Terminal and bend connector using the same
By designing symmetrical elastic arms at the mating end of the bent connector and optimizing the bending line angle of the contact head, the problems of excessive material usage and structural instability in the existing technology are solved, achieving the effects of material saving and structural stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHINA AVIATION OPTICAL ELECTRICAL TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing bent connectors have a large material consumption and space requirements for the mating end structure, and are prone to deformation, resulting in structural instability.
The design incorporates a mating end, including symmetrically arranged elastic arms that form contact heads. The bending line at the connection between the contact head and the elastic arm is at a certain angle to the mating direction, and the contact head forms a V-shaped or C-shaped structure to increase the contact area and improve the clamping force.
It reduces material usage, simplifies the molding process, improves structural stability and mating end stability, and enhances contact conductivity with the adapter terminal.
Smart Images
Figure CN115986448B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector technology, and specifically relates to a terminal and a bent connector using the terminal. Background Technology
[0002] In the prior art, a right-angle connector includes a connector housing and terminals disposed within the connector housing. One end of the terminal is a mating end, and the other end is a crimping end. The portion extending between the mating end and the crimping end is the terminal wiring portion. When the mating end and the crimping end are bent at 90°, the mating surface and the crimping surface of the right-angle connector are made perpendicular to each other. The existing mating end structure of the terminal is as follows: Figure 11 As shown, to form a socket structure at the mating end of the terminal, a U-shaped bending base 210 is generally required. The U-shaped bending base bends forward to form a pair of elastic arms that can form a socket structure. The elastic arms cooperate with the adapter terminal in the adapter connector to achieve contact and conduction. However, this bending method of the mating end requires a large amount of material, the terminal occupies a large space inside the connector housing, and because the mating end is bent many times, the structure is unstable and prone to deformation. Summary of the Invention
[0003] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention proposes a terminal and a bent connector using the terminal.
[0004] The objective of this invention and the technical problem it solves are achieved through the following technical solution. A terminal according to this invention includes a mating end, a crimping end, and a terminal wiring portion connecting the mating end and the crimping end. The mating end includes two symmetrically arranged elastic arms located in a plane. The movable end of each elastic arm is bent away from the plane to form a contact head. The two contacts are arranged opposite each other to form a socket structure. A bending line is present at the connection between the contact head and the elastic arm, and the extension direction of the bending line forms a first angle with the mating direction. The beneficial effect is that, compared to a terminal with a U-shaped bending base, the bending line is at an angle to the mating direction of the bent connector, rather than being parallel. This reduces the amount of material used when molding the terminal, and the terminal structure is simpler, easier to mold, and the mating end structure is more stable.
[0005] Furthermore, the contact head includes a first sub-contact head connected to the elastic arm and a second sub-contact head formed by bending and extending the end of the first sub-contact head. The connection between the first sub-contact head and the second sub-contact head is a contact portion, and the first sub-contact head and the second sub-contact head have a second included angle. The beneficial effect is that it enables the contact head to form a contact portion that is easy to adapt to the elastic contact and mating of the terminal.
[0006] Furthermore, the two first sub-contacts are bent towards each other, while the two second sub-contacts are bent away from each other. The beneficial effect is that the notches formed by the two contact heads are oriented in opposite directions, creating a pair of roughly V-shaped or C-shaped contacts. This structural design facilitates contact with the mating terminal.
[0007] Furthermore, the extension direction of the second contact head has a third angle with the mating direction, which facilitates guiding the adapter terminal into the socket structure.
[0008] Furthermore, the thickness direction of the contact head is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the elastic arm. The contact head is bent perpendicular to the plane of the elastic arm, which helps to increase the contact area with the adapter terminal.
[0009] Furthermore, both contacts in the terminal are bent toward the same side of the elastic arm, or the two contacts in the terminal are bent toward different sides of the elastic arm.
[0010] Furthermore, one end of the terminal wiring portion forks to form two elastic arms; the terminal is formed by cutting metal strip.
[0011] The present invention also proposes a bendable connector, including a housing and terminals disposed within the housing, wherein the terminals are any of the terminals described above, and the mating direction of the mating end is perpendicular to the crimping direction of the crimping end, so as to be compatible with bendable connectors.
[0012] By means of the above technical solution, the mating end of the terminal of the present invention is bent and formed, and the bending line of the bent contact head is at a certain angle to the mating direction. This mating end structure saves materials, is easy to form, has a simple structure, and is stable and not easily deformed, and has a stronger clamping force on the mating terminal.
[0013] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structural composition of the first type of bent connector of the present invention.
[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structural composition of the second type of bent connector of the present invention.
[0016] Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of the terminal group in the first type of bent connector of the present invention.
[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the housing of the first type of bent connector of the present invention.
[0018] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram of the terminal group in the second type of bent connector of the present invention.
[0019] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the housing of the second type of bent connector of the present invention.
[0020] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the bent connector of the present invention.
[0021] Figure 8A This is a schematic diagram of the terminal block.
[0022] Figure 8B yes Figure 8A An enlarged view of the mating ends shown.
[0023] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the bending line of the mating end of the terminal and the mating direction.
[0024] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the mating end of the terminal.
[0025] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the mating end of a terminal in the prior art.
[0026] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the convex bulge in the first type of bent connector.
[0027] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the bent portion in the second type of bent connector.
[0028] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of other configurations of the bending portion in the second type of bent connector.
[0029] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram showing the positions of the base of the bending section and the terminal wiring section.
[0030] Figure 16 and Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the barbs in the first type of bent connector.
[0031] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the barbs in the second type of bent connector.
[0032] Figures 19 to 21 This is a schematic diagram of the fit between the barbs and the housing in the second type of bent connector.
[0033] Figures 22 to 24 This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the terminal and the guide groove on the housing in the first type of bent connector.
[0034] Figure 25This is a schematic diagram showing the stepped distribution of guide grooves in the first type of bent connector.
[0035] Figure 26 This is an enlarged schematic diagram showing the stepped distribution of guide grooves in the first type of bent connector.
[0036] Figure 27 This is a schematic diagram of the guide groove position that mates with the first and second terminals in the first type of bent connector.
[0037] Figures 28 to 32 This is a schematic diagram showing the assembly relationship between each terminal in the terminal group and its corresponding guide groove.
[0038] Figure 33 This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the platform portion on the terminal and the housing in the second type of bent connector.
[0039] Figure 34 This is a schematic diagram of the platform section on the terminal in the second type of bent connector.
[0040] Figures 35 to 39 This is a schematic diagram before the first to fifth terminals are inserted into their corresponding receiving holes.
[0041] Figures 40 to 41 This is a schematic diagram showing the first to fifth terminals after they have been inserted into their corresponding receiving holes.
[0042] Figure 42 This is a schematic diagram of the crimped end and mating end of each terminal in the terminal group of the second type of bent connector.
[0043] Figure 43 This is a schematic diagram of the crimped and mating ends of each terminal in the terminal group of the first type of bent connector.
[0044] Figure 44A This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the bent portion on the terminal and the receiving hole in the second type of bent connector.
[0045] Figure 44B This is an enlarged view of the bend on the terminal and the receiving hole in the second type of bent connector.
[0046] Figure 45 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the bent portion on the terminal in the second type of bent connector.
[0047] Figure 46A This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the third terminal and the receiving hole in the second type of bent connector.
[0048] Figure 46B This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the mating of the third terminal and the receiving hole in the second type of bent connector.
[0049] Figures 47 to 50This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the terminal wiring section of the first terminal and the terminal wiring section of the second terminal.
[0050] Figure 51 This is a schematic diagram showing the situation where the mounting surfaces on multiple terminals can be seen simultaneously at the tail of the terminal.
[0051] Figure 52 This is a schematic diagram of the terminal tail and terminal head.
[0052] Figures 53 to 54 This is a schematic diagram of the support platform on the shell.
[0053] Figure 55 This is a schematic diagram before the shielding sheet is assembled with the housing.
[0054] Figure 56 yes Figure 55 Enlarged view of part I in the image.
[0055] Figure 57 yes Figure 55 Enlarged view of part II.
[0056] Figure 58 This is a schematic diagram of the shielding plate being inserted into the slot on the housing.
[0057] Figure 59 This is a schematic diagram showing the interference fit between the protrusions on the shielding sheet and the housing.
[0058] Figure 60 This is a side view of the shielding sheet after it has been assembled with the housing.
[0059] Figure 61 This is a schematic diagram of the buckle being fastened to the housing.
[0060] Figure 62 This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the buckle and the terminal.
[0061] Figure 63 This is a schematic diagram of the terminal group in the third type of bent connector.
[0062] Figure 64 This is a schematic diagram of the terminal wiring section in the third type of bent connector.
[0063] Figure 65 This is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the pressure-bearing direction of the terminals and the force-bearing direction of the housing in the first and second types of bent connectors.
[0064] Figure 66 This is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the pressure-bearing direction of the terminals and the force-bearing direction of the housing in the third type of bent connector.
[0065] Figure 67 This is a structural diagram of the third type of bent connector.
[0066] Figure 68 This is a 3D view of the third type of bent connector. Detailed Implementation
[0067] The bent connector proposed in this invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. If several specific embodiments of the bent connector exist, the features of these embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict. When the description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise stated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. It should be understood that the terms such as "first," "second," and similar words used in the specification and claims of this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely names used to distinguish features. Terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," "rear," "upper," and "lower," which relate to orientation or position, appearing in this invention are only for ease of explanation and are not limited to a specific direction or position.
[0068] This invention discloses a bent connector, including a housing 1, a terminal group, a shielding plate 3, and a retaining plate 4. The terminal group includes multiple terminals 2. The housing 1 has multiple receiving holes 11, and the terminals 2 are disposed in the corresponding receiving holes. This invention is illustrated using a terminal group including 5 terminals as an example. Each terminal 2 includes a mating end 21, a crimping end 23, and a terminal wiring portion 22 connecting the mating end and the crimping end. In a terminal group, the mating ends 21 of multiple terminals are arranged in a row along a first direction, and the crimping ends 23 of multiple terminals are arranged in a row along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second direction is the insertion and removal direction of the bent connector. The receiving holes are arranged through in the second direction, so the terminals are inserted into the receiving holes along the second direction. The mating end 21 is used for mating with the adapter terminal in the adapter connector, and the crimping end 23 is used for crimping with the printed circuit board. The "bend" in the bent connector refers to a 90° bend between the mating surface of the bent connector and the adapter connector and the crimping surface of the bent connector and the printed circuit board. When multiple terminal groups are provided, they are arranged in parallel along a third direction within the housing, which is perpendicular to both the first and second directions. Within the housing, the terminals are arranged in layers. If the innermost terminal is designated as the first terminal and the outermost terminal as the fifth terminal, then in the terminal group, the first terminal is located inside the second terminal, the second terminal is located inside the third terminal, and so on.
[0069] The structure of the first type of bent connector is as follows: Figure 1 , Figure 3A , Figure 3B , Figure 4 As shown, the structure of the second type of bent connector is as follows: Figure 2 , Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 6As shown; the main difference between the two types of bent connectors lies in the shape of the terminal wiring section and the receiving hole 11 on the housing 1 for accommodating the terminal, while the fisheye structure of the mating end and the crimping end is the same. The receiving hole in this invention is a rectangular hole. After fastening the buckle plate and the shielding plate, the final assembly is completed, forming as shown... Figure 7 The state shown.
[0070] like Figure 8A , Figure 8B In any embodiment of the bent connector, the mating end 21 of the terminal is bent; the mating end 21 includes two symmetrically arranged elastic arms 211, one end of the terminal trace forks to form a pair of elastic arms, the elastic arms 211 provide the mating end 21 with deformation capability, and achieve elastic contact conduction during mating. The elastic arms 211 are of plate structure, the two elastic arms in the same terminal are located in a vertical plane, the movable end of the elastic arm is bent toward the side away from the vertical plane to form a contact head 212, the two contact heads 212 of the same terminal are arranged opposite to each other to form a socket structure 213 that mates with the adapter terminal, the mating end of the adapter terminal can be a plate pin. The bending line 214 at the connection between the contact head 212 and the elastic arm 211 extends in the following direction (e.g. Figure 9 A first angle is formed between the bending line 214 (direction A) and the mating direction, meaning the bending line 214 is not parallel to the mating direction. The contact head 212 includes a first sub-contact head 2121 connected to the elastic arm and a second sub-contact head 2122 formed by bending and extending the end of the first sub-contact head. The connection point between the first and second sub-contact heads is a contact portion 2123 that makes contact with the adapter terminal. A second angle is formed between the first and second sub-contact heads belonging to the same contact head. This second angle can be acute, right, or obtuse, causing the notches formed by the two contacts in the same terminal to be positioned opposite each other. The shape of the contact head 212 can be approximately V-shaped, C-shaped, etc. In the same terminal, the two first sub-contact heads 2121 are bent towards each other, and the two second sub-contact heads 2122 are bent away from each other. A third angle is formed between the second sub-contact head and the mating direction, thereby facilitating the insertion of the adapter terminal. In this invention, the contact head and the elastic arm are arranged perpendicular to each other, that is, the thickness direction of the contact head 212 is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the elastic arm 211, thereby forming a linear contact portion in the thickness direction of the elastic arm, increasing the contact area between the contact head and the adapter terminal, and strengthening the clamping force on the adapter terminal.
[0071] Combination Figure 11 Its mating end has a U-shaped bent base 210, and the bending line 2101 of the U-shaped bent base extends in the following direction: Figure 11As can be seen in direction B, which is parallel to the mating direction, the two front ends of the U-shaped bent base bend forward, first towards each other and then away from each other, ultimately forming two opposing elastic arms. The mating ends in this invention... Figure 11 Compared to other interlocking structures, the interlocking end structure shown does not require a U-shaped bending base with a relatively large material consumption, thus shortening the length of the interlocking end and making the structure simpler and more material-saving. Furthermore, the U-shaped bending base and its front elastic arm undergo relatively more bending during the forming process, which can lead to structural instability and deformation. Therefore, the interlocking end designed in this invention requires fewer bending cycles, resulting in structural stability and resistance to deformation.
[0072] In this embodiment, both contacts 212 in the terminal are bent toward the same side of the elastic arm, and the two contacts are facing each other. However, in another feasible embodiment, the two contacts of the same terminal can be bent toward opposite directions. This can also form a socket structure with elastic deformation capability. In this case, the two contacts are misaligned. The two misaligned contacts can adapt to a wider adapter terminal in the third direction (i.e., the thickness direction of the elastic arm). In this case, the width of the mating surface of the terminal group in the third direction is larger. Conversely, the two facing contacts can adapt to a narrower adapter terminal, which helps to reduce the size of the mating surface of the terminal group.
[0073] When the terminal trace portion 22 is long, it is prone to bending and deformation. To improve the structural strength of the terminal trace portion, a reinforcing structure is provided on the terminal trace portion. The reinforcing structure can be a convex bulge or a bend, and the extension direction of the reinforcing structure is the same as the trace direction of the terminal trace portion. For example... Figure 12 The first type of bent connector has a protrusion 221 on the terminal wiring portion. The protruding surface of the protrusion 221 is flat and extends along the wiring direction of the terminal wiring portion. The terminal wiring portion is a sheet structure cut from metal strip, and the protrusion 221 can be formed by stamping in the thickness direction of the terminal wiring portion. A recess is formed on the back of the protrusion 221. This type of protrusion forming has high efficiency. In other embodiments, the protrusion can also be added directly to the terminal wiring portion by welding, which can also improve the structural strength of the terminal wiring portion. The protrusion 221 is suitable for being provided on the longer section of the terminal wiring portion. In the terminal group, the terminal wiring portion 22 of the terminal is L-shaped. The L-shaped terminal wiring portion includes a first wiring portion 2201 and a second wiring portion 2202 that are perpendicular to each other. The first wiring portion 2201 extends along the mounting direction of the terminal, and the second wiring portion 2202 extends along the crimping direction of the terminal. The protrusion is provided on the longer section (first wiring portion) of the terminal wiring portion, while the protrusion may not be provided on the shorter section (second wiring portion) of the terminal wiring portion.
[0074] like Figure 13In the second type of bent connector, at least one side of the terminal trace portion 22 is bent to form a bent portion 222, which extends along the trace direction of the terminal trace portion. The bent portion 222 is formed by bending the cross-section (i.e., the cut surface) of the terminal trace portion in a direction away from the plane where the terminal trace portion is located. Figure 14 The bends on a single terminal can also be segmented, with one bend placed at regular intervals. The bends can also be distributed on both sides of the terminal wiring section; when both sides of the terminal wiring section have bends, the bends on different sides can be staggered along the wiring direction. To prevent interference when the material is unfolded, a notch 2203 is provided on the terminal wiring section. The notch is used to avoid the bends of adjacent terminals, preventing interference when the bends are unfolded. Combined with... Figure 15 The bending angle when forming the bending part is set as α. In this embodiment, α is preferably 90°.
[0075] In one feasible embodiment, the convex bulge and the bend can be used in combination and appear simultaneously on the terminal, for example, on an L-shaped terminal trace. A convex bulge is provided on the first trace 2201, and a bend is provided on the second trace 2202; or both a convex bulge and a bend can be provided on the first trace / second trace simultaneously. When the extension length of a certain bend is relatively long, a process groove 2204 can be formed at the junction of the bend and the base 220 of the terminal trace to facilitate bending, such as... Figure 14 As shown, the addition of convex bulges and bends improves the terminal's resistance to insertion and extraction and fatigue, extending its service life and effectively increasing its current-carrying capacity.
[0076] like Figure 16 and Figure 17 In the first type of bent connector, protruding barbs 223 are provided on both sides of the terminal trace portion 22. The barbs 223 are used to interference fit with the inner wall of the receiving hole 11 of the housing, restricting the position of the terminal in the mating direction, thereby fixing the terminal and preventing it from coming off. The barbs 223 can be located near the mating end of the terminal trace portion, and the barbs on both sides of the terminal trace portion are at the same height in the terminal insertion direction. The barbs of multiple terminals are also at the same height in the terminal insertion direction. In other embodiments, the barbs on both sides can be staggered in the terminal insertion direction.
[0077] like Figure 18 As shown, in the second type of bent connector, the terminal wiring portion 22 is provided with protruding barbs 223. In the same terminal group, the barbs on different terminals are arranged in a stepped manner in the same plane. Figures 19 to 21Barbs are provided on the bend 222 of the corresponding terminal wiring section. The barbs 223 and the inner wall of the receiving hole 11 are interference-fitted to restrict the position of the terminal in the mating direction, thereby fixing the terminal and preventing it from coming off. In each terminal group, barbs arranged in a stepped manner and barbs at the same height can coexist. For example, the barbs that play a fixing role on the first terminal and the second terminal are at the same height in the mating direction and are set near the mating end.
[0078] like Figures 22 to 24 In the first embodiment of the bent connector, a guide groove 111 is provided in the receiving hole 11 of the housing. The guide groove 111 is located at the mating point between the receiving hole and the terminal. The guide groove 111 extends along the insertion direction of the terminal. The guide groove 111 guides and engages with the terminal wiring portion during terminal insertion, thus playing a guiding role in assembly. Since the barbs on each terminal in the same terminal group are at the same height in the mating direction, the bottom of all guide grooves in the receiving holes corresponding to each terminal are at the same height. However, the lengths of the wiring portions of multiple terminals in the terminal insertion direction vary in a stepped manner (the lengths of the wiring portions of the fifth terminal, the fourth terminal, and the third terminal decrease in the terminal mounting direction), so that the corresponding guide grooves are also arranged in a stepped manner in space, such as... Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown. Figure 27 In this embodiment, the first guide groove 1111 mates with the first terminal and the second guide groove 1112 mates with the second terminal. Specifically, as follows... Figures 28 to 32 As shown, the fifth guide groove 1115, which mates with the fifth terminal, the fourth guide groove 1114, which mates with the fourth terminal, and the third guide groove 1113, which mates with the third terminal, are arranged in a stepped pattern. Each terminal is inserted into its corresponding receiving hole 11 from top to bottom. The width of the guide groove 111 is approximately equal to the thickness of the terminal wiring portion 22, so that the guide groove 111 can limit the terminal in the thickness direction of the terminal wiring portion 22, preventing the terminal from deflecting within the housing. The guide groove 111 can also avoid the barbs 223, preventing excessive interference with the barbs during assembly and affecting the terminal insertion. After the terminal is inserted into place, the barbs 223 on the terminal and the bottom of the guide groove 111 engage in a limit-locking fit in the insertion direction, ensuring that the mating ends of each terminal are on the same height mating surface. Preferably, the guide grooves 111 in each receiving hole 11 are symmetrically distributed, that is, a guide groove is provided on each of the two relatively parallel inner walls in each receiving hole, so that the barbs on both sides are balanced during the terminal insertion process and are not prone to deflection, which is beneficial to the terminal insertion process. In addition, after the terminal is assembled, the barbs on both sides abut against the bottom of the corresponding guide groove, avoiding the terminal being in a deflected state after installation. Furthermore, the relatively arranged guide grooves can fix the two sides of the terminal wiring part, improving the anti-deflection or anti-torsion ability.
[0079] like Figure 33 , Figure 34As shown, in the second type of bent connector, the second trace portion 2202 extending along the crimping direction in the terminal trace portions of the third, fourth, and fifth terminals is bent in its thickness direction to form a platform portion 224. The surface of the platform portion 224 that is in a stop-fitting engagement with the housing in the crimping direction is the platform surface 2241. After the terminal is assembled in place, this platform surface 2241 is in a stop-fitting engagement with the housing in the crimping direction, playing a role in supporting and fixing the terminal during the crimping process, preventing the terminal from moving within the housing, and preventing pin retraction in the crimping direction; at the same time, bending to form the platform portion 224 also enhances the structural strength of the terminal trace portion. Figures 35 to 39 Before the first to fifth terminals are inserted into their corresponding receiving holes, the housing does not provide support for the terminals in the crimping direction; Figure 40 and Figure 41 After the first to fifth terminals are installed in place, the platform surfaces 2241 of the third, fourth, and fifth terminals abut against the surface of the housing parallel to the printed circuit board, and the housing provides support for the platform portions facing the printed circuit board. If the platform portion of the third terminal abuts against the first support surface 101, the platform portion of the fourth terminal abuts against the second support surface 102, and the platform portion of the fifth terminal abuts against the third support surface 103, then the first, second, and third support surfaces are distributed in a stepped manner. The terminal trace portions of the first and second terminals can be provided with force facing the printed circuit board by the first support surface 101. In addition, the platform portions 224 of the fourth and fifth terminals also have a stop-fitting cooperation with the housing 1 in the terminal insertion direction, which can realize the assembly limit of the terminals. The platform 224 can also be set on the second trace portion of the third to fifth terminals in the first type of bent connector, which will not be described in detail here.
[0080] like Figure 42 The terminal trace portion 22 is provided with a bending structure 225. The bending structure 225 is formed by bending the terminal trace portion in the thickness direction (third direction). The purpose of setting the bending structure is to make the center of the fisheye structure of the crimp end 23 of all terminals in the same terminal group coplanar with the center of the socket structure of the mating end. This makes the bent connector easier to mate with the adapter connector, and the force is balanced during mating. The force direction of each mating end is coplanar with the force direction provided by the printed circuit board to each crimp end. "Coplanar" refers to the plane where the first direction and the second direction are simultaneously located. The bending direction when forming the bending structure 225 is the same as the bending direction when forming the contact head 212 in the terminal thickness direction, which helps to reduce the size of the terminal group in the third direction and achieve the purpose of saving space. Similarly, the terminals in the first type of connector also have a bending structure 225, such as Figure 43 As shown, no further details will be provided.
[0081] As shown in Figures 44 to 46, in the second type of bent connector, the bent portion 222 not only increases the structural strength of the terminal and prevents terminal deformation, but also prevents the terminal from twisting during assembly. Specifically, the receiving hole 11 includes a first inner wall 1101, a second inner wall 1102, a third inner wall 1103, and a fourth inner wall 1104 connected circumferentially in sequence. The first inner wall and the third inner wall are arranged opposite to each other, and the second inner wall and the fourth inner wall are arranged opposite to each other. Taking the fifth terminal as an example, the cross-section 2221 of its bent portion 222 abuts against the first inner wall 1101, while the base 220 of the terminal wiring portion 22 cooperates with the third inner wall, restricting the terminal position in the third direction and preventing the terminal from twisting during assembly; the anti-twist method of the fourth terminal and the third terminal is similar and will not be described again. In addition, taking the third terminal as an example, combined with Figure 46A 46B, when both sides of the terminal wiring portion have bends 222, the cross-sections of both bends abut against the first inner wall, and the base of the terminal wiring portion contacts the third inner wall. The terminal is pressed into the receiving hole in an interference fit, which provides stronger anti-torsion capability; the plane containing the torsion direction mentioned above is perpendicular to the installation direction of the terminal. Further, the upper edge of the fourth inner wall is provided with an opening 1105 extending along the pressing direction at the position connecting to the third inner wall. The opening allows the second wiring portion to pass through in the direction of the printed circuit board. When the width of the opening in the third direction is equivalent to the thickness of the terminal wiring portion, the second wiring portion is clamped in the opening, thereby improving the anti-torsion capability of the second wiring portion to a certain extent. The openings corresponding to the third to fifth terminals are distributed in a stepped manner in space. The bottom surface 11051 of the opening 1105 can also support the corresponding second wiring portion, realizing terminal assembly limit; the opening can also be applied to the first type of bent connector embodiment. Further, as Figure 46B In the third terminal, the outer surfaces 2222 of the two bent portions 222 respectively engage with the second inner wall and the fourth inner wall in the first direction, thereby improving the installation stability of the terminal in the first direction while guiding the terminal installation through the receiving hole. In the fourth and fifth terminals, the outer surface of one bent portion can adhere to the second inner wall, and a boss 226 is provided on the other side of the terminal wiring portion 22. The boss 226 can engage with the fourth inner wall 1104 to guide the terminal to move in the first direction. When the fourth inner wall of the receiving hole for the fourth and fifth terminals is provided with a guide groove that engages with the boss, the engagement of the guide groove with the boss can realize terminal installation guidance, press-fitting limit and anti-torsion. The structure and function of the guide groove can be the same as the guide groove in the first type of bent connector.
[0082] like Figures 47 to 49 The terminal traces of the first terminal and the terminal traces of the second terminal are at the same height in the first direction, but are staggered in the thickness direction (third direction) to increase the air insulation gap between the terminal traces of adjacent terminals. Specifically, the terminal trace of the second terminal is bent in the third direction, and the bend is as follows: Figure 50As shown, the terminal trace of the second terminal is moved away from the terminal trace of the first terminal in the third direction, and the air insulation gap between the two terminal traces in the third direction is D. This increases the creepage distance of the two terminal traces, ensuring withstand voltage performance. Secondly, the terminal trace of the first terminal is bent in the third direction toward and away from the terminal trace of the second terminal, forming the aforementioned bending structure 225 on the first terminal. It can be seen that the bending structure also moves the terminal trace of the first terminal further away from the terminal trace of the second terminal, further increasing the air insulation gap. In summary, bending the terminal traces of the first and second terminals in the thickness direction toward each other saves space in the third direction occupied by the terminal group while ensuring a sufficiently large air insulation gap, thus meeting the spatial size requirements of the crimping surface relative to the mating end.
[0083] like Figure 51 , Figure 52 The bending structures 225 formed by the upward bending of the third, fourth, and fifth terminals are located on the second wiring section, and the bending structures on the third to fifth terminals are spaced apart in the first direction, so that the planes of the terminal tails of the third to fifth terminals can all be seen during installation. The bending structure provides a mounting surface 2251 that facilitates the installation of the terminals into the receiving holes. The mounting surface is the top surface of the bending structure, and the setting of the mounting surface 2251 increases the contact area between the terminal tail and the installation tool (such as a ejector pin). The direction from the terminal tail to the terminal head is the terminal installation direction. Due to the design of the stepped bending structure in space, multiple terminal mounting surfaces 2251 can be seen simultaneously from the terminal installation direction, which is beneficial for batch assembly of terminals. During assembly, the ejector pin presses against the mounting surfaces 2251 of multiple terminals, and multiple terminals can be assembled simultaneously, thereby improving assembly efficiency.
[0084] In the second type of bent connector, the fourth and fifth terminals can also achieve assembly limiting in the mounting direction through the following structural design: such as Figure 53 , Figure 54 As shown, the cross-section (cut surface) of the second wiring section 2202 facing the mating end mates with the corresponding support platform 12 on the housing 1. Due to the existence of the bending structure, the support platform 12 supporting the second wiring section of the same terminal and the bottom surface 11051 of the opening are misaligned in the third direction. The two support platforms 12 supporting the fourth and fifth terminals are also distributed in a stepped manner. The first and second terminals can be limited in the installation direction by barbs. Guide grooves are provided in the receiving holes corresponding to the first and second terminals. When the barbs contact the bottom of the guide groove, it is considered to be installed in place, which is the same as the terminal fixing method in the first type of bent connector. The support platform 12 is also applicable to the first type of bent connector, and will not be described in detail.
[0085] like Figure 53The housing 1 is provided with ribs 13, which extend along the installation direction of the terminals. After the first and second terminals are installed in place, the ribs are located on one side of the terminal wiring section. The ribs can guide the installation process of the first and second terminals, and can also provide a certain degree of support for the corresponding terminal wiring section in the third direction.
[0086] like Figures 55 to 57 The shielding sheet 3 has an overall L-shaped sheet structure, with a top wall 301 extending along the crimping direction and a side wall 302 extending from one end of the top wall toward the mating surface (or mating end). The terminal is located inside the shielding sheet. The end of the shielding sheet 3 near the mating surface is divided into multiple inserts 32 by a slot 31. The slot 31 extends along a second direction, which is also the insertion direction of the shielding sheet. The multiple inserts 32 are arranged at intervals along a third direction. The side (cut surface or cross section) of the insert 32 is provided with a protrusion 321. The insert is provided with a spring pin 322 protruding toward the shielding structure on the adapter connector, so that the shielding structures of the mating ends are connected when the connector is mated. Correspondingly, a post 14 protrudes from the outer wall of the housing 1. The post 14 is located near the mating end of the bent connector. The post extends along the installation direction of the shielding sheet, and multiple posts are spaced apart along the third direction. The slot 31 is used to avoid the corresponding post 14. A slot 141 for the corresponding insert is formed between adjacent posts. A limiting part 142 is provided on the post. The limiting part is used to guide the installation of the shielding sheet and also to limit the movement of the shielding sheet along the first direction to prevent the shielding sheet from falling out of the slot. The cross-section of the post with the limiting part is T-shaped. The bottom surface of the slot 141 is a limiting surface 1411 connected to the housing 1. The limiting surface 1411 and the insert 32 are in a blocking engagement in the installation direction of the shielding sheet to realize the installation limiting of the shielding sheet. Figure 58 , Figure 59 The protrusion 321 is interference-fitted with the post 14, serving to fix the shielding plate. The protrusion can be set only on one side of the insert or on both sides of the insert, and there can be multiple protrusions distributed in the installation direction of the shielding plate; the protrusion can be set on each insert or on some inserts.
[0087] The other end of the top wall of the shielding sheet is provided with a grounding pin 33 extending towards the printed circuit board. The grounding pin is used to connect with the grounding structure on the printed circuit board. The grounding pin 33 can be a fisheye crimp structure, and the grounding structure on the printed circuit board is the corresponding grounding hole. The grounding pin is pressed into the grounding hole to achieve a fixed connection and grounding conduction between the shielding sheet and the printed circuit board. Multiple grounding pins are arranged in a third-direction upward direction. In this embodiment, the grounding pin and the crimping end of the terminal are on the same crimping surface, such as... Figure 60 As shown. After the shielding sheet is installed, the top wall 301 covers the tail of the terminal, and the shielding plate is pressed against the printed circuit board to achieve a surrounding shielding of the terminal.
[0088] like Figure 61 and Figure 62The crimping end 23 has a fisheye structure, with the end of the fisheye structure connected to the terminal wiring section being the fisheye root 231. The snap plate 4 has through holes 41 for the corresponding crimping ends to pass through. The crimping ends are arranged in a matrix on the crimping surface of the bent connector. Correspondingly, the through holes are also arranged in a matrix on the snap plate. After the fisheye structure passes through the corresponding through hole 41, it is crimped with the printed circuit board. The fisheye root 231 is interference-fitted with the through hole 41 on the snap plate to fix the fisheye structure and prevent pin slippage during crimping with the printed circuit board. The snap plate increases the structural strength of the fisheye root, preventing pin failure during crimping. The snap plate 4 can achieve relative positioning between the crimping ends of multiple terminal groups, improving the stability and neatness of the crimping surface, and facilitating crimping with the printed circuit board. After the snap plate is fastened in place, the snap plate 4 and the housing 1 are in a maximum positioning fit in the crimping direction. In this invention, both the snap plate and the housing are non-conductive, and both can be integrally injection molded from non-conductive materials. Furthermore, after the buckle is installed in place, it can be further fixed to the shell by a limiting structure. The limiting structure can be a strong protrusion and an adaptable recess, a buckle, or a buckle groove, etc., to achieve a quick connection. In addition, the entrance of the through hole 41 is provided with a chamfer 411 to facilitate the entry of the fisheye root 231 into the interior of the through hole.
[0089] The present invention also proposes a third embodiment of a bent connector, wherein the internal terminal group is as follows: Figure 63 , Figure 64 As shown, the difference between the terminal group of the first and second type of bent connectors and the terminal wiring section is that the terminal wiring section does not need to have a bending structure 225 to make the fisheye structure and the socket structure coplanar. Instead, the second wiring section 2202 is bent at 90° relative to the first wiring section 2201, so that the thickness direction of the second wiring section is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the first wiring section. Specifically, the terminal is formed by cutting metal strip, and the cutting surface is the thickness surface of the terminal. In the first two types of bent connectors, such as Figure 65 , Figure 66 As shown, because the second trace portion of the third to fifth terminals has a bending structure 225 formed by bending along the thickness direction, the thickness direction of the base material of the first and second trace portions does not change, both being in the third direction. This causes the pressure-bearing direction of the fisheye structure and the force-bearing direction of the housing (the housing provides force to the terminal towards the printed circuit board) to no longer be on the same straight line, that is, they are misaligned in the thickness direction of the metal strip. This situation can easily lead to the fisheye structure pin retraction and pin failure during crimping. In this embodiment, the second trace portion of the three long terminals (third, fourth, and fifth terminals) is bent at 90° relative to the first trace portion. The end face 22021 of the second trace portion 2202 away from the crimping end abuts against the inner wall of the housing's receiving hole (this inner wall is the second inner wall facing the printed circuit board). The inner wall of the receiving hole provides support force to the terminal assembled in the receiving hole towards the printed circuit board, such as Figure 66As shown, at this time, the bearing direction of the shell and the pressure-bearing direction of the fisheye structure are on the same straight line, which helps to ensure the crimping strength and prevent the fisheye structure from coming off the pin and the pin from buckling during crimping. In this embodiment, after the second wiring part is bent at 90°, the fisheye structure connected to it is in a horizontal state, but the center of each fisheye structure in the same terminal group is still on the same straight line extending along the second direction; while the fisheye structures on the third to fifth terminals of the first two types of bent connectors are in a vertical state. The structure of the third type of bent connector is as follows. Figure 67 , Figure 68 The snap plate 4 is Z-shaped, with two parallel plates that engage with the housing to facilitate assembly and improve stability after installation. When the second wiring section of the fifth terminal is long, a protrusion can be provided. Other structural designs can utilize the first / second type of bent connector to achieve the corresponding functions, which will not be elaborated here.
[0090] In the above embodiments of various bent connectors, the bent connector includes a housing, a shield, two snap plates, and 110 terminals. The housing has 110 receiving holes corresponding to the number of terminals. The 110 terminals are divided into 22 terminal groups, each terminal group including 5 terminals of different sizes. Each snap plate is responsible for fixing the crimp ends of 11 terminal groups. However, the present invention does not limit the number of each component. The bent connector can be a bent plug or a bent socket. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Any aspects not described in detail are prior art. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made by those skilled in the art to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A terminal, comprising a mating end (21), a crimping end (23), and a terminal wiring portion (22) connecting the mating end and the crimping end, characterized in that: The mating end (21) includes two symmetrically arranged elastic arms (211), which are located in a plane. The movable end of the elastic arm (211) is bent to the side away from the plane to form a contact head (212). The two contact heads (212) are arranged opposite to each other to form a socket structure (213). The connection between the contact head (212) and the elastic arm (211) has a bending line (214). The extension direction of the bending line (214) has a first angle with the mating direction. The terminal wiring portion includes a first wiring portion (2201) and a second wiring portion (2202) that are perpendicular to each other. The first wiring portion extends along the mounting direction of the terminal, and the second wiring portion extends along the crimping direction of the terminal. The second wiring portion is bent in its thickness direction to form a platform portion (224) for blocking engagement with the housing in the insertion direction of the terminal. The platform portion has a platform surface (2241) for blocking engagement with the housing in the crimping direction. The contact head (212) includes a first sub-contact head (2121) connected to the elastic arm (211) and a second sub-contact head (2122) formed by bending and extending the end of the first sub-contact head. The connection between the first sub-contact head (2121) and the second sub-contact head (2122) is a contact point (2123). The first sub-contact head (2121) and the second sub-contact head (2122) have a second included angle.
2. The terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two first contact heads (2121) bend toward each other, and the two second contact heads (2122) bend toward each other.
3. The terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that: The extension direction of the second contact head (2122) has a third angle with the insertion direction.
4. The terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness direction of the contact head (212) is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the elastic arm (211).
5. The terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two contacts (212) in the terminal are bent toward the same side of the elastic arm (211), or the two contacts (212) in the terminal are bent toward different sides of the elastic arm (211).
6. The terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the terminal wiring section (22) branches to form two elastic arms (211).
7. The terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The terminals are formed by cutting metal strips.
8. A right-angle connector, comprising a housing and terminals disposed within the housing, characterized in that: The terminal is any one of claims 1-7, and the insertion direction of the mating end (21) is perpendicular to the crimping direction of the crimping end (23).