Connector and connector combination

Abstract

The present application provides a connector and a connector assembly. The connector comprises a connector housing and a connector positioning member. The connector housing has a locking structure with a locking portion, an unlocking portion, a matching space and a blocking portion. The connector positioning member has a base portion with a locking blocking portion, a first positioning protrusion extending upward from the base portion, a resilient arm extending rearward from the base portion and above the base portion, and a second positioning protrusion on the resilient arm. When the connector positioning member is in an unlocking position, the first positioning protrusion is in the matching space and is blocked by the blocking portion to be kept in the locking structure. When the connector positioning member is in a locking position, the second positioning protrusion enters the matching space and is blocked by the blocking portion, and at this time, the locking blocking portion blocks the downward movement of the unlocking portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a connector and a connector assembly. BACKGROUND

[0002] U.S. Patent No. 6,045,388 discloses a connector position assurance device which is generally E-shaped and defines a pair of outer legs and a center leg connected by a cross portion; the end of each outer leg includes an outwardly facing hook; the center leg has a latch hook and a raised boss. The latch hook and the raised boss form a detent which defines a corresponding position of the connector position assurance device on a connector. The connector position assurance device is first snapped onto the connector in a pre-loaded position with the rear end of the primary locking arm disposed between the latch hook and the raised boss of the center leg of the connector position assurance device, which allows the primary locking arm to move freely about the pivot point. When the connector is inserted into a mating connector, the connector position assurance device is disengaged from the pre-loaded position by an actuator on the mating connector, which allows the connector position assurance device to move from the pre-loaded position to a locked position; in the locked position the connector position assurance device is snapped onto the mating connector with the raised boss moved past the rear end of the primary locking arm so that the locking surface is directly behind the rear end, which prevents any pivotal movement of the primary locking arm. When the locking of the connector position assurance device is to be released, a pulling force is applied to the cross portion of the connector position assurance device, which causes the two resilient arms to be passively retracted inwardly as they are pulled rearwardly, the raised boss is pushed past the rear end of the primary locking arm, and the connector position assurance device is moved back to its pre-loaded position. However, because the raised boss is rigid, the movement of the raised boss will directly interfere with pushing and moving the rear end of the primary locking arm, and in addition, the two resilient arms are passively subjected to compression when the locking of the connector position assurance device is released, both of which factors cause the structure of the connector position assurance device to be easily damaged. SUMMARY

[0003] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector and a connector assembly which can improve at least one disadvantage in the prior art.

[0004] Thus, the connector of the present application, in some embodiments, comprises a connector housing and a connector positioning member. The connector housing has a locking structure with a locking portion at a front end, an unlocking portion at a rear end, a fitting space, and a stop portion adjacent to the fitting space. The connector positioning member has a base portion with a locking stop portion, a first positioning protrusion extending upwardly from a front end of the base portion, a resilient arm extending rearwardly from the front end of the base portion and above the base portion, a second positioning protrusion provided on the resilient arm and rearward of the first positioning protrusion, and a pressing structure with a pressing portion connected to a rear end of the resilient arm and a resilient support arm connected between the pressing portion and the base portion. The connector positioning member is movable relative to the connector housing between an unlocking position at the rear and a locking position at the front. In the unlocking position, the first positioning protrusion is located in the fitting space of the locking structure and is held by the stop portion in the rearward direction, the locking stop portion of the connector positioning member is misaligned with the unlocking portion of the locking structure and does not block the downward movement of the unlocking portion, and the unlocking portion is located between the first positioning protrusion and the second positioning protrusion. In the locking position, the second positioning protrusion enters the fitting space of the connector housing, the second positioning protrusion is blocked by the stop portion in the rearward direction, the locking stop portion of the connector positioning member moves below the unlocking portion of the locking structure and blocks the downward movement of the unlocking portion, and the unlocking portion is located between the second positioning protrusion and the pressing portion.

[0005] In some embodiments, the locking structure has a receiving opening at the rear end and communicating with the fitting space, and the connector positioning member is inserted into the fitting space of the locking structure through the receiving opening.

[0006] In some embodiments, the base portion has two locking stop portions at two sides of a rear section, the connector positioning member has two resilient arms and two second positioning protrusions provided on the two resilient arms respectively, the front ends of the two resilient arms are located at two sides of the first positioning protrusion, and the pressing structure has two resilient support arms extending from two sides of the pressing portion and connected to two sides of the base portion respectively.

[0007] In some embodiments, the locking structure is frame-shaped and has two side frame strips, a front frame strip connected to front ends of the two side frame strips and constituting the locking portion, a rear frame strip connected to rear ends of the two side frame strips and constituting the unlocking portion, and a middle opening defined by the two side frame strips, the front frame strip and the rear frame strip and constituting the fitting space, the locking structure constituting the stop portion at a rear side of an inner edge of the middle opening, and the rear frame strip being slightly inverted U-shaped to define the receiving opening.

[0008] In some embodiments, the connector housing further has a top wall located below the locking structure, and two elastic auxiliary arms, each of the side frame strips has a fulcrum portion connected to the top wall, and the two elastic auxiliary arms are connected between the two sides of the locking structure and the top wall.

[0009] In some embodiments, the locking stop portion has a stop protrusion protruding upward and extending front-to-back, and when the connector positioning member is in the locking position, the stop protrusion protrudes upward and abuts against the unlocking portion of the locking structure.

[0010] In some embodiments, a front end of the stop protrusion has a slanted guide surface, a front end of the first positioning protrusion has a slanted guide surface and a rear end has a vertical stop surface, and a front end of the second positioning protrusion has a slanted guide surface and a rear end has a vertical stop surface.

[0011] Therefore, in some embodiments, the connector assembly of the present application comprises the connector as described above and a mating connector. The mating connector has a locked portion, and when the connector and the mating connector are mated, the locked portion of the locking structure of the connector and the locked portion of the mating connector are buckled to each other.

[0012] The connector positioning member of the present application enables the connector to better mate with and separate from the mating connector, and avoids the connector and the mating connector from being separated when they are not supposed to be separated due to incorrect operation. The first positioning protrusion and the second positioning protrusion provided on the elastic arm enable the connector positioning member to be easily operated and moved between the locking position and the unlocking position, so as to prevent the connector positioning member from being damaged during operation. Moreover, when in the unlocking position, the connector positioning member can be hooked on the locking structure and cannot be easily pulled out, thereby avoiding the connector positioning member from being lost and facilitating operation and use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Other features and effects of the present application will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] Figure 1This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the connector assembly of the present invention, in which the connector and the mating connector of this embodiment have not yet been mated and the connector positioning member of the connector is in the unlocked position;

[0015] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of this embodiment from another angle;

[0016] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of the connector in this embodiment;

[0017] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An exploded perspective view of the connector in this embodiment, viewed from another angle;

[0018] Figure 5 and Figure 6 These are two cross-sectional views of the connector in this embodiment, showing the connector positioning element in the unlocked position.

[0019] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of this embodiment, showing that the connector and mating connector of this embodiment have been mated and the connector positioning member of the connector is in the locked position; and

[0020] Figure 8 and Figure 9 These are two cross-sectional views of this embodiment, in which the connector and mating connector of this embodiment are mated and the connector positioning element of the connector is in the locked position.

[0021] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0022] 100 Connector Combinations

[0023] 1 Connector

[0024] 11 Connector Housing

[0025] 111 Top Wall

[0026] 112 bottom wall

[0027] 113 Sidewall

[0028] 114 Anterior Wall

[0029] 115 docking convex part

[0030] 116 Locking Structure

[0031] 116a Locking Part

[0032] 116b Unlocking Section

[0033] 116c fits the space

[0034] 116d accommodating opening

[0035] 116e stop portion

[0036] 116f side frame strip

[0037] 116g front frame strip

[0038] 116h rear frame strip

[0039] 116i middle opening

[0040] 116j fulcrum portion

[0041] 117 elastic auxiliary arm

[0042] 12 connector positioning member

[0043] 121 base portion

[0044] 121a lock catch stop portion

[0045] 121b stop protrusion

[0046] 121c lead-in surface

[0047] 122 first positioning protrusion

[0048] 122a lead-in surface

[0049] 122b stop surface

[0050] 123 elastic arm

[0051] 124 second positioning protrusion

[0052] 124a lead-in surface

[0053] 124b stop surface

[0054] 125 pressing structure

[0055] 125a pressing portion

[0056] 125b elastic support arm

[0057] 2 mating connector

[0058] 21 mating slot

[0059] 22 locked portion

[0060] D1 front-rear direction

[0061] D2 up-down direction

[0062] D3 left-right direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] Before the present application is described in detail, it is to be noted that like elements are denoted by similar numbers in the several drawings in which:

[0064] Referring to Figures 1-2 An embodiment of the connector assembly 100 of the present application comprises a connector 1 and a mating connector 2.

[0065] Referring to Figures 1-5 The connector 1 comprises a connector housing 11 and a connector positioning member 12. The connector housing 11 extends substantially along a front-rear direction D1 (the direction indicated by the arrow is front, and the reverse direction is rear) and has a top wall 111 and a bottom wall 112 spaced apart and arranged side by side along an up-down direction D2 (the direction indicated by the arrow is up, and the reverse direction is down), two side walls 113 connected between the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112 and spaced apart and arranged side by side along a left-right direction D3 (the direction indicated by the arrow is right, and the reverse direction is left), a front wall 114 connected to the front edges of the top wall 111, the bottom wall 112 and the two side walls 113, two mating protrusions 115 extending forward from the front wall 114, and a lock structure 116 provided on the top wall 111.

[0066] The lock structure 116 has a lock portion 116a at the front end, an unlock portion 116b at the rear end, a matching space 116c for the connector positioning member 12 to enter, a receiving opening 116d at the rear end and connected to the matching space 116c, and a stop portion 116e adjacent to the matching space 116c. The connector positioning member 12 can be inserted into the matching space 116c of the lock structure 116 through the receiving opening 116d. In this embodiment, the lock structure 116 is generally frame-shaped and has two side frame strips 116f spaced apart and arranged side by side, a front frame strip 116g connected to the front ends of the two side frame strips 116f and constituting the lock portion 116a, a rear frame strip 116h connected to the rear ends of the two side frame strips 116f and constituting the unlock portion 116b, and a middle opening 116i defined by the two side frame strips 116f, the front frame strip 116g and the rear frame strip 116h and constituting the matching space 116c. The stop portion 116e is formed at the rear side of the inner edge of the middle opening 116i (the front side of the rear frame strip 116h), and the rear frame strip 116h is slightly inverted U-shaped to define the receiving opening 116d. Each of the side frame strips 116f has a fulcrum portion 116j connected to the top wall 111, and the connector housing 11 further has two elastic auxiliary arms 117 connected between the two side frame strips 116f of the lock structure 116 and the two sides of the top wall 111. By connecting through the fulcrum portion 116j, the rear frame strip 116h at the rear and constituting the unlock portion 116b can be pressed down, so that the front frame strip 116g at the front and constituting the lock portion 116a can be linked to be raised; and the elastic auxiliary arms 117 can provide elastic force for the lock structure 116 to return and increase the connection strength between the lock structure 116 and the top wall 111.

[0067] The connector positioning member 12 has a base portion 121, a first positioning protrusion 122, two elastic arms 123, two second positioning protrusions 124, and a pressing structure 125. The base portion 121 has two locking stop portions 121a located at the two sides of the rear section and protruding outwardly along the left-right direction D3, each of the locking stop portions 121a has a stop protrusion 121b protruding upwardly and extending front-to-back. The first positioning protrusion 122 extends upwardly from the front end of the base portion 121. The two elastic arms 123 extend rearwardly from the front end of the base portion 121 and are located above the base portion 121, the front ends of the two elastic arms 123 are located, for example, at the left and right sides of the first positioning protrusion 122. The two second positioning protrusions 124 are respectively provided on the two elastic arms 123 and are located rearward of the first positioning protrusion 122. The pressing structure 125 has a pressing portion 125a connected to the rear ends of the elastic arms 123, and two elastic support arms 125b connected between the pressing portion 125a and the base portion 121, the two elastic support arms 125b respectively extend from the two sides of the pressing portion 125a and are connected to the two sides of the base portion 121. It should be noted that the number of the locking stop portions 121a, the elastic arms 123, the first positioning protrusion 122, the second positioning protrusions 124, and the elastic support arms 125b can be adjusted as required, and should not be limited by the number in the present embodiment.

[0068] In addition, in the present embodiment, the front end of the stop protrusion 121b has a slanted leading surface 121c, the front end of the first positioning protrusion 122 has a slanted leading surface 122a and the rear end has an upright stop surface 122b, and the front end of the second positioning protrusion 124 has a slanted leading surface 124a and the rear end has an upright stop surface 124b.

[0069] Referring to Figures 2-6 When the connector positioning member 12 is assembled to the connector housing 11, it can move relative to the connector housing 11 between a rearward unlocked position and a forward locked position. When initially assembled, the connector positioning member 12 is inserted into the locking structure 116 from the receiving opening 116d at the rear end of the locking structure 116 along the top wall 111 of the connector housing 11, so that the connector positioning member 12 is held between the locking structure 116 and the top wall 111 and is in the unlocked position. In this process, the slanted leading surface 122a at the front end of the first positioning protrusion 122 can lift the unlocking portion 116b of the locking structure 116, so that the first positioning protrusion 122 passes over the unlocking portion 116b of the locking structure 116, and then the first positioning protrusion 122 enters the fitting space 116c of the locking structure 116.

[0070] In the unlocked position, the first positioning protrusion 122 is located in the fitting space 116c of the locking structure 116 of the connector housing 11, and the stop surface 122b of the rear end of the first positioning protrusion 122 is blocked by the stop portion 116e in the rear direction and is kept in the locking structure 116, thereby enabling the entire connector positioning member 12 to be hooked on the locking structure 116 and not to be easily pulled out, and further avoiding the loss of the connector positioning member 12 and facilitating the operation and use. At this time, the locking stop portion 121a of the connector positioning member 12 is located behind the unlocking portion 116b of the locking structure 116 and is staggered with the unlocking portion 116b, so that the locking stop portion 121a of the connector positioning member 12 does not block the downward movement of the unlocking portion 116b. In addition, at this time, the unlocking portion 116b is located between the first positioning protrusion 122 and the second positioning protrusion 124, so that the connector positioning member 12 is limited in the front-rear direction D1.

[0071] Referring to Figures 1-2 and Figure 7 The mating connector 2 has two mating grooves 21 corresponding to the two mating protrusions 115 of the connector 1, and a locked portion 22 protrudingly formed on the top. As shown in Figure 7 After the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are mated, the two mating protrusions 115 of the connector 1 are inserted into the two mating grooves 21 of the mating connector 2, and the locking portion 116a of the locking structure 116 of the connector 1 and the locked portion 22 of the mating connector 2 are buckled with each other, in detail, at this time, the locking portion 116a of the locking structure 116 limits the locked portion 22 in the fitting space 116c, to prevent the mating connector 2 from being separated from the connector 1.

[0072] Referring to Figures 7-9 When the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are mated, the connector positioning member 12 can be pushed forward to the locked position. In this process, the two second positioning protrusions 124 are made to pass over the unlocking portion 116b by the inclined leading surfaces 124a of the front ends of the two second positioning protrusions 124, so that the two second positioning protrusions 124 enter the fitting space 116c of the locking structure 116 by the rebound of the two elastic arms 123.

[0073] In the locked position, the two second positioning lugs 124 enter the matching space 116c of the connector housing 11, and the stop surfaces 124b at the rear ends of the two second positioning lugs 124 are stopped by the stop portion 116e in the rear direction, to prevent the connector positioning member 12 from moving rearward, so that the connector positioning member 12 is kept in the locked position. At this time, the locking stop portions 121a of the connector positioning member 12 move to below the unlocking portions 116b of the locking structure 116 on both sides and block the downward movement of the unlocking portions 116b, thereby preventing the locking portions 116a of the unlocking portions 116b of the locking structure 116 from being lifted upward, and further preventing the locked portion 22 of the mating connector 2 from being released from the locking structure 116, to further ensure that the mating connector 2 and the connector 1 maintain the docking state and cannot be separated. Further, in this state, the stop protrusions 121b of the two locking stop portions 121a are upward and interferingly abut against the unlocking portions 116b of the locking structure 116, so that the unlocking portions 116b are slightly lifted, and the front inclined guide surfaces 121c of the two stop protrusions 121b can make the process of pushing the connector positioning member 12 from the unlocking position to the locked position more smooth. In addition, in the locked position, the unlocking portions 116b are located between the second positioning lugs 124 and the pressing portion 125a, so that the connector positioning member 12 can be limited in the front-rear direction D1.

[0074] When there is a need to unlock and move the connector positioning member 12 from the locked position to the unlocking position, the pressing portion 125a of the connector positioning member 12 is pressed down to press down the two elastic arms 123 and the two second positioning lugs 124, so that the connector positioning member 12 is moved rearward to the unlocking position, and then the unlocking portions 116b of the locking structure 116 of the connector 1 are pressed downward, so that the locking portions 116a are lifted to release the buckling between the locking portions 116a and the locked portion 22, to achieve the unlocking between the connector 1 and the mating connector 2.

[0075] In summary, the connector positioning member 12 of the present application can better cooperate and separate the connector 1 and the mating connector 2, to avoid the separation of the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 due to incorrect operation when the separation is not required. The first positioning lug 122 and the second positioning lug 124 provided on the elastic arm 123 make the connector positioning member 12 easy to be operated and moved between the locked position and the unlocking position, to prevent the connector positioning member 12 from being damaged during operation. In the unlocking position, the connector positioning member 12 can be hooked on the locking structure 116 and cannot be easily pulled out, to avoid the loss of the connector positioning member 12 and facilitate the operation and use.

[0076] However, the above is only an embodiment of the present application, and cannot limit the scope of the present application. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present application are still within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A connector comprising: a connector housing having a locking structure with a locking portion at a front end, an unlocking portion at a rear end, a fitting space, and a stop portion adjacent to the fitting space; and a connector positioning member having a base portion with a locking stop portion, a first positioning protrusion formed upwardly from a front end of the base portion, a resilient arm formed rearwardly from the front end of the base portion and above the base portion, a second positioning protrusion provided on the resilient arm and rearward of the first positioning protrusion, and a pressing structure having a pressing portion connected to a rear end of the resilient arm, and a resilient support arm connected between the pressing portion and the base portion; wherein the connector positioning member is movable relative to the connector housing between an unlocking position at a rearward direction and a locking position at a forward direction, in the unlocking position, the first positioning protrusion is located in the fitting space of the locking structure of the connector housing, and is held by the stop portion in the rearward direction, at this time, the locking stop portion of the connector positioning member is misaligned with the unlocking portion of the locking structure and does not block downward movement of the unlocking portion, the unlocking portion is located between the first positioning protrusion and the second positioning protrusion; in the locking position, the second positioning protrusion enters the fitting space of the connector housing, the second positioning protrusion is blocked by the stop portion in the rearward direction, at this time, the locking stop portion of the connector positioning member moves below the unlocking portion of the locking structure and blocks downward movement of the unlocking portion, the unlocking portion is located between the second positioning protrusion and the pressing portion.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein, the locking structure has a receiving opening at the rear end and communicating with the fitting space, the connector positioning member is inserted into the fitting space of the locking structure through the receiving opening.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein, the base portion has two locking stop portions at both sides of a rear section, the connector positioning member has two resilient arms and two second positioning protrusions respectively provided on the two resilient arms, front ends of the two resilient arms are located at both sides of the first positioning protrusion, the pressing structure has two resilient support arms respectively extended from both sides of the pressing portion and connected to both sides of the base portion.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein, the locking structure is frame-shaped and has two side frame strips, a front frame strip connected to front ends of the two side frame strips and constituting the locking portion, a rear frame strip connected to rear ends of the two side frame strips and constituting the unlocking portion, and a middle opening constituting the fitting space and defined by the two side frame strips, the front frame strip and the rear frame strip together, the locking structure constitutes the stop portion at a rear side of an inner edge of the middle opening, the rear frame strip is inverted U-shaped to define the receiving opening.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein, the connector housing further has a top wall below the locking structure and two resilient auxiliary arms, each of the side frame strips has a fulcrum portion connected to the top wall, the two resilient auxiliary arms are connected between both sides of the locking structure and the top wall.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein, The locking stop portion has an upwardly protruding and front-to-back extending stop ridge which upwardly abuts against the unlocking portion of the locking structure when the connector positioning member is in the locking position.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein, The front end of the stop ridge has an oblique guide surface, the front end of the first positioning protrusion has an oblique guide surface and the rear end has an upright stop surface, and the front end of the second positioning protrusion has an oblique guide surface and the rear end has an upright stop surface.

8. A connector assembly comprising: the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and a mating connector; wherein The mating connector has a locked portion, and when the connector and the mating connector are mated, the locked portion of the locking structure of the connector and the locked portion of the mating connector are locked to each other.

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