals housed within the insulating body, a cable connected to the conductive terminals, a metal shell shielding the outer periphery of the insulating body, and an insulating outer shell located outside the metal shell. The cable connector further includes a locking mechanism and a driving element mounted on the insulating body. The locking mechanism includes a locking arm and an inclined tab formed on the locking arm. The driving element is located inside the insulating outer shell and includes an elastic arm extending rearward from the side edge of the main body. An actuating portion extends inward from the upper edge of the elastic arm, and this actuating portion is adjacent to the inclined tab on the locking arm. The elastic arm is bent outward to form a wing. An elastic pressing portion is provided on the side of the insulating outer shell, located outside the wing of the driving element. The locking mechanism and driving element of this connector have a complex structure, which is not conducive to connector assembly.

[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to design an improved electrical connector to overcome the above-mentioned defects. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that facilitates locking and unlocking between two electrical connectors.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention can adopt the following technical solution:

[0006] An electrical connector includes a plug, a housing covering the outside of the plug, a pair of locking members and a pair of buttons located on both sides of the short lateral side of the plug, the plug having conductive terminals inside, the locking members including forward-extending elastic arms and pressing portions bent from the elastic arms, the buttons being installed inside the housing and able to press inward against the pressing portions of the locking members to cause the elastic arms to shift laterally, and the outer surface of the buttons being exposed on the outer surface of the housing.

[0007] Compared with the prior art, the button and locking fastener of the present invention have a simple structure and are convenient for locking and unlocking with the docking connector. [Attached Image Description]

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the electrical connector of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a three-dimensional view of the electrical connector with the upper housing removed.

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of the structure inside the middle circle.

[0011] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a partial exploded view of the electrical connector.

[0012] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The exploded view is shown from another angle.

[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the connector structure.

[0014] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the button of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a side view of the button of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the mating relationship between the outer shell, button, and locking component of this invention.

[0017] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 A schematic diagram from another angle is shown.

[0018] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation relationship between the locking component and the insulating body of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 12 yes Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown along the dashed line AA.

[0020] Figure 13 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown along the dashed line BB.

[0021] Figure 14 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown along the dashed line CC.

[0022] [Component Symbol Explanation]

[0023] Electrical connector 100 fixing block 3

[0024] Connector 1, opening 39

[0025] Insulating body 10, positioning groove 38

[0026] Sidewall 11 Cable Assembly 4

[0027] End wall 12, cable 49

[0028] Extension wall 13, wire core 490

[0029] Receiving groove 120, insulating layer 491

[0030] Retention groove 130, first metal housing 30

[0031] Receiving cavity 101, second metal housing 5

[0032] Installation space 102, guiding groove 51

[0033] Terminal module 20, housing 6

[0034] Terminal 21, receiving groove 61

[0035] Contact portion 212, receiving hole 62

[0036] Retention portion 211, locking member 7

[0037] Pin 213, elasticity 71

[0038] Circuit board 2, pressing portion 710

[0039] Bump 29, hook head 711

[0040] Fixing portion 72, barb 720

[0041] Button 8, abutting surface 801

[0042] Guiding curved surface 802, fixing tab 81

[0043] Shaft portion 82

[0044] The following specific embodiments will further illustrate the present invention in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings.

Specific Embodiments

[0045] Refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the present invention discloses an electrical connector 100, which cooperates with a mating connector to achieve signal transmission. The electrical connector 100 includes a plug 1, a housing 6 covering the outside of the plug, and a pair of locking members 7 and a pair of buttons 8 located on both sides of the short transverse side of the plug. The buttons cooperate with the locking members to unlock the mating connector. The electrical connector 100 further includes a circuit board 2, a fixing block 3, a cable assembly 4, and a second metal housing 5 covering the rear of the plug.

[0046] Refer to Figure 6 、 11As shown, the plug connector 1 includes an insulating body 10, a terminal module 20, and a first metal housing 30 covering the outside of the insulating body. The insulating body 10 includes two side walls 11 and two end walls 12 connecting the two side walls 11. The side walls and the end walls enclose a receiving cavity 101. The end wall 12 includes an extending wall 13 extending backward beyond the side walls. An installation space 102 is defined within the transverse range of the two extending walls. The end wall 12 is provided with a receiving groove 120 from back to front. The receiving groove opens outward and inward at the corresponding extending wall. The extending arm is provided with a holding groove 130 opening backward. The holding groove is located below the receiving groove. Each terminal module 20 includes a plurality of terminals 21 and an insulating block 22 injection-molded on the outside of the terminals. After the upper and lower terminal modules 20 are assembled and fixed together, they are then assembled into the insulating body 10 from back to front together. The upper and lower terminal modules are combined with each other through cylinders and grooves provided on the surface of the insulating block. Each terminal 21 includes a holding portion 211 fixed within the insulating block 22, a contact portion 212 extending forward from one end of the holding portion into the receiving cavity 101, and a pin 213 extending backward from the other end of the holding portion into the installation space 102.

[0047] The circuit board 2 is also received in the installation space 102. The pins 213 are soldered to the surface of the circuit board by surface mounting. The two rows of terminal pins are respectively soldered to the upper and lower sides of the circuit board. The transverse two ends of the circuit board 2 extend backward continuously with bumps 29. The above fixing block 3 is located behind the circuit board 2 and is provided with an opening 39 cooperating with the bumps 29. Therefore, the circuit board 2 and the fixing block can be positioned with each other, thus facilitating the wire soldering process of the cable assembly 4. The cable assembly includes a cable 49. The cable includes a wire core 490 exposed forward and an insulating layer 491 wrapping the wire core. The wire core 490 extends forward and is soldered to the circuit board 2. Therefore, the wire core 490 and the pin 213 are electrically connected through the circuit board 2. The insulating layer 491 is positioned within a positioning groove 38 provided in the fixing block 3. The first metal housing 30 covers the outer surface of the insulating body 10 except for the extending wall 13. The second metal housing 5 is installed behind the first metal housing and partially overlaps with the first metal housing. The above extending wall 13, the circuit board 2, the fixing block 3, and the part of the cable assembly 4 adjacent to the fixing block 3 are all received within the second metal housing 5. The outer shell 6 is formed by injection molding and further covers the outside of the plug connector 1 and the second metal housing 5.

[0048] Refer to Figures 2 to 14 As shown, the metal fastener 7 and the insulating button 8 of the present invention will be introduced in detail below. The fastener 7 is installed on the transverse two sides of the short side of the insulating body 10, that is, within the two end walls 12. The fastener includes an elastic arm 71 extending forward and a pressing portion 710 vertically bent outward from the elastic arm. The elastic arm 71 is installed within the receiving groove 120, and the pressing portion 710 extends outward beyond the receiving groove. Figure 11Clearly visible. The elastic arm 71 is a horizontal plate-like structure, and the pressing part 710 is a vertical plate-like structure. The elastic arm 71 has an outwardly protruding hook 711 at its front end. The hook 711 passes through a hole in the first metal housing 30, thus exposing itself outside the connector 1 for locking with the mating connector. The locking member 7 further includes a fixing part 72 bent inward from the end of the elastic arm. The fixing part is located inside the elastic arm and fixed within the retaining groove 130. The fixing part is also formed as a vertical plate-like structure, and barbs 720 are formed on its upper and lower side edges to interfere with and fix it to the inner wall of the retaining groove 130. Figure 13 Clearly visible.

[0049] Button 8 is installed inside housing 6 and can press inward against the pressing part 710 of the aforementioned locking member, causing the elastic arm 71 to shift laterally within the receiving groove 120, thereby causing the hook head 711 to shift laterally. Specifically, when the electrical connector 100 mates with the mating connector, the hook head 711 engages with the corresponding position of the mating connector to lock the two connectors. At this time, the button is in a natural state and does not press against the pressing part 710. When the electrical connector 100 needs to be pulled out of the mating connector, force is applied to button 8, causing it to press inward against the pressing part 710 of the locking member. The pressing part, through the elastic arm 71, causes the hook head 711 to deflect inward, allowing the electrical connector and the mating connector to unlock. The outer side of the button is exposed on the outer side of housing 6 for easy operation. The mating structure between button 8 and locking member 7 of this invention is simple, easy to manufacture and assemble, and can realize locking and unlocking between two connectors.

[0050] Button 8 has an abutting surface 801 for pressing against the abutting part 710. Guide curved surfaces 802 are formed on both sides of the abutting surface. Both the abutting part and the abutting surface are vertically arranged, and the guide curved surfaces are located on both sides of the abutting surface in the vertical direction and are symmetrical in the vertical direction. (See reference...) Figure 4 The end wall of the second metal housing is provided with a guide groove 51. When the second metal housing is assembled from back to front, the guide groove 51 allows the pressing part 710 to move forward, and the pressing part 710 can also extend outward past the second metal housing. (Continue reading...) Figure 3 , 912. The pressing part 710 extends into the outer casing and is located between the contact surface 801 and the second metal casing 5. The guide surface 802 is C-shaped. When the button 8 is assembled, the pressing part 710 contacts the contact surface 801 after passing through the guide surface, reducing the wear caused by the pressing part directly contacting the contact surface, facilitating assembly, and extending the button's lifespan. The front end of the button is provided with a fixing protrusion 81, which is arranged vertically. The rear end is provided with a vertically extending shaft 82, which is specifically a cylindrical structure. The outer casing 6 is provided with a receiving groove 61 for receiving the fixing protrusion and a receiving hole 62 for receiving the shaft. When force is applied to the button 8, the fixing protrusion 81 is offset laterally within the range defined by the receiving groove 61. Specifically, the button 8 has an axisymmetric structure. Figure 7-8 The outer casing 6 can be divided into an upper cover and a lower cover. The upper and lower covers have roughly the same structure. The buttons 8 are symmetrically installed between the upper and lower covers. The fixing protrusions 81 and the shaft 82 are symmetrically fixed inside the upper and lower covers, rather than fixed to one of them. Figure 9-10 As shown.

[0051] The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. Any equivalent changes to the technical solutions of the present invention made by those skilled in the art through reading this specification are covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising a plug, a housing covering the outside of the plug, and a pair of locking members and a pair of buttons located on both sides of the short lateral side of the plug, wherein the plug has conductive terminals, characterized in that: The locking element includes a forward-extending elastic arm and a pressing portion bent from the elastic arm. The button is installed inside the housing and can press inward against the pressing portion of the locking element, thereby causing the elastic arm to shift laterally. The outer side of the button is exposed on the outer side of the housing. The front end of the button is provided with a fixing protrusion, and the rear end is provided with a pair of shaft portions extending vertically. The housing is provided with a receiving groove for receiving the fixing protrusion and a pair of receiving holes for receiving the shaft portions.

2. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing tab is vertically arranged in the up-down direction.

3. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The button has an abutting surface for pressing against the pressing part, and the abutting surface forms guide surfaces on both sides thereon.

4. The electrical connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that: Both the pressing part and the contact surface are vertically arranged, and the guide curved surface is located on both sides of the contact surface in the vertical direction and is symmetrical in the vertical direction.

5. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic arm is a horizontal plate-like structure, and the pressing part is bent vertically from the outer edge of the elastic arm, forming a vertical plate-like structure.

6. The electrical connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The locking element includes a fixing portion that bends from the end of the elastic arm, and the fixing portion is located inside the elastic arm.

7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The locking element is made of metal, and the button is made of insulating material.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The connector includes an insulating body and a metal housing covering the insulating body. The short side end wall of the insulating body is provided with a receiving groove. The elastic arm is installed in the receiving groove, and the pressing part extends out of the receiving groove to both sides and into the housing.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The insulating body includes two side walls and two end walls connecting the two side walls, and the locking element is fixed inside the end wall.

Images