Electrical connector

Abstract

The application relates to an electric connector, comprising a shell, the shell being provided with a plurality of terminal slots penetrating through the front end and the rear end, each terminal slot being provided with a limiting hook, and further comprising a plurality of female terminals respectively implanted in the plurality of terminal slots, each female terminal being provided with a plug hole and a spring piece in the plug hole, and each female terminal being provided with a limiting card slot penetrating to the plug hole and being latched with the limiting hook, wherein the hook part of the limiting hook for latching into the limiting card slot is provided with a groove opposite to the spring piece. The electric connector can ensure the holding force of the female terminal, avoid the interference between the spring piece and the hook part of the limiting hook when the male terminal is inserted, and reduce the implantation force of the male terminal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an electrical connector, more particularly to a female electrical connector. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electrical connectors are important components for connecting electrical circuits, and are widely used in various fields. In practical applications, electrical connectors are connected by a male connector and a female connector to realize power or signal transmission. Therefore, when the male connector and the female connector are connected, the stable contact between the male terminal and the female terminal is the key to determining the performance of the electrical connector. Figure 1 An electrical connector 100 formed by a common male connector 120 and a female connector 110 in the prior art is shown. When the male connector 120 and the female connector 110 are connected, the spring 112 of the female terminal 111 contacts the male terminal 121, and the spring 112 is pressed against the limiting clamping groove 113 of the female terminal 111, which will interfere with the limiting clamping hook 114 clamped there, resulting in an increase in the implantation force of the male terminal 121, increasing the difficulty of connection. If the limiting clamping hook 114 is reduced and made smaller, the interference between the limiting clamping hook 114 and the female terminal 111 will be insufficient, and the female terminal 111 will have the risk of insufficient holding force. SUMMARY

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an electrical connector that can avoid interference between the spring of the female terminal and the limiting clamping groove to reduce the implantation force while ensuring the holding force of the female terminal, in view of the above defects of the prior art.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present application to solve the technical problem is: an electrical connector is provided, which comprises a shell, the shell is provided with a plurality of terminal slots penetrating through the front end and the rear end, a limiting clamping hook is arranged in each terminal slot, and the electrical connector further comprises a plurality of female terminals implanted in the plurality of terminal slots, respectively. Each female terminal has a plug-in hole and is provided with a spring in the plug-in hole. Each female terminal is provided with a limiting clamping groove penetrating into the plug-in hole and clamped with the limiting clamping hook. The hook portion of the limiting clamping hook for clamping into the limiting clamping groove is provided with a groove opposite the spring.

[0005] In one embodiment of the electrical connector according to the present application, the groove is provided in the middle of the surface of the hook portion facing the spring.

[0006] In one embodiment of the electrical connector according to the present application, the hook portion forms a stepped surface as the highest contact surface on both sides of the groove.

[0007] In one embodiment of the electrical connector according to the present application, the two sides of the groove form two symmetrical C-shaped angles.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the electrical connector described in the present application, the front end upper edge of the groove is formed with a rounded corner.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the electrical connector described in the present application, the electrical connector further comprises a thrust guide fixed to the front end of the housing to provide front end limiting for the plurality of female terminals, and the thrust guide is provided with a plurality of guide holes corresponding to the plurality of terminal grooves of the housing.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the electrical connector described in the present application, the electrical connector further comprises a TPA piece cooperating with the housing to provide rear end limiting for the plurality of female terminals.

[0011] The electrical connector according to the present application has the following beneficial effects: the hook portion of the limiting hook provided in the terminal groove of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present application is provided with a recess for avoiding interference with the spring piece of the male terminal, so that the hook portion of the limiting hook and the limiting clamping groove of the female terminal can ensure the holding force of the female terminal, and the spring piece of the male terminal can avoid interference with the hook portion of the limiting hook when the male terminal is inserted, thereby reducing the implantation force of the male terminal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] The present application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 is a sectional view of an electrical connector in the prior art;

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the external structure of an electrical connector according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0015] Figure 3 is Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;

[0016] Figure 4 is Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the housing in FIG. 1 from another angle;

[0017] Figure 5 is Figure 4 is a sectional view of the housing shown in FIG. 1;

[0018] Figure 6 is Figure 2 is a sectional view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1.

[0019]

Explanation of reference numerals

[0020] 100, 200 electrical connector 110 female terminal connector 111, 220 female terminal

[0021] 112, 225 Spring clips; 113, 222 Limiting slots; 114, 215 Limiting hooks.

[0022] 120 Male connector, 121 Male terminal, 210 Housing

[0023] 211 Front end 212 Rear end 213 Terminal slot

[0024] 214 Cut 2151 Hook 2152, 2153 Stepped surface

[0025] 216 Groove; 2161 Fillet; 2162, 2163 Guide surface

[0026] 221 Front end face; 223 Limiting face; 224 Insertion hole

[0027] 230 Thrust guide; 231 Guide hole; 240 TPA part

[0028] 241 bump Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other unless otherwise specified.

[0030] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The diagrams show the assembly and exploded views of an electrical connector 200 according to one embodiment of this application. The electrical connector 200 serves as a female connector, which is mated with a mating male connector to achieve electrical connection. See also... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the electrical connector 200 mainly consists of a housing 210, multiple female terminals 220, a thrust guide 230, and a TPA component 240. The housing 210 has a front end 211 that mates with the male connector and a rear end 212 opposite to the front end 211. The shape of the housing 210 can be designed according to the actual application of the electrical connector 200. The housing 210 has multiple terminal slots 213 that pass through the front end 211 and the rear end 212 for inserting the female terminals 220. The specific number and layout of the multiple terminal slots 213 of the housing 210 can also be designed according to the actual application of the electrical connector 200. Each terminal slot 213 contains one female terminal 220. Figure 3For simplicity, only one female terminal 220 is shown. The thrust guide 230 can be fixedly installed to the front end 211 of the housing 210 by means of, for example, a snap-fit ​​mechanism. It provides front-end restraint when the female terminal 220 is inserted into the terminal slot 213 from the rear end 212 of the housing 210; that is, the female terminal 220 is inserted into place when its front end face 221 abuts against the thrust guide 230. Simultaneously, the thrust guide 230 also has multiple guide holes 231 corresponding to the multiple terminal slots 213 of the housing 210, for guiding the male terminals of the male connector to mate. The TPA component 240, or Terminal Position Assurance, is provided on the electrical connector 200 to provide secondary protection and restraint for the female terminal 220, further locking the female terminal 220 and enhancing the holding force of the female terminal 220 in the terminal slot 213. Specifically, as shown... Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 210 has a cutout 214 on its upper side, through which all the female terminals 220 are exposed. The TPA component 240 is designed to complement the cutout 214 and is installed at the cutout 214 by means of, for example, a snap-fit, so that the housing 210 forms a complete unit. The TPA component 240 has a downwardly protruding protrusion 241 corresponding to the female terminal 220 inserted into each terminal slot 213, which abuts against the limiting surface 223 of the female terminal 220 (see...). Figure 6 As shown, the female terminal 220 is provided with a rear limit to prevent the female terminal 220 from becoming loose.

[0031] Female terminal 220 is used for mating with the male terminal of the male connector. See details. Figure 3 As shown, the female terminal 220 has a front end face 221, which abuts against the thrust guide 230 to provide front end restraint when the female terminal 220 is inserted from the rear end 212 of the housing 210 into the terminal groove 213. The female terminal 220 has a insertion hole 224 extending rearward from the front end face 221 for insertion of the male terminal. The female terminal 220 has a spring piece 225 in the insertion hole 224 for secure contact with the male terminal inserted into the insertion hole 224 to form an electrical connection. The female terminal 220 has a limiting surface 223 at the rear end of the insertion hole 224 for abutting against the protrusion 241 of the TPA member 240 to provide rear end restraint. The lower side of the female terminal 220 has a limiting groove 222 extending into the insertion hole 224 for engaging with a limiting hook 215 provided in the terminal groove 213.

[0032] See also Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the housing 210 has a limiting hook 215 on the lower side of each terminal slot 213. The limiting hook 215 has a hook portion 2151 protruding into the terminal slot 213. When the female terminal 220 is inserted into place, the hook portion 2151 of the limiting hook 215 engages with the limiting slot 222 of the female terminal 220 (see...). Figure 6 (As shown). This application designs a downwardly recessed groove 216 on the upper side of the hook portion 2151 opposite to the spring piece 225. The groove 216 provides clearance for the spring piece 225 to be deformed under pressure and pressed downward into the limiting slot 222 (see...). Figure 6 As shown), this effectively prevents the spring clip 225 from being deformed under pressure during male terminal insertion, thus avoiding interference with the hook portion 2151 of the limiting hook 215, thereby reducing the insertion force of the male terminal. Specifically, as shown... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the groove 216 is formed in the upper middle part of the hook 2151 facing the spring piece 225. The hook 2151 also forms stepped surfaces 2152 and 2153 on the left and right sides of the groove 216, respectively, serving as the highest contact surface during the insertion of the female terminal 220. This ensures that the female terminal 220 remains in contact with the highest contact surface of the hook 2151 during insertion into the terminal slot 213, preventing misjudgment and assumed positioning due to the multi-segmented limiting hook 215. Furthermore, the two side surfaces 2162 and 2163 of the groove 216 gradually slope inward from the upper edge to the lower edge and gradually expand outward from the front end to the rear end, forming two symmetrical C-shaped angles that guide the spring piece 225 during insertion. The upper edge of the front end of the groove 216 forms a transitional rounded corner 2161, making the insertion of the female terminal 220 smoother and preventing obstruction or poor insertion feel during assembly.

[0033] According to the above embodiments of this application, the electrical connector 200 has a limiting hook 2151 provided in the terminal groove 213 with a groove 216 for avoidance on the spring piece 225 of the female terminal 220. This allows the hook portion 2151 of the limiting hook 215 to engage with the limiting groove 222 of the female terminal 220, ensuring the holding force of the female terminal 220 while preventing the spring piece 225 from being deformed by pressure and interfering with the hook portion 2151 of the limiting hook 215 when the male terminal is inserted, thus reducing the insertion force of the male terminal.

[0034] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising a housing, wherein the housing has a plurality of terminal slots extending through a front end and a rear end, each terminal slot having a limiting hook disposed therein, and further comprising a plurality of female terminals respectively inserted into the plurality of terminal slots, each female terminal having a insertion hole and a spring piece disposed therein, each female terminal also having a limiting groove extending through to the insertion hole and engaging with the limiting hook, characterized in that, The limiting hook has a hook part protruding into the terminal groove, the hook part is clamped into the limiting card slot of the female terminal when the female terminal is implanted in place, the surface of the hook part facing the elastic sheet is provided with a groove, and the groove leaves a space for avoiding the deformation of the elastic sheet when the male terminal is inserted.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The groove is arranged in the middle of the surface of the hook part facing the elastic sheet.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein, The hook part forms a step surface on both sides of the groove as the highest contact surface.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The two sides of the groove form two symmetrical C-shaped angles.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The upper edge of the front end of the groove is formed with a rounded corner.

6. The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The electric connector further comprises a thrust guide fixed to the front end of the shell to provide front end limiting for the plurality of female terminals, and the thrust guide is provided with a plurality of guide holes corresponding to the plurality of terminal grooves of the shell.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein, The electric connector further comprises a TPA piece matched with the shell to provide rear end limiting for the plurality of female terminals.

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