Electrical connector

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a connector body and an adjustable spring assembly. The connector body includes a mounting surface. The adjustable spring assembly includes a fixed plate and a grounding spring. The fixed plate is disposed on the mounting surface of the connector body. The fixed plate includes a guide track extending along a first direction. The guide track includes a plurality of limiting slots, and the plurality of limiting slots are spaced apart. The grounding spring is disposed on the fixed plate along the first direction. The grounding spring includes an opposite fixed end and a movable end. The fixed end is fixed to the fixed plate. The movable end is slidably disposed on the guide track and is adapted to be positioned in one of the plurality of limiting slots. In this way, the height of the grounding spring relative to the connector body can be changed by adjusting the limiting slot in which the movable end of the grounding spring is positioned, thereby allowing the electrical connector to be applied to different electronic devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical connectors with signal connection ports are becoming increasingly common in the market, such as those with USB Type-A, USB Type-C, or SD card connectors. Some of these connectors are cut into spring contacts to overlap with the housing of electronic devices, thereby creating an electromagnetic interference (EMI) barrier to prevent signal interference.

[0003] However, the height of the spring contacts in electrical connectors is currently fixed. When the height of the spring contacts is insufficient to overlap the housing of the electronic device, the only solutions are to add additional accessories (such as gaskets) or to directly replace the connector with an electrical connector that has spring contacts of a different height. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned issues, the main objective of this disclosure is to provide an electrical connector that solves the problem that known electrical connectors cannot adjust the height of the spring by means of a novel structure of an adjustable spring assembly.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this disclosure provides an electrical connector comprising a connector body and an adjustable spring assembly. The connector body includes a mounting surface. The adjustable spring assembly includes a fixing plate and a grounding spring. The fixing plate is disposed on the mounting surface of the connector body. The fixing plate includes a guide rail extending along a first direction. The guide rail has a plurality of limiting grooves, and the plurality of limiting grooves are spaced apart. The grounding spring is disposed along the first direction on a side of the fixing plate opposite to the mounting surface. The grounding spring includes an opposing fixed end and a movable end. The fixed end is fixed to one side of the fixing plate. The movable end is slidably disposed on the guide rail and adapted to be positioned in one of the plurality of limiting grooves.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide rail includes a main rail parallel to the first direction, and the limiting groove extends from the main rail along a second direction, with an angle between the first direction and the second direction.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of limiting grooves include a first portion and a second portion that are bent and connected, the first portion having the included angle with the first direction, and the movable end of the grounding spring being limited in the second portion.

[0008] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the second portion of the plurality of limiting grooves is parallel to the first direction.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the grounding spring has an extension located at the movable end, and the extension is parallel to the second direction.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the grounding spring includes a guide hole and a locking structure. The guide hole is disposed on the extension, and a long axis of the guide hole is parallel to the second direction. The locking structure is movably and sequentially inserted into the guide hole and the guide rail.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide rail includes a bottom groove located on the side opposite to the grounding spring, and the engaging structure has a lower protrusion that is slidably received in the bottom groove.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector body further includes at least one first connecting portion, and the fixing plate has at least one second connecting portion, the at least one second connecting portion engaging with the at least one first connecting portion.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the first connecting part is a slot, the second connecting part is a protrusion, and the second connecting part is inserted into the first connecting part, so that the adjustable spring assembly is disposed on the connector body.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the fixing plate is integrally formed on the mounting surface of the connector body.

[0015] As mentioned above, the height of the grounding spring relative to the connector body can be changed by adjusting the limiting groove positioned at the moving end of the grounding spring, thereby enabling the electrical connector to be used in different electronic devices. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows a combination of electrical connectors.

[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector at the engagement structure.

[0019] Figure 4 and Figure 5 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the operation of the engagement structure of the grounding spring.

[0020] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0021] Electrical connector 1

[0022] Connector body 10

[0023] Mounting surface 11

[0024] First connecting part 12

[0025] Adjustable spring assembly 20

[0026] Fixed plate 21

[0027] Guide rail 210

[0028] Limiting groove 211

[0029] Part 1 2111

[0030] Part Two 2112

[0031] Main track 212

[0032] Bottom groove 213

[0033] Second connecting part 214

[0034] Side 215

[0035] upper surface 216

[0036] Lower surface 217

[0037] Grounding spring 22

[0038] Fixed end 221

[0039] Screw 2211

[0040] Mobile 222

[0041] 223 Snap-fit ​​structure

[0042] Lower convex part 2231

[0043] Upper convex part 2232

[0044] Extension 224

[0045] Guide hole 225

[0046] First direction D1

[0047] Second direction D2

[0048] included angle θ Detailed Implementation

[0049] To better understand the technical content of this disclosure, preferred embodiments are described below. The specific implementation methods of this disclosure are further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0050] In the description of the various embodiments, the terms "first" and "second" are used to describe different elements, and these elements are not limited by such presuppositions. Furthermore, for ease of description and clarity, the thickness or dimensions of the elements in the drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or approximated for the understanding and reading of those skilled in the art. The dimensions of each element are not exactly their actual dimensions and are not intended to limit the implementation of this disclosure; therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to size, without affecting the effects and purposes achieved by this disclosure, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed herein. The same reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar elements in all the drawings.

[0051] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Please refer to the schematic diagram of the electrical connector assembly shown. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown. First, the electrical connector 1 of this embodiment can be applied to an electronic device and overlaps with the housing of the electronic device. In this embodiment, the electrical connector 1 includes a connector body 10 and an adjustable spring assembly 20. The connector body 10 may be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical connector having a USB Type-A connector, a USB Type-C connector, or an SD card connector. The connector body 10 includes a mounting surface 11. When the connector body 10 is assembled to the electronic device, the mounting surface 11 is located on the opposite side of the assembly surface. Figure 1 For example, mounting surface 11 is the upper surface of connector body 10. Adjustable spring assembly 20 is disposed on mounting surface 11.

[0052] Please refer to Figure 1 The adjustable spring assembly 20 includes a fixing plate 21 and a grounding spring 22. The fixing plate 21 is disposed on the mounting surface 11 of the connector body 10. The grounding spring 22 is disposed on a side of the fixing plate 21 opposite to the mounting surface 11. The fixing plate 21 includes a guide rail 210 extending along a first direction D1. The first direction D1 can be the long axis direction of the connector body 10. Furthermore, the guide rail 210 has a plurality of limiting grooves 211, which are spaced apart. In other words, the plurality of limiting grooves 211 are located at different positions along the first direction D1.

[0053] The grounding spring 22 includes a fixed end 221 and a movable end 222. The fixed end 221 is fixed to the fixed plate 21 and close to one side 215 of the fixed plate 21, for example, by a screw 2211 or by adhesive. The movable end 222 is slidably disposed on the guide rail 210 and adapted to be positioned in one of the limiting grooves 211 therein.

[0054] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Please refer to the cross-sectional view of the electrical connector at the engagement structure shown. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the grounding spring 22 further includes a locking structure 223 located at the movable end 222, and the guide rail 210 includes a bottom groove 213 located on the side opposite to the grounding spring 22. The locking structure 223 has a lower protrusion 2231, which is slidably accommodated in the bottom groove 213, allowing the locking structure 223 to move along the guide rail 210 without falling off. Furthermore, since the guide rail 210 in this embodiment is a through-plate structure 21, the locking structure 223 preferably has an upper protrusion 2232. The bottom surface of the upper protrusion 2232 contacts the upper surface 216 of the fixed plate 21 to prevent the locking structure 223 from falling off from below the fixed plate 21.

[0055] In this embodiment, the engaging structure 223 can be a combination of a screw and a nut. That is, the lower protrusion 2231 can be a screw, and the upper protrusion 2232 can be a nut. Specifically, after the screw passes through the guide rail 210 from the lower surface 217 of the fixing plate 21, the nut locks with the screw on the upper surface 216 of the fixing plate 21 to form the engaging structure 223 of this embodiment.

[0056] This disclosure does not specifically limit the structure of the limiting groove 211, only that it is a structure capable of limiting the displacement of the engaging structure 223. Preferably, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the guide rail 210 of this embodiment also includes a main rail 212 parallel to the first direction D1, and a limiting groove 211 extends from the main rail 212 along a second direction D2. The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are not parallel, such that there can be an included angle θ between the first direction D1 and the second direction D2.

[0057] In this embodiment, the included angle θ is 90 degrees, and the limiting groove 211 includes a first portion 2111 and a second portion 2112 that are bent and connected, and the first portion 2111 has an included angle θ with the first direction D1. Specifically, by bending and connecting the first portion 2111 and the second portion 2112, the moving end 222 of the grounding spring 22 can be limited to the second portion 2112. Preferably, the limiting groove 211 is L-shaped, so that the second portion 2112 of the limiting groove 211 is parallel to the first direction D1 and the main track 212.

[0058] In addition, the grounding spring 22 of this embodiment also has an extension 224 located at the movable end 222 to cooperate with the L-shaped limiting groove 211. Specifically, the extension 224 is parallel to the second direction D2. Furthermore, the grounding spring 22 includes a guide hole 225 disposed in the extension 224. A major axis of the guide hole 225 is parallel to the second direction D2. The engaging structure 223 is movably and sequentially inserted through the guide hole 225 and the guide rail 210, allowing the engaging structure 223 to move left and right within the guide hole 225.

[0059] Figure 4 and Figure 5 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the operation of the grounding spring contact mechanism. When the height of the grounding spring contact 22 needs to be adjusted, as follows... Figure 4 As shown, first move the engaging structure 223 to the left along the guide hole 225 (e.g., Figure 4 (The arrow symbol) moves the engaging structure 223 to the main track 212. Then, as... Figure 5 As shown, the engaging structure 223 is moved along the main track 212 (e.g., Figure 5(The arrow symbol indicates that the engaging structure 223 is positioned within one of the multiple limiting slots 211 when it moves to one of them.) Specifically, after the engaging structure 223 approaches the appropriate limiting slot 211, it first moves to the right to the first part 2111 of the limiting slot 211, and then the entire extension 224 moves downward, causing the engaging structure 223 to move to the second part 2112 of the limiting slot 211. Through the structure of the first part 2111 and the second part 2112 being bent and connected, the engaging structure 223 can be positioned in the second part 2112 to fix the height of the adjusted grounding spring 22. In this embodiment, before the engaging structure 223 moves (i.e., in the initial position), the distance between any limiting slot 211 and the fixed end 221 is less than the distance between the moving end 222 and the fixed end 221. Therefore, when the engaging structure 223 of the moving end 222 moves towards the fixed end 221 to the limiting groove 211, the grounding spring 22 bends to a height, that is, the bent part of the grounding spring 22 is at the height of the connector body 10. When the electrical connector 1 is assembled to the electronic device, the adjustable spring assembly 20 faces the housing of the electronic device (i.e., the structure to be overlapped), so that the bent part of the grounding spring 22 can overlap with the housing of the electronic device, thereby generating an electromagnetic interference (EMI) barrier to avoid signal interference problems.

[0060] Since the multiple limiting slots 211 in this embodiment are spaced apart on the guide rail 210, the distance between each limiting slot 211 and the fixed end 221 is different. Therefore, the engaging structure 223 can be positioned in different limiting slots 211 to allow the grounding spring 22 to have different heights. For example, when the engaging structure 223 is positioned in the limiting slot 211 closest to the fixed end 221, the grounding spring 22 has the highest height, meaning the bent portion of the grounding spring 22 is furthest from the connector body 10. In other words, the height of the grounding spring 22 can be adjusted by changing the position of the engaging structure 223 (within different limiting slots 211), thereby allowing the electrical connector 1 of this embodiment to be applied to different electronic devices.

[0061] In other embodiments, the included angle θ may be less than 90 degrees. When the engaging structure 223 moves to the limiting groove 211, the engaging structure 223 can be limited in the limiting groove 211 by the structure with an included angle θ of less than 90 degrees, so as to fix the height of the adjusted grounding spring 22.

[0062] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, the connector body 10 further includes at least one first connecting portion 12, and the fixing plate 21 has at least one second connecting portion 214. The second connecting portion 214 engages with the first connecting portion 12. For example, the connector body 10 may have two first connecting portions 12, and the first connecting portion 12 may be a slot or a groove, located on the two opposite short sides of the connector body 10. Correspondingly, the fixing plate 21 has two second connecting portions 214, which extend from the two opposite short sides of the fixing plate 21, respectively, so that the second connecting portion 214 (protrusion) can be inserted into and engaged with the first connecting portion 12 (slot or groove), thereby allowing the adjustable spring assembly 20 to be disposed on the connector body 10 to form the electrical connector 1 of this embodiment. Preferably, after the second connecting portion 214 (protrusion) of this embodiment is inserted into the first connecting portion 12 (slot or groove), the second connecting portion 214 (protrusion) can be folded back to fix the fixing plate 21 to the connector body 10.

[0063] In other embodiments, the fixing plate 21 may be integrally formed on the mounting surface 11 of the connector body 10. In other words, the connector body 10, the fixing plate 21, and its guide rail 210 are integrally formed components, while the grounding spring 22 is separately assembled to the fixing plate 21. This disclosure is not limiting.

[0064] In summary, the electrical connector according to this disclosure includes a connector body and an adjustable spring assembly. The adjustable spring assembly includes a fixed plate and a grounding spring. The fixed plate includes a guide rail and is disposed on the connector body. The guide rail has a plurality of spaced-apart limiting grooves. The grounding spring is disposed on the fixed plate, with one end of the grounding spring being a fixed end fixed to the fixed plate and the other end being a movable end. The movable end is slidably disposed on the guide rail and adapted to be positioned in one of the plurality of limiting grooves, allowing the grounding spring to have different heights. Therefore, by adjusting the limiting groove in which the movable end of the grounding spring is positioned, the height of the grounding spring relative to the connector body can be changed, thereby enabling the electrical connector to be used in different electronic devices.

[0065] It should be noted that the above embodiments are examples for ease of illustration, and the scope of the rights claimed in this disclosure should be determined by the claims, and not limited to the above embodiments.

Claims

1. An electrical connector applicable to an electronic device, characterized by comprising: The electrical connector includes: A connector body, including a mounting surface; and An adjustable spring assembly, comprising: A fixing plate is disposed on the mounting surface of the connector body and includes a guide rail extending along a first direction, the guide rail including a plurality of limiting grooves, the plurality of limiting grooves being spaced apart; and A grounding spring is disposed along the first direction on a side of the fixing plate opposite to the mounting surface. The grounding spring includes a fixed end, a movable end, and a bent portion located between the fixed end and the movable end. The fixed end is fixed to the fixing plate. The distance between each of the limiting grooves and the fixed end is different. The movable end is slidably disposed on the guide rail and adapted to be positioned in one of the plurality of limiting grooves, so that the bent portion contacts the housing of the electronic device.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The guide rail includes a main rail parallel to the first direction, and the limiting groove extends from the main rail along a second direction, with an angle between the first direction and the second direction.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein, The plurality of limiting grooves include a first portion and a second portion that are bent and connected, the first portion having the included angle with the first direction, and the movable end of the grounding spring being limited in the second portion.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein, The second portion of the plurality of limiting grooves is parallel to the first direction.

5. The electrical connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The grounding spring has an extension located at the moving end, and the extension is parallel to the second direction.

6. The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein, The grounding spring includes a guide hole and a locking structure. The guide hole is disposed in the extension, and one long axis of the guide hole is parallel to the second direction. The locking structure is movably and sequentially inserted into the guide hole and the guide rail.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein, The guide rail includes a bottom groove located on the side opposite to the grounding spring, and the engaging structure has a lower protrusion that is slidably received in the bottom groove.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The connector body also includes at least one first connecting portion, and the fixing plate has at least one second connecting portion, which engages with the at least one first connecting portion.

9. The electrical connector of claim 8, wherein, The first connecting part is a slot, and the second connecting part is a protrusion. The second connecting part is inserted into the first connecting part, so that the adjustable spring assembly is set on the connector body.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The mounting plate is integrally formed on the mounting surface of the connector body.

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