A connector with a square hole masking structure and a manufacturing process thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a connector with a square hole shielding structure and a preparation process thereof, and belongs to the technical field of connectors. The connector comprises a plastic main body, a terminal and a shell. The plastic main body is further provided with a plastic block for shielding the square hole and an avoiding groove for accommodating the plastic block. The plastic block is provided with a clamping block, and the avoiding groove is provided with a stop portion. The clamping block is matched with the stop portion to achieve the limiting of the plastic block. In the production and installation, two plastic blocks respectively cover two square holes from the inside, so that the exposed part of the plastic main body is a plane, the appearance of the connector is enhanced, meanwhile, the effect of the square hole is not affected. The matching of the clamping block and the stop portion can prevent the plastic block from sliding, strengthen the shielding effect of the plastic block on the square hole, effectively prevent dust and foreign matters from the outside from entering the connector through the square hole, reduce the opportunity of dust accumulation, and reduce the influence of dust and foreign matters on the connector. The plastic block and the plastic main body are integrally injection molded, so that the production process is simplified, and the production cost is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of connector technology, and in particular discloses a connector with a square hole shielding structure and its manufacturing process. Background Technology

[0002] As is well known, the outer shell of a USB connector (male) has two small square holes. These holes are designed to engage with two protruding clips inside the female connector, ensuring a secure insertion and preventing the connector from falling out and affecting the connection. These square holes expose the inner plastic body of the connector. Due to the molding process, the exposed portion of the plastic body is irregularly shaped and not flat, which is aesthetically unappealing. Dust and foreign matter can easily enter the connector through these holes and accumulate, affecting its usability. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a connector with a square hole covering structure, which covers the square hole of the connector shell, enhances the aesthetics of the connector, and prevents external dust and foreign objects from entering the connector through the square hole.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a connector with a square hole shielding structure, comprising a plastic body, terminals, and a housing. The plastic body and terminals are injection molded into an integral structure and housed within the housing. The housing has two square holes. The plastic body has two plastic blocks for shielding the square holes and two clearance grooves for accommodating the plastic blocks. Both plastic blocks are integrally formed with the plastic body. Each plastic block has a locking block. The bottom wall of the clearance groove has a stop portion that cooperates with the locking block. The stop portion is used to abut against the locking block to prevent the plastic block from sliding. When assembling the plastic body and the housing, the plastic blocks are forced to slide along the clearance grooves so that the locking blocks and the stop portions abut against each other.

[0005] Specifically, the card block is set on the bottom surface of the plastic block, and the blocking part is formed by protruding upward from the bottom wall of the avoidance groove.

[0006] Specifically, the card block includes a first side and a second side. The angle between the first side and the bottom surface of the plastic block is smaller than the angle between the second side and the bottom surface of the plastic block. The first side is used to facilitate the card block to slide over the stop part, and the second side is used to abut against the stop part.

[0007] Specifically, the two clearance grooves are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the plastic body, and the clearance grooves are formed by recessing from the outer side of the plastic body inward.

[0008] Specifically, the two sides of the clearance groove are provided with protruding connection points, which are connected to the plastic block. When the plastic body is installed inside the shell, the connection between the connection points and the plastic block is disconnected.

[0009] Specifically, the clearance groove is provided with a limiting part, which is formed by protruding from the side wall of the clearance groove into the groove. The limiting part is used to stop the plastic block from limiting the plastic block.

[0010] Specifically, the plastic block has a stepped portion on its side, which is recessed from the top surface of the plastic block downwards. When the plastic body is installed inside the outer shell, the limiting portion abuts against the stepped portion.

[0011] Specifically, the number of limiting parts and the number of step parts are both at least two. At least two limiting parts are respectively arranged on the two groove walls of the clearance groove, and at least two step parts are respectively arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with at least two limiting parts.

[0012] To obtain the aforementioned connector with a square hole shielding structure, the manufacturing process of a connector with a square hole shielding structure according to the present invention is as follows:

[0013] S1: The terminal is obtained by stamping a metal sheet;

[0014] S2: Place the stamped terminal into the injection mold, and perform injection molding on the mold to obtain a plastic body with an integral structure of the terminal. Plastic blocks are connected to both sides of the plastic body, and clearance grooves for sliding of the plastic blocks are provided on both sides of the plastic body.

[0015] S3: The outer shell is obtained by cold stamping and stretching of metal strip and stamping forming.

[0016] S4: Force the plastic block to slide relative to the plastic body so that the plastic block enters the clearance groove until the plastic block moves to the position of the square hole of the corresponding outer shell and stops moving;

[0017] S5: Align the plastic block with the surface of the housing with the square hole, and then install the plastic body and the terminal into the housing to obtain a complete connector.

[0018] Specifically, in step S2, the plastic body has a limiting part, and the plastic block has a stepped part;

[0019] In step S4, the plastic block is forced to slide along the clearance groove until the step is blocked by the limiting part, and the block is engaged with the stop part.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The connector with a square hole covering structure described in this invention includes a plastic body, terminals, and a housing. The plastic body is further provided with a plastic block for covering the square hole and a relief groove for accommodating the plastic block. The plastic block is provided with a locking block, and the relief groove is provided with a stopping part. The locking block and the stopping part cooperate to limit the movement of the plastic block. During production and installation, the two plastic blocks cover the two square holes from the inside, making the exposed part of the plastic body a flat surface, enhancing the aesthetics of the connector, while not affecting the function of the square hole itself. The cooperation between the locking block and the stopping part prevents the plastic block from sliding, strengthens the blocking effect of the plastic block on the square hole, and effectively prevents external dust and foreign objects from entering the connector through the square hole, reducing the chance of dust accumulation and minimizing the impact of dust and foreign objects on the connector. The plastic block and the plastic body are integrally injection molded, simplifying the production process and saving production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall assembly structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the plastic block and the plastic body of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 3 A partial structural diagram of A in the middle;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the plastic body of the present invention with the bottom surface facing upwards;

[0026] Figure 6 For the present invention Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the partial structure of B in the diagram.

[0027] The reference numerals in the figures include:

[0028] 1—Plastic body 2—Terminals 3—Outer shell

[0029] 4—Plastic block 11—Avoidance groove 12—Stop part

[0030] 13—Connection point 14—Limiting part 31—Square hole

[0031] 41—Card Block 42—First Side 43—Second Side

[0032] 44—Step section. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings. The content mentioned in the embodiments is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0034] Please see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a connector with a square hole covering structure according to the present invention includes a plastic body 1, terminals 2, and a housing 3. The plastic body 1 and terminals 2 are injection molded into an integral structure and housed in the housing 3. The housing 3 is provided with two square holes 31. The plastic body 1 is provided with two plastic blocks 4 for covering the square holes 31 and two clearance grooves 11. The two clearance grooves 11 are provided one-to-one with the two plastic blocks 4. The two plastic blocks 4 are integrally formed with the plastic body 1 and extend outward from both sides of the plastic body 1. During installation, the position of the plastic blocks 4 will move to the position of the square holes 31 to cover them. The plastic blocks 4 are provided with a locking block 41. The bottom wall of the clearance groove 11 is provided with a stop part 12 that cooperates with the locking block 41. The stop part 12 is used to abut against the locking block 41 to prevent the plastic blocks 4 from sliding. When assembling the plastic body 1 and the housing 3, the plastic blocks 4 are forced to slide along the clearance groove 11 so that the locking block 41 and the stop part 12 abut against each other. During production and installation, the two plastic blocks 4 are forced to slide along the two clearance grooves 11 until the two locking blocks 41 abut against the two stop portions 12. Then, the plastic body 1 is installed into the housing 3. The two plastic blocks 4 then cover the two square holes 31 of the housing 3 from the inside, making the exposed parts of the plastic body 1 flat, enhancing the connector's aesthetics without affecting the function of the square holes 31. After the locking blocks 41 abut against the stop portions 12, the plastic blocks 4 are prevented from sliding within the housing 3, strengthening their shielding effect on the square holes 31. This effectively prevents external dust and foreign objects from entering the connector through the square holes 31, reducing the chance of dust accumulation and minimizing the impact of dust and foreign objects on the connector. The plastic blocks 4 and the plastic body 1 are integrally injection molded, connected by a very small structure to ensure that the plastic blocks 4 can be separated from the plastic body 1 under external force, thus simplifying the production process and saving production costs.

[0035] Please see Figures 5 to 6As shown, the locking block 41 is disposed on the bottom surface of the plastic block 4, and the blocking part 12 is formed by protruding upward from the bottom wall of the clearance groove 11. The locking block 41 includes a first side surface 42 and a second side surface 43. The angle between the first side surface 42 and the bottom surface of the plastic block 4 is smaller than the angle between the second side surface 43 and the bottom surface of the plastic block 4. The first side surface 42 is used to facilitate the locking block 41 to slide over the blocking part 12, and the second side surface 43 is used to abut against the blocking part 12. Before the plastic block 4 is installed into the clearance groove 11, the first side 42 is positioned close to the stop part 12, and the second side 43 is positioned away from the stop part 12. The side of the stop part 12 closest to the plastic block 4 is provided with an inclined surface parallel to the first side 42, so that the locking block 41 can slide into the stop part 12. When the plastic block 4 is installed into the clearance groove 11, the inclined surface of the first side 42 allows the locking block 41 to slide over the stop part 12, thereby locking the locking block 41 into the stop part 12. The second side 43 abuts against the side of the stop part 12, thereby restricting the plastic block 4 and preventing the plastic block 4 from sliding out of the clearance groove 11.

[0036] Please see Figures 2 to 3 As shown, the two clearance grooves 11 are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the plastic body 1. The clearance grooves 11 are recessed from the outer side of the plastic body 1. The length of the clearance grooves 11 is greater than the length of the plastic block 4. Therefore, the plastic block 4 can move in the clearance grooves 11 if there is no restriction.

[0037] Please see Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the two side walls of the clearance groove 11 are respectively provided with protruding connection points 13, which are connected to the plastic block 4. When the plastic body 1 is installed inside the outer shell 3, the connection between the connection point 13 and the plastic block 4 is broken by forcing the plastic block 4 to slide. When producing the plastic body 1 and the plastic block 4, only one mold is needed, with the connection point 13 serving as the injection point, to simultaneously injection mold the plastic body 1 and the plastic block 4, without the need for separate mold opening. Before installing the plastic body 1 inside the outer shell 3, the plastic block 4 is pushed into the clearance groove 11, and the connection between the connection point 13 and the plastic block 4 is forcibly broken, realizing the function of producing two parts with one mold, saving mold opening and production costs.

[0038] Please see Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the clearance groove 11 is provided with a limiting part 14, which protrudes from the side wall of the clearance groove 11 into the groove. With the side of the plastic body 1 closest to the square hole 31 as the top surface, the limiting part 14 is disposed on the top surface of the clearance groove 11 wall. The limiting part 14 is used to stop the plastic block 4 from moving up and down relative to the plastic body 1. The number of limiting parts 14 is at least two. In this embodiment, the number of limiting parts 14 is three, divided into two groups of one and two, respectively disposed on two mutually perpendicular groove walls of the clearance groove 11.

[0039] Please see Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the plastic block 4 has a stepped portion 44 on its side. The stepped portion 44 is recessed downward from the top surface of the plastic block 4. When the plastic body 1 is installed inside the outer shell 3, the limiting portion 14 abuts against the stepped portion 44. The number of stepped portions 44 is at least two, and each of the at least two stepped portions 44 is respectively provided with a one-to-one correspondence with at least two limiting portions 14. In this embodiment, there are two stepped portions 44, and the two stepped portions 44 are respectively provided with two sets of limiting portions 14.

[0040] To obtain the aforementioned connector with a square hole shielding structure, the manufacturing process of a connector with a square hole shielding structure according to the present invention is as follows:

[0041] S1: The terminal 2 is obtained by stamping a metal sheet;

[0042] S2: The stamped terminal 2 is placed in an injection mold, and the injection mold is injection molded to obtain a plastic body 1 with an integral structure of the terminal 2. Plastic blocks 4 are connected to both sides of the plastic body 1, and clearance grooves 11 for sliding of the plastic blocks 4 are also provided on both sides of the plastic body 1. The injection mold is a specially designed mold, and the injection is performed at the connection point 13 between the plastic blocks 4 and the plastic body 1. This enables the production of two parts at the same time with one mold, saving mold opening and production costs.

[0043] S3: The outer shell 3 is obtained by cold stamping and stretching of the metal strip and stamping forming.

[0044] S4: Force the plastic block 4 to slide relative to the plastic body 1 so that the plastic block 4 enters the clearance groove 11 until the plastic block 4 moves to the position of the square hole 31 of the corresponding outer shell 3 and stops moving;

[0045] S5: Align the plastic block 4 with the surface of the housing 3 with the square hole 31, and then install the plastic body 1 and the terminal 2 into the housing 3 as a whole to obtain a complete connector.

[0046] Specifically, in step S2, the plastic body 1 has a limiting part 14, and the plastic block 4 has a step part 44;

[0047] In step S4, the plastic block 4 is forced to slide along the relief groove 11 until the step portion 44 is blocked by the limiting portion 14, and the locking block 41 is locked into the stop portion 12.

[0048] In this embodiment, the stamping and cold stamping processes described in steps S1 and S3 are existing technologies; the assembly processes in steps S4 and S5 can be performed by mechanical automation or by manual assembly.

[0049] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation and application scope based on the ideas of the present invention. The content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector with a square hole shielding structure, comprising a plastic body (1), terminals (2) and a housing (3), wherein the plastic body (1) and terminals (2) are injection molded into an integral structure and housed within the housing (3), and the housing (3) is provided with two square holes (31); characterized in that: The plastic body (1) is provided with two plastic blocks (4) for blocking the square hole (31) and two clearance grooves (11) for accommodating the plastic blocks (4). Both plastic blocks (4) are integrally formed with the plastic body (1). The plastic blocks (4) are provided with a locking block (41). The bottom wall of the clearance groove (11) is provided with a stop part (12) that cooperates with the locking block (41). The stop part (12) is used to abut against the locking block (41) to prevent the plastic blocks (4) from sliding. When assembling the plastic body (1) and the outer shell (3), the plastic block (4) is forced to slide along the relief groove (11) so that the locking block (41) and the stop (12) abut against each other.

2. The connector with a square hole masking structure according to claim 1, characterized by: The card block (41) is set on the bottom surface of the plastic block (4), and the stop part (12) is formed by protruding upward from the bottom wall of the clearance groove (11).

3. The connector with a square hole masking structure according to claim 2, characterized by: The locking block (41) includes a first side (42) and a second side (43). The angle between the first side (42) and the bottom surface of the plastic block (4) is smaller than the angle between the second side (43) and the bottom surface of the plastic block (4). The first side (42) is used to facilitate the locking block (41) to slide over the stop (12), and the second side (43) is used to abut against the stop (12).

4. The connector with a square hole masking structure according to claim 1, characterized by: The two clearance grooves (11) are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the plastic body (1), and the clearance grooves (11) are recessed inward from the outer side of the plastic body (1).

5. The connector with a square hole masking structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The two sides of the clearance groove (11) are provided with protruding connection points (13), which are connected to the plastic block (4). When the plastic body (1) is installed in the shell (3), the connection between the connection point (13) and the plastic block (4) is disconnected.

6. The connector with a square hole masking structure according to claim 1, characterized by: The clearance groove (11) is provided with a limiting part (14), which is formed by protruding from the side wall of the clearance groove (11) into the groove. The limiting part (14) is used to stop the plastic block (4) from limiting the plastic block (4).

7. The connector with a square hole masking structure according to claim 6, characterized by: The plastic block (4) has a step (44) on its side. The step (44) is recessed from the top surface of the plastic block (4) and the limiting part (14) abuts against the step (44) when the plastic body (1) is installed inside the outer shell (3).

8. The connector with a square hole masking structure according to claim 7, characterized by: The number of limiting parts (14) and the number of step parts (44) are both at least two. At least two limiting parts (14) are respectively provided on the two groove walls of the clearance groove (11), and at least two step parts (44) are respectively provided in correspondence with at least two limiting parts (14).

9. A process for the production of a connector with a square aperture masking structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The preparation process is as follows: S1: The metal sheet is stamped to form the terminal (2); S2: Place the stamped terminal (2) into the injection mold and perform injection molding on the mold to obtain a plastic body (1) with an integral structure of the terminal (2). The plastic body (1) is connected to plastic blocks (4) on both sides. The plastic body (1) is also provided with clearance grooves (11) for the plastic blocks (4) to slide on both sides. S3: The metal strip is processed by cold stamping and stretching and stamping to obtain the outer shell (3); S4: Force the plastic block (4) to slide relative to the plastic body (1) so that the plastic block (4) enters the clearance groove (11) until the plastic block (4) moves to the position of the square hole (31) of the corresponding outer shell (3) and stops moving; S5: Align the plastic block (4) with the surface of the housing (3) with the square hole (31), and then install the plastic body (1) and the terminal (2) into the housing (3) to obtain a complete connector.

10. The manufacturing process of claim 9, wherein: In step S2, the plastic body (1) has a limiting part (14), and the plastic block (4) has a step part (44); In step S4, the plastic block (4) is forced to slide along the relief groove (11) until the step part (44) is blocked by the limiting part (14), and the locking block (41) is locked into the stop part (12).

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