Terminal block with front end outside locking handle

Abstract

This invention discloses a terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end, including a plug and a socket. The lower end of the plug is fixedly provided with at least one insertion post, and the upper end of the socket is provided with a plug hole corresponding to the insertion post. The insertion post on the plug can be inserted into the plug hole of the socket. The lower end face of the plug stops against the upper end face of the socket. A locking handle is also provided, with its upper end fixedly installed on the top of the plug. The lower end of the locking handle has a first latching structure, and the socket has a second latching structure. The first latching structure can be engaged and fixedly connected with the second latching structure. The locking handle also has a release operating part, which can disengage the first latching structure from the second latching structure. This invention is suitable for assembly environments where the socket needs to be embedded and the space is limited. It is easy to operate, and the locking handle can be made of plastic material, which has good elasticity, high overall strength, and is not easily deformed under external force. Furthermore, its manufacturing cost is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a terminal block, and more particularly to a terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end. Background Technology

[0002] Pluggable terminal blocks with external locking handles at the front end allow for quick and easy attachment and detachment of plugs and sockets. Existing products typically have external locking mechanisms fixed to the bottom of the plug's insertion pins, and these are mostly metal. This type of terminal block has the following drawbacks:

[0003] 1. It occupies a large space in the socket, making it unsuitable for assembly environments where sockets need to be embedded and space is limited;

[0004] 2. After plugging in, the pressing points are far apart, making operation inconvenient;

[0005] 3. Metal latches are made from expensive raw materials, resulting in generally high costs;

[0006] 4. Metal latches are easily deformed by external forces. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, the present invention provides a terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end has a simple structure, is easy to operate, can effectively save the space of the socket, meets the requirements of compact space assembly, the locking handle is not easily deformed, and the manufacturing cost is low.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: a terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end, including a plug and a socket. The end of the plug facing the socket is the lower end, and the end of the socket facing the plug is the upper end. At least one insertion post is fixedly provided at the lower end of the plug, and a plug hole corresponding to the insertion post is provided at the upper end of the socket. The insertion post on the plug can be inserted into the plug hole of the socket. The lower end face of the plug stops against the upper end face of the socket. A locking handle is also provided. The upper end of the locking handle is fixedly installed on the top of the plug, and the lower end of the locking handle has a first latching structure. The socket has a second latching structure. The first latching structure can be engaged and fixedly connected with the second latching structure. The locking handle also has a release operating part, which can disengage the first latching structure from the second latching structure.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is defined as the horizontal direction. The first latching structure on the latch handle is a functional latching point that can move elastically in the horizontal direction. The upper end of the socket is provided with an open latching insertion groove for the lower end of the latch handle to be inserted. The second latching structure is a latching point groove with an inward structure provided on the side wall of the latching insertion groove. The functional latching point can be inserted into the latching point groove. The release operation part can drive the functional latching point on the latch handle to overcome the elastic force and exit the latching point groove on the side wall of the latching insertion groove of the socket.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the latch handle is a cantilever structure extending in the vertical direction. The cantilever structure can swing laterally elastically with the upper end as the fulcrum. The functional locking point at the lower end of the latch handle is an inverted structure. The functional locking point can be inserted into the locking point slot on the side wall of the opening slot of the socket. The release operation part is a pressing part integrally formed on the side wall of the latch handle. Pressing the pressing part can force the latch handle to deform laterally elastically so that the functional locking point at the lower end of its lower end exits the locking point slot.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, a protruding deformation fulcrum is provided on the upper side wall of the latch handle, and the deformation fulcrum is tightly abutted against the surface of the plug side wall.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the plug is also provided with an open guide groove, and the side wall of the latch handle is provided with a raised anti-warping point. The anti-warping point can slide a set distance along the elastic deformation direction of the latch handle and be inserted into the open guide groove on the plug. The anti-warping point is stopped between the side walls of the open guide groove along the elastic deformation direction of the latch handle.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the structure in which the upper end of the locking handle is fixedly installed on the plug is as follows: the plug is provided with an open positioning groove, the side wall of the open positioning groove is provided with a positioning slot, the upper side wall of the locking handle is provided with an inverted positioning point, the upper end of the locking handle can be inserted into the open positioning groove of the plug, the positioning point on the upper side wall of the locking handle can be locked in the positioning slot, and the straight surface of the positioning point is stopped on the side wall of the positioning slot facing the opening direction of the open positioning groove.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the plug pin sidewall is also provided with a protruding locking anti-disengagement point, and the locking handle is formed with a laterally extending stop surface, the lower side of the stop surface of the locking handle stops on the locking anti-disengagement point on the plug sidewall.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the lower end of the latch handle is formed with at least two forked plug-in legs, and a stop surface of the latch handle is formed between the roots of the two plug-in legs.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, the locking anti-disengagement point on the plug is an inverted locking point located on the side wall of its plug post, the upper end of the locking anti-disengagement point forms a horizontally extending plane, and the lower end of the locking anti-disengagement point forms a chamfered surface.

[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, a guide receiving groove is formed on the side wall of the plug for accommodating the release operation part. The release operation part and the locking handle are integrally molded plastic structures. The release operation part can move together with the locking handle along the depth direction of the guide receiving groove. The surface of the release operation part forms a pressing arc surface that matches the fingertip of a person. The pressing arc surface is also formed with undulating anti-slip patterns.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The locking handle is installed on the top of the plug, inserted into the socket along with the plug, and engaged with the second snap-fit ​​structure inside the socket. The locking handle, assembled on the plug, does not occupy much space in the socket, making it suitable for assembly environments where the socket needs to be embedded and space is limited, meeting the requirements for compact space assembly. The locking handle forms a cantilever structure on the plug, and its elastic deformation enables engagement with the snap-fit ​​points and slots inside the socket. After the plug and socket are inserted, pressing the pressing part on the locking handle causes it to elastically deform, thus disengaging it from the socket. This locking handle, through a single pressing part, can simultaneously disengage all the snap-fit ​​structures, making operation convenient. The locking handle of this invention can be made of plastic material, allowing for complex shapes, good elasticity, high overall strength, and resistance to deformation under external forces, while also having low manufacturing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the plug of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the socket of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a front view of the locking handle of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a left view of the locking handle of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the locking handle and socket of the present invention in a locked state;

[0024] Figure 6 This diagram shows the locking handle and socket of the present invention in a disengaged state.

[0025] Lock handle---1 Positioning point---11 Deformation fulcrum---12

[0026] Pressing part---13 Anti-warping locking point---14 Functional locking point---15

[0027] Stop surface---16 Insertion support foot---17

[0028] Plug---2 Opening positioning slot---21 Positioning slot---22

[0029] Locking anti-disengagement point---23 Guide receiving groove---24

[0030] Open guide groove---25 Terminal---26 Socket---3

[0031] Locking insertion slot---31 Locking point slot---32 Welding end---33 Detailed Implementation

[0032] Example: A terminal block with an external locking handle 1 at the front end includes a plug 2 and a socket 3. The end of the plug 2 facing the socket 3 is the lower end, and the end of the socket 3 facing the plug 2 is the upper end. The lower end of the plug 2 is fixedly provided with at least one plug post, and the upper end of the socket 3 is provided with a plug 2 hole corresponding to the plug post. The plug post on the plug 2 can be inserted into the plug 2 hole of the socket 3. The lower end face of the plug 2 stops on the upper end face of the socket 3. A locking handle 1 is also provided. The upper end of the locking handle 1 is fixedly installed on the top of the plug 2. The lower end of the locking handle 1 is provided with a first latching structure, and the socket 3 is provided with a second latching structure. The first latching structure can be engaged and fixedly connected with the second latching structure. The locking handle 1 is also provided with a release operation part, which can drive the first latching structure to disengage from the second latching structure.

[0033] In use, insert the lower plug of plug 2 into the plug 2 hole of socket 3. When plug 2 is fully inserted, the first latching structure on the locking handle 1 of plug 2 engages with the second latching structure on socket 3, thus fixing plug 2 and socket 3 together. This structure allows the locking handle 1 to automatically engage with socket 3 while plug 2 is inserted into socket 3, eliminating the need for manual operation of the locking handle 1. To remove plug 2, simply operate the release mechanism on locking handle 1 to release the first latching structure from the second latching structure. This structure is simple and easy to operate. Installing locking handle 1 on the top of plug 2 saves internal space in socket 3, meeting the requirements for compact space assembly.

[0034] Let the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction be the horizontal direction. The first latching structure on the latch handle 1 is a functional latching point 15 that can move elastically in the horizontal direction. The upper end of the socket 3 is provided with an open latching insertion groove 31 for the lower end of the latch handle 1 to be inserted. The second latching structure is a latching point groove 32 with an inward structure on the side wall of the latching insertion groove 31. The functional latching point 15 can be inserted into the latching point groove 32. The release operation part can drive the functional latching point 15 on the latch handle 1 to overcome the elastic force and exit the latching point groove 32 on the side wall of the latching insertion groove 31 of the socket 3.

[0035] When the lower end of the latch handle 1 is inserted into the latch insertion slot 31 of the socket 3 along with the plug 2, the functional locking point 15 on the side wall of the lower end of the latch handle 1 retracts laterally to avoid it. After the latch handle 1 is inserted into place, the functional locking point 15 is exactly aligned with the locking point slot 32 on the side wall of the latch insertion slot 31 of the socket 3. The functional locking point 15 then extends laterally and is inserted into the locking point slot 32 of the socket 3, thus achieving a fixed fastening connection with the socket 3. This fastening connection structure is simple, the fastening is firm, and it is convenient to release the latch. In addition, the first latch structure and the second latch structure can also be hook structures that can be hooked together, and the release can be achieved by the relative swing of the two, or a C-shaped slot and ball head structure that extend in the same direction as the latch slot, etc. These are equivalent replacement structures that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art based on this patent and are within the scope of protection of this patent.

[0036] The latch handle 1 is a cantilever structure extending in the vertical direction. The cantilever structure can swing laterally elastically with the upper end as the fulcrum. The functional locking point 15 at the lower end of the latch handle 1 is an inverted structure. The functional locking point 15 can be inserted into the locking point slot 32 on the side wall of the opening slot of the socket 3. The release operation part is a pressing part 13 integrally formed on the side wall of the latch handle 1. Pressing the pressing part 13 can force the latch handle 1 to deform laterally elastically so that the functional locking point 15 at its lower end is disengaged from the locking point slot 32. By designing the latch handle 1 as a cantilever structure extending vertically, the lower functional locking point 15 can move laterally by elastically swinging its cantilever around its base. When disengaging, simply press the pressing part 13 integrally formed on the latch handle 1 to cause the latch handle 1 to deform elastically, causing the functional locking point 15 on its side wall to disengage from the locking point slot 32. This structure is simple, easy to assemble, and the disengagement operation is simple, occupying little space. The pressing part 13 has a small range of motion, saving space. When removing the plug 2, simply press the pressing part 13 on the side wall of the latch handle 1 and pull the plug 2 upwards. This structure facilitates the removal of the plug 2, making the operation more convenient.

[0037] A protruding deformation fulcrum 12 is also provided on the upper side wall of the latch handle 1, and the deformation fulcrum 12 abuts against the side wall surface of the plug 2. By designing the deformation fulcrum 12 on the upper side wall of the latch handle 1, the lower end of the latch handle 1 can elastically deform in the designed direction when the pressing part 13 is pressed down. After the pressing handle is released, the lower end of the latch handle 1 will automatically return to the latched state under the support of the deformation fulcrum 12.

[0038] The plug 2 is also provided with an open guide groove 25, and the side wall of the latch handle 1 is provided with a raised anti-warping point 14. The anti-warping point 14 can slide a set distance along the elastic deformation direction of the latch handle 1 and be inserted into the open guide groove 25 on the plug 2. The anti-warping point is stopped between the side walls of the open guide groove 25 along the elastic deformation direction of the latch handle 1. The opening guide groove 25 can be designed on the lower end face of the plug 2 to form an opening guide groove 25 with the openings facing each other, or it can be located on the side wall of the plug 2 extending in the vertical direction. In this case, the depth direction of the opening guide groove 25 is horizontal. The anti-warping locking point 14 on the side wall of the latch only needs to be designed according to the depth direction of the opening guide groove 25. After the latch handle 1 is assembled onto the plug 2, the anti-warping locking point 14 on the latch handle 1 is inserted into the opening guide groove 25 for limiting, so as to prevent the lower end of the latch handle 1 from warping and being unable to be inserted into the socket 3 along with the plug 2, or warping after being inserted into the socket 3, causing the functional locking point 15 to exit the locking point slot 32. This ensures that the latch handle 1 is smoothly inserted into the latch insertion slot 31 of the socket 3 along with the plug 2 and maintains a stable latching connection.

[0039] The structure of the upper end of the latch handle 1 being fixedly installed on the plug 2 is as follows: the plug 2 is provided with an open positioning groove 21, the side wall of the open positioning groove 21 is provided with a positioning slot 22, the upper side wall of the latch handle 1 is provided with an inverted positioning point 11, the upper end of the latch handle 1 can be inserted into the open positioning groove 21 of the plug 2, the positioning point 11 on the upper side wall of the latch handle 1 can be locked in the positioning slot 22, and the straight surface of the positioning point 11 is stopped on the side wall of the positioning slot 22 facing the opening direction of the open positioning groove 21. The latch handle 1 is automatically engaged and positioned with the plug 2 through a snap-fit ​​connection structure, which facilitates the assembly of the latch handle 1 and the plug 2 without the need for connecting screws or other connecting parts. The assembly is convenient and quick. The opening positioning groove 21 can be a stepped groove with a lower width greater than the upper width. The positioning slot 22 is located on the upper side wall with a narrower opening positioning groove 21. The lower side wall of the positioning slot 22 is used to protect the latch handle 1 and limit its elastic deformation range, preventing it from being damaged by large deformation under external force.

[0040] The plug 2 also has a protruding locking anti-disengagement point 23 on the side wall of the plug pin, and a laterally extending stop surface 16 is formed on the locking handle 1. The lower side of the stop surface 16 of the locking handle 1 stops on the locking anti-disengagement point 23 on the side wall of the plug 2. After the locking handle 1 is assembled into the opening positioning groove 21 of the plug 2, the locking anti-disengagement point 23 on the side wall of the plug 2 blocks the stop surface 16 at the lower end of the locking handle 1, preventing the locking handle 1 from being dislodged from the opening positioning groove 21 of the plug 2 by a downward force, thus ensuring a stable connection between the locking handle 1 and the plug 2.

[0041] The lower end of the latch handle 1 has at least two forked plug-in legs 17, and a stop surface 16 of the latch handle 1 is formed between the bases of the two plug-in legs 17. The lower end of the latch handle 1 is designed with a forked structure, which can be set to correspond to each plug pin on the plug 2 to ensure a stable connection between the plug 2 and the socket 3. The number of forks and the assembly position of the latch handle 1 can be changed according to the number of plug pins on the plug 2 and the requirements.

[0042] The locking anti-disengagement point 23 on the plug 2 is an inverted locking point located on the side wall of its plug post. The upper end of the locking anti-disengagement point 23 forms a horizontally extending plane, and the lower end of the locking anti-disengagement point 23 forms a chamfered surface. The locking anti-disengagement point 23 adopts an inverted locking point structure, which acts as a guide when the plug post of the plug 2 is inserted into the plug 2 hole of the socket 3, so as to facilitate the smooth insertion of the plug post of the plug 2 into the plug 2 hole of the socket 3 and avoid interference that prevents smooth insertion.

[0043] The plug 2 has a guide groove 24 on its side wall for accommodating the release operation part. The release operation part and the locking handle 1 are integrally molded plastic structures. The release operation part can move along the depth direction of the guide groove 24 with the locking handle 1. The surface of the release operation part has a pressing arc surface that matches the fingertip of a human, and the pressing arc surface also has an undulating anti-slip pattern. By setting the guide groove 24 on the side wall of the plug 2 to accommodate the release operation part on the side wall of the locking handle 1, and guiding the release operation part when it is pressed, the direction of the release operation part is prevented from deviating when pressed. The pressing arc surface and anti-slip pattern on the surface of the release operation part make it easy for the operator to pull the plug 2 upward while pressing the release operation part. This makes it convenient to use and prevents the operator's fingertip from sliding relative to the release operation part during the process of pulling the plug 2 out, which would cause the plug 2 to fail to be pulled out.

Claims

1. A terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end, comprising a plug (2) and a socket (3), wherein the end of the plug facing the socket is the lower end, and the end of the socket facing the plug is the upper end, wherein at least one plug pin is fixedly provided at the lower end of the plug, and a plug hole corresponding to the plug pin is provided at the upper end of the socket, wherein the plug pin on the plug can be inserted into the plug hole of the socket, and the lower end face of the plug stops against the upper end face of the socket, characterized in that: It also has a locking handle (1), the upper end of which is fixedly installed on the top of the plug, the lower end of which has a first latching structure, and the socket has a second latching structure. The first latching structure can be locked and fixedly connected with the second latching structure. The locking handle also has a release operation part, which can drive the first latching structure to release from the second latching structure. Let the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction be the horizontal direction. The first latching structure on the locking handle is a functional locking point (15) that can move elastically in the horizontal direction. The upper end of the socket has an open locking insertion groove (31) for the lower end of the locking handle to be inserted. The second latching structure is a concave structure on the side wall of the locking insertion groove. The structure has a locking point slot (32), the functional locking point can be inserted into the locking point slot, the release operation part can drive the functional locking point on the locking handle to overcome the elastic force and exit the locking point slot on the side wall of the locking insertion slot of the socket, the locking handle is a cantilever structure extending in the vertical direction, the cantilever structure can swing laterally with the upper end as the fulcrum, the plug is also provided with an open guide groove (25), the side wall of the locking handle is provided with a raised anti-warping locking point (14), the anti-warping locking point can slide a set distance along the elastic deformation direction of the locking handle and be inserted into the open guide groove on the plug, the anti-warping locking point is stopped between the side wall of the open guide groove along the elastic deformation direction of the locking handle.

2. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end according to claim 1, characterized in that: The functional locking point at the lower end of the latch handle is an inverted structure. The functional locking point can be inserted into the locking point slot on the side wall of the opening slot of the socket. The release operation part is a pressing part (13) integrally formed on the side wall of the latch handle. Pressing the pressing part can force the latch handle to elastically deform in the lateral direction so that the functional locking point at the lower end of it exits the locking point slot.

3. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper side wall of the latch handle is also provided with a protruding deformation fulcrum (12), which is tightly abutted against the surface of the plug side wall.

4. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that: The structure of the upper end of the latch handle being fixedly installed on the plug is as follows: the plug is provided with an open positioning groove (21), the side wall of the open positioning groove is provided with a positioning slot (22), the upper side wall of the latch handle is provided with an inverted positioning point (11), the upper end of the latch handle can be inserted into the open positioning groove of the plug, the positioning point on the upper side wall of the latch handle can be locked in the positioning slot, and the straight surface of the positioning point is blocked on the side wall of the positioning slot facing the opening direction of the open positioning groove.

5. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end according to claim 4, characterized in that: The plug pin sidewall is also provided with a protruding locking anti-disengagement point (23), and the locking handle is formed with a horizontally extending stop surface (16), and the lower side of the stop surface of the locking handle stops on the locking anti-disengagement point on the plug sidewall.

6. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end according to claim 5, characterized in that: The lower end of the latch handle has at least two forked plug-in legs (17), and the base of the two plug-in legs forms a stop surface for the latch handle.

7. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end according to claim 6, characterized in that: The locking anti-disengagement point on the plug is an inverted locking point located on the side wall of its plug pin. The upper end of the locking anti-disengagement point forms a horizontally extending plane, and the lower end of the locking anti-disengagement point forms a chamfered surface.

8. The terminal block with an external locking handle at the front end according to claim 2, characterized in that: The plug sidewall has a guide receiving groove (24) for the release operation part to be accommodated. The release operation part and the locking handle are integrally molded plastic structures. The release operation part can move along the depth direction of the guide receiving groove together with the locking handle. The surface of the release operation part forms a pressing arc surface that matches the fingertip of a person. The pressing arc surface also has an undulating anti-slip pattern.

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