Electrical connector

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses an electrical connector, which comprises a housing, a terminal position assurance member embedded in the housing, and at least one terminal fixed in the housing via the terminal position assurance member. When the terminal position assurance member is initially inserted into the housing, the body of the terminal position assurance member is partially embedded in the mounting hole, and then the tab of the terminal enters the first mounting groove or the second mounting groove of the housing via the first groove of the body; when the terminal position assurance member is completely inserted into the housing, the body of the terminal position assurance member is completely embedded in the mounting hole, and the tab of the terminal cooperates with the body to fix the terminal in the first mounting groove or the second mounting groove of the housing. The disclosed electrical connector has a smaller size, reduces the occupied space; and the terminal position assurance member is pre-assembled in the housing, which is convenient for practical use, while the disclosed terminal position assurance member can be reused, thereby reducing the use cost of the electrical connector.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of electrical connection fittings, in particular to an electrical connector, a terminal position assurance for an electrical connector and a housing for an electrical connector. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the continuous development of technology, the size of electrical connectors is becoming smaller and smaller. As shown in the prior art, the existing electrical connector includes a housing 110, a terminal position assurance (TPA) 120 and a terminal 130. In actual use, the terminal 130 of the configured cable is first inserted into the housing 110, and then the user needs to position the TPA 120 with the housing 110, and then push the TPA 120 into the housing 110. As shown in the prior art, a part of the TPA 120 of the existing electrical connector is installed outside the housing 110, so that the TPA occupies extra space in the width direction, that is, the overall size of the existing electrical connector is large. Figure 1A Figure 1B SUMMARY

[0003] The purpose of the present disclosure aims to solve at least one aspect of the above-mentioned problems and defects in the prior art.

[0004] To solve the above problems, the first aspect of the present disclosure provides a terminal position assurance for an electrical connector, comprising:

[0005] a body, two sides of which are respectively provided with a first groove; and

[0006] a resilient arm arranged on one side of the body in a first direction, and a clamping groove is arranged on the resilient arm.

[0007] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, during the process of inserting the terminal position assurance into the housing for the electrical connector, the clamping groove of the resilient arm and the body are respectively arranged in cooperation with the housing, so that the terminal position assurance is completely embedded in the housing.

[0008] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the resilient arm is provided with a first chamfer.

[0009] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the two first grooves are respectively used to hold a first terminal and a second terminal in the housing.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the two first grooves are arranged on the body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0011] ​​To solve the above problems, the second aspect of the present disclosure provides a housing for an electrical connector, comprising:

[0012] a receiving groove arranged in the housing for receiving an elastic arm of a terminal position assurance device for the electrical connector;

[0013] a first mounting groove arranged in the housing at one side of the receiving groove for receiving a first terminal;

[0014] a second mounting groove arranged in the housing at the other side of the receiving groove for receiving a second terminal; and

[0015] a mounting hole arranged in the housing adjacent to the receiving groove for receiving a body of the terminal position assurance device.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the mounting hole is in communication with the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove, respectively.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the receiving groove is provided with a first protrusion and a second protrusion;

[0018] when the terminal position assurance device is initially inserted into the housing, the clamping groove of the elastic arm is embedded between the first protrusion and the second protrusion;

[0019] when the terminal position assurance device is completely inserted into the housing, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are embedded in the clamping groove.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the terminal position assurance device is initially inserted into the housing, the first chamfer of the elastic arm is embedded between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; when the terminal position assurance device is completely inserted into the housing, the first chamfer cooperates with the second protrusion, so that the first protrusion and the second protrusion are embedded in the clamping groove.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the terminal position assurance device is initially inserted into the housing, the body is partially embedded in the mounting hole, so that the first terminal and / or the second terminal enters the first mounting groove and / or the second mounting groove via the first recess of the body; when the terminal position assurance device is completely inserted into the housing, the body is completely embedded in the mounting hole, so that the first terminal and / or the second terminal is fixed in the first mounting groove and / or the second mounting groove via the body.

[0022] To solve the above problems, the third aspect of the present disclosure provides an electrical connector, comprising:

[0023] a housing;

[0024] A terminal position assurance member is embedded in the housing, and the terminal position assurance member includes:

[0025] A body having a first recess on each side; and

[0026] An elastic arm disposed on one side of the body in a first direction, and a clamping slot is formed on the elastic arm

[0027] A clamping slot is formed on the elastic arm; and

[0028] At least one terminal is fixed in the housing via the terminal position assurance member.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, the housing includes:

[0030] A receiving slot is formed in the housing for receiving the elastic arm of the terminal position assurance member;

[0031] A first mounting slot is formed in the housing on one side of the receiving slot for receiving one of the terminals;

[0032] A second mounting slot is formed in the housing on the other side of the receiving slot for receiving another of the terminals; and

[0033] A mounting hole is formed in the housing adjacent to the receiving slot for receiving the body of the terminal position assurance member.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, when the terminal position assurance member is initially inserted into the housing, the body of the terminal position assurance member is partially embedded in the mounting hole, and the tab of the terminal enters the first mounting slot or the second mounting slot of the housing via the first recess of the body; when the terminal position assurance member is completely inserted into the housing, the body is completely embedded in the mounting hole, and the tab of the terminal cooperates with the body to fix the terminal in the first mounting slot or the second mounting slot of the housing.

[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, the mounting hole is in communication with the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot, respectively.

[0036] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, the receiving slot is provided with a first protrusion and a second protrusion; when the terminal position assurance member is initially inserted into the housing, the clamping slot of the elastic arm is embedded between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; when the terminal position assurance member is completely inserted into the housing, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are embedded in the clamping slot.

[0037] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, two of the first grooves are disposed on the body along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0038] In the foregoing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, compared with existing electrical connectors, the disclosed electrical connector has a smaller size, reducing the space required for its use; and the disclosed TPA is reusable, reducing the cost of using the electrical connector; at the same time, the disclosed electrical connector enables pre-assembly of the housing and TPA, reducing the installation complexity of the electrical connector. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Features, advantages, and other aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in which several embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limitation, in the drawings:

[0040] Figure 1A This is an exploded view of an electrical connector in the prior art;

[0041] Figure 1B This is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector in the prior art;

[0042] Figure 2 A perspective view of a terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector based on the present disclosure;

[0043] Figure 3A A perspective view of a housing for an electrical connector based on the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 3B A cross-sectional view of a housing for an electrical connector in accordance with this disclosure;

[0045] Figure 4 A perspective view of terminals for electrical connectors based on this disclosure;

[0046] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing the mating of a housing for an electrical connector and a terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector, in accordance with this disclosure.

[0047] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing the mating of a housing for an electrical connector and a terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 7A This is a first cross-sectional view of a housing for an electrical connector, a terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector, and a terminal mating mechanism for an electrical connector, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0049] Figure 7BThis is a second cross-sectional view of the housing for an electrical connector, the terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector, and the terminals for mating with each other, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 8 This is a third sectional view of the housing for an electrical connector, the terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector, and the terminal mating for an electrical connector, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure 9A This is a perspective view of a housing for an electrical connector, a terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector, and a terminal mating device for an electrical connector, based on the present disclosure; and

[0052] Figure 9B This is a fourth sectional view of the housing for an electrical connector, the terminal position guarantee for an electrical connector, and the terminals for mating with each other, in accordance with the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0053] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the overall inventive concept of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0054] The terms “comprising,” “including,” and similar terms used herein should be understood as open-ended terms, meaning “including / including but not limited to,” implying that other content may also be included. The term “based on” means “at least partially based on.” The term “one embodiment” means “at least one embodiment”; the term “another embodiment” means “at least one additional embodiment,” and so on.

[0055] This invention primarily addresses the following technical issues: how to reduce the overall size of electrical connectors, how to make electrical connectors more convenient to use, and how to reduce the cost of using electrical connectors.

[0056] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention discloses a TPA for an electrical connector, a housing for an electrical connector, and an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes: a housing, a terminal position guarantee embedded within the housing, and at least one terminal fixed within the housing via the terminal position guarantee. The terminal position guarantee includes: a body with first grooves on both sides, and an elastic arm disposed on one side of the body along a first direction. The housing includes: a receiving groove disposed within the housing, a first mounting groove disposed within the housing and located on one side of the receiving groove, a second mounting groove disposed within the housing and located on the other side of the receiving groove, and a mounting hole adjacent to the receiving groove and disposed within the housing. The terminal includes: a termination portion for connecting a cable and a socket portion coupled to the termination portion.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment discloses a terminal position guarantee (TPA) 200 for an electrical connector, which includes a body 220 and an elastic arm 210. The body 220 has first grooves 221 on both sides. The elastic arm 210 is disposed on one side of the body 220 along a first direction and is in an inverted "L" shape. A slot 211 is provided on the elastic arm 210 along the first direction. Additionally, a first chamfer 212 is provided at the lower top end of the elastic arm 210.

[0058] like Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown, this embodiment discloses a housing 300 for an electrical connector, comprising: a receiving groove 310, a first mounting groove 330, a second mounting groove 340, and a mounting hole 320. The receiving groove 310 is disposed within the housing 300 and is used to receive the resilient arm 210 of a terminal position guarantee (TPA) 200. The first mounting groove 330 is disposed within the housing 300 and located on one side of the receiving groove 310, and is used to receive a first terminal. The second mounting groove 340 is disposed within the housing 300 and located on the other side of the receiving groove 310, and is used to receive a second terminal. The mounting hole 320 is disposed outside the housing 300, below the receiving groove 310, and is used to receive the body 220 of the terminal position guarantee 200. Additionally, the receiving groove 310 has a first protrusion 311 and a second protrusion 312.

[0059] like Figure 2 It can be seen that the two first grooves 221 are arranged on the body 220 along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0060] like Figure 3B It can be seen that the mounting hole 320 is connected to the first mounting groove 330 and the second mounting groove 340 respectively.

[0061] like Figure 4As shown, this embodiment discloses a terminal for an electrical connector, which includes a termination portion 420 and a receptacle portion 410. Specifically, the termination portion 420 is used to connect a cable 500, the receptacle portion 410 is coupled to the termination portion 420, and the receptacle portion 410 is provided with a insert 411 at the coupling point with the termination portion 420.

[0062] The specific working principle of the disclosed electrical connector is as follows:

[0063] First, the terminal position guarantee 200 is pre-assembled inside the housing 300. In actual use, the pre-assembly of the terminal position guarantee 200 and the housing 300 can be performed by the supplier, thus facilitating users to complete the assembly of the electrical connector more quickly.

[0064] Specifically, during the process of inserting the terminal position guarantee 200 into the housing 300, the slot 211 and the body 220 of the elastic arm 210 are respectively configured to cooperate with the housing 300, so that the terminal position guarantee 200 is completely embedded in the housing 300.

[0065] Specifically, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, when the terminal position retainer 200 is initially inserted into the housing 300, the slot 211 of the elastic arm 210 is engaged between the first protrusion 311 and the second protrusion 312. Figure 5 As shown, the first chamfer 212 of the elastic arm 210 is embedded between the first protrusion 311 and the second protrusion 312. The body 220 is partially embedded in the mounting hole 320.

[0066] Additionally, after the terminal position retainer 200 is partially inserted into the housing 300, the terminal enters the first mounting groove 330 or the second mounting groove 340 via the first groove 221 of the body 220. Specifically, the terminal insert 411 enters the housing 300 via the first groove 22 of the body 220.

[0067] In this embodiment, the two first grooves 221 respectively facilitate the entry of the corresponding terminals into the housing 300. The first chamfer 212 of the elastic arm 210 helps the elastic arm 210 to fit tightly with the housing 300.

[0068] Next, fully assemble the terminal with cable 500 and the terminal position retainer 200 into the housing 300. The specific operation is as follows:

[0069] like Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown, in this embodiment, after the terminal is fully inserted into the housing 300, the terminal insert 411 moves away from the first groove 221 of the TPA 200, so that the TPA 200 can be assembled into the housing 300.

[0070] Then, the terminal position retainer 200 is fully inserted into the housing 300. Specifically, as shown... Figure 8- Figure 9B As shown, the first chamfer 212 of the terminal position guarantee 200 engages with the second protrusion 312 of the housing 300, such that the first protrusion 311 and the second protrusion 312 are fully embedded in the slot 211; the body 220 of the terminal position guarantee 200 is fully embedded in the mounting hole 320; thereby achieving a complete fit of the terminal position guarantee 200 within the housing 300, that is, compared to existing electrical connectors, the disclosed electrical connector has a smaller size.

[0071] Simultaneously, the terminal is fixed in the first mounting groove 330 or the second mounting groove 340 via the body 220, wherein the terminal insert 411 cooperates with the body 220 to fix the terminal in the housing 300. Specifically, the body 220 cooperates with the first mounting groove 330 and the second mounting groove 340 of the housing 300, so that the terminal insert 411 is snapped into the housing 300, thereby achieving a stable connection between the terminal and the housing 300 and the TPA 200.

[0072] Furthermore, the disclosed TPA 200 features an elastic arm 210, which is made of a material with very low or even zero glass fiber content, such as nylon, thus giving the elastic arm 210 strong elasticity. Therefore, the disclosed TPA 200 can be repeatedly assembled with different housings 300, reducing the cost of using the electrical connector.

[0073] Furthermore, since the TPA 200 and housing 300 can be pre-assembled at the supplier's end, the assembly steps for actual users when using electrical connectors are reduced, further providing convenience for customers.

[0074] The above descriptions are merely optional embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of this disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the embodiments of this disclosure should be included within the protection scope of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0075] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described with reference to several specific examples, it should be understood that the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. The embodiments of this disclosure are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the appended claims is to be interpreted in the broadest possible sense, thereby encompassing all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A terminal position guarantee component for an electrical connector, characterized in that, The terminal position guarantee component includes: The main body has a first groove on one side; and An elastic arm is disposed on one side of the body along a first direction, and a slot is provided on the elastic arm. Wherein, when the terminal position ensures initial insertion into the housing for the electrical connector, the slot is embedded between the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the housing, and the first groove allows the terminal to pass through so that the terminal enters the housing; When the terminal position retainer is fully inserted into the housing, the slot accommodates the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the housing, and the body secures the terminal within the housing.

2. The terminal position guarantee component for an electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the insertion of the terminal position guarantee into the housing for the electrical connector, the slot of the elastic arm and the body are respectively configured to cooperate with the housing, so that the terminal position guarantee is completely embedded in the housing.

3. The terminal position guarantee component for an electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic arm has a first chamfer.

4. The terminal position guarantee member for an electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two sides of the main body are respectively provided with two first grooves, and the two first grooves are arranged on the main body along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

5. An electrical connector, characterized in that, The electrical connector includes: A housing, comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion disposed thereon; A terminal position guarantee is embedded within the housing, and the terminal position guarantee includes: The main body has a first groove on one side; and An elastic arm is disposed on one side of the body along a first direction, and a slot is provided on the elastic arm; and At least one terminal is fixed within the housing via the terminal position retainer. When the terminal position guarantee is initially inserted into the housing, the slot is embedded between the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the housing, and the first groove allows the terminal to pass through so that the terminal enters the housing; When the terminal position retainer is fully inserted into the housing, the slot accommodates the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the housing, and the body secures the terminal within the housing.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing includes: A receiving groove, disposed in the housing, is used to receive the elastic arm of the terminal position guarantee member; A first mounting slot, disposed in the housing and located on one side of the receiving slot, is used to receive one of the terminals; A second mounting slot, disposed within the housing and located on the other side of the receiving slot, is used to receive another of the terminals; and The mounting hole, adjacent to the receiving groove, is disposed in the housing and is used to receive the body of the terminal position guarantee member.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the terminal position guarantee is initially inserted into the housing, the body of the terminal position guarantee is partially embedded in the mounting hole, and the terminal insert enters the first mounting slot or the second mounting slot of the housing via the first groove of the body; When the terminal position guarantee is fully inserted into the housing, the body is fully embedded in the mounting hole, and the terminal insert cooperates with the body to fix the terminal in the first mounting groove or the second mounting groove of the housing.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The mounting holes are respectively connected to the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The receiving slot is provided with the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The two first grooves are disposed on the body along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

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