Connectors, Items, and Item Components

Abstract

A connector, an article, and an article assembly are provided. The connector is used to connect a first article to a second article, and the first article is provided with a mounting groove extending upward from its lower surface. The connector includes: a shell, the shell is inserted into the mounting groove to be fixed to the first article, and the shell is provided with a receiving groove extending upward from its lower surface; a connector, the connector includes a main body and a head located at the lower end of the main body; the main body is slidably inserted into the receiving groove, so that the connector can be displaced in the height direction relative to the shell between a first position in which the head is received in the mounting groove and a second position in which the main body is partially extended out of the receiving groove; the head is configured to engage with the engaging groove of the second article; and a force applying member, the force applying member is configured to apply force downward to the connector. The connector provided by the present disclosure has a low risk of being damaged during transportation. In addition, the use of the connector provided by the present disclosure is conducive to improving the convenience of the assembly process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of connection devices, and in particular, to a connector, an article, and an article assembly. Background Art

[0002] Some products, such as household items, are assembled from multiple items. During transportation, to reduce packaging volume, the products need to be shipped unassembled. Upon arrival at the destination, users need to use connectors to connect one item to another, ultimately assembling the items together.

[0003] A connector is configured to be inserted into a mounting slot of a first object to secure it to the first object, and has a head portion extending out of the mounting slot. A corresponding engaging slot is provided on a second object. The head portion of the connector can be inserted into and engage with the engaging slot, thereby connecting the two objects.

[0004] To make the assembly process more convenient, the connector can be pre-inserted into the mounting slot before transportation to pre-assemble the connector to the first item. However, during transportation, the portion of the connector that extends out of the mounting slot is easily accidentally damaged, thereby preventing the user from successfully assembling the product.

[0005] Furthermore, in some cases, when connecting a first object to a second object, the reserved operating space is only large enough for the first object to pass through. In this case, since the connector protrudes from the surface of the first object after installation, it is impossible to properly position the first object with the connector, making it difficult to complete the product assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a connector, an article, and an article assembly to reduce the risk of connector damage and improve the convenience of the assembly process.

[0007] On the one hand, the present disclosure provides a connector. The connector is used to connect a first item to a second item. The first item is provided with a mounting groove extending upward from its lower surface. The connector includes: a shell, the shell is inserted into the mounting groove to be fixed to the first item, and the shell is provided with a receiving groove extending upward from its lower surface; a connecting member, the connecting member includes a main body and a head located at the lower end of the main body; the main body is slidably inserted into the receiving groove, so that the connecting member can be displaced in the height direction relative to the shell between a first position in which the head is received in the mounting groove and a second position in which the main body partially extends out of the receiving groove; the head is configured to engage with the engaging groove of the second item; and a force applying member, the force applying member is configured to apply force downward to the connecting member.

[0008] The connector provided by the present disclosure has a lower risk of being damaged during transportation. In addition, the use of the connector provided by the present disclosure is conducive to improving the convenience of the assembly process.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the shell is provided with a first acting portion and the main body is provided with a second acting portion; after the connecting member passes downward over a third position between the first position and the second position, the first acting portion and the second acting portion cooperate to apply force upward to the connecting member.

[0010] This method is conducive to reducing the processing accuracy requirements of items and solving the problems of being unable to assemble and the connection being not firm and reliable due to low processing accuracy of items.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the inner side surface of the first action portion includes a first action surface extending upward and gradually outward, and the outer side surface of the second action portion includes a second action surface extending upward and gradually outward, so that after the main body portion moves downward over the third position, the second action surface squeezes the first action surface to cause the first action portion to elastically deform outward.

[0012] After the connecting member passes the third position, due to the above-mentioned structure of the first and second action surfaces, the first and second action parts will cooperate to provide an upward force for the connecting member. This implementation method has many advantages such as simple structure, low manufacturing difficulty and resistance to damage.

[0013] In one possible implementation, a plurality of teeth are provided on the outer periphery of the housing; the plurality of teeth are configured to be squeezed and deformed by the inner surface of the mounting groove when the housing is inserted into the mounting groove, so as to prevent the housing from being pulled downward from the mounting groove.

[0014] According to this implementation, after the housing is inserted into the mounting slot, the housing will be securely fixed to the household item. At the same time, this implementation has many advantages such as simple structure and low manufacturing difficulty.

[0015] In a possible implementation manner, the plurality of teeth avoid an outer side surface of the first acting portion.

[0016] According to this structure, the first acting portion will be more elastic, which is beneficial to preventing the first acting portion from being accidentally damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the housing is provided with a pair of narrow slots extending in a height direction and connecting the receiving groove with the outside of the housing, and the pair of narrow slots are arranged at intervals to form a first action portion therebetween.

[0018] According to this structure, the first acting portion will be more elastic, which is beneficial to preventing the first acting portion from being accidentally damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the thickness of the first acting portion is smaller than the thickness of other portions of the housing.

[0020] According to this structure, the first acting portion will be more elastic, which is beneficial to preventing the first acting portion from being accidentally damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the housing is provided with a plurality of first action portions at intervals along its circumference, and the main body is provided with a plurality of second action portions at intervals along its circumference, respectively cooperating with the plurality of first action portions.

[0022] The coordinated cooperation of the plurality of first action parts and the plurality of second action parts can provide a greater upward force for the connecting member. In addition, the coordinated cooperation of the plurality of first action parts and the plurality of second action parts can make the distribution of the force more uniform and balanced.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the connector further includes an acting member; after the connecting member moves downward over a third position between the first position and the second position, the acting member applies force upward to the connecting member.

[0024] This method is conducive to reducing the processing accuracy requirements of items and solving the problems of being unable to assemble and the connection being not firm and reliable due to low processing accuracy of items.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the shell is provided with a first abutment portion in the receiving groove, and the main body is provided with a second abutment portion; when the connecting member is in the second position, the first abutment portion and the second abutment portion abut against each other to limit the connecting member from continuing to move downward relative to the shell.

[0026] In the above implementation, the first abutment portion and the second abutment portion limit the maximum height dimension of the portion of the main body of the connector extending outside the receiving groove, thereby preventing the main body from accidentally falling out of the receiving groove and causing connection failure.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the shell includes a plurality of tubular portions extending in the height direction and connected in sequence in the length direction, and the plurality of tubular portions jointly define a receiving groove; the main body includes a plurality of columnar portions extending in the height direction and connected in sequence in the length direction, and the plurality of columnar portions are respectively inserted into the portions of the receiving groove defined by the plurality of tubular portions; the head includes a plurality of cap-shaped portions connected in sequence in the length direction, and the plurality of cap-shaped portions are respectively arranged at the lower ends of the plurality of columnar portions.

[0028] With this structure, the head of the connector is larger in length, making the engagement between the head and the engagement slot more secure and stable. Furthermore, with this structure, a mounting slot that matches the shape of the outer shell can be formed by simply machining multiple interconnected circular holes along the length of the article. Therefore, this structure reduces the difficulty of machining the mounting slot.

[0029] In one possible implementation, each tubular portion includes a pair of half shells extending in a height direction and capable of being spliced ​​together; the upper ends of the pair of half shells are connected together so that the pair of half shells can be opened with their lower ends away from each other.

[0030] This implementation method is helpful in reducing the difficulty of assembling the connector.

[0031] In one possible implementation, each tubular portion is provided with a pair of connecting holes connecting the receiving groove to the outside of the shell; a pair of splicing lines formed after a pair of half shells are spliced ​​together extend to a pair of connecting holes respectively, so that when a pair of half shells are opened, a pair of connecting holes are unfolded.

[0032] As the connector slides relative to the housing, air can flow between the receiving slot and the exterior of the housing through the pair of communication holes. This helps prevent the connector from being unable to move relative to the housing due to air being unable to flow in or out. Furthermore, when the half-shells are opened, the pair of communication holes effectively disperses the stress generated at the connection between the half-shells, thereby reducing the risk of fracture or damage to the housing.

[0033] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an article. The article is provided with a locking groove recessed downward from its upper surface. The locking groove includes an introduction section and a locking section connected along its length. The introduction section includes an introduction surface that gradually extends downward from the upper surface of the article as it approaches the locking section. The locking section includes a pair of locking portions extending inward from two opposing side surfaces of the locking section in the width direction, respectively, to form a receiving space below the pair of locking portions that can accommodate a head of a connector of the connector described above. The pair of locking portions are configured to prevent the head from being pulled upward out of the receiving space when the head is placed in the receiving space.

[0034] The use of such a structured engaging groove is conducive to improving the convenience of assembling or disassembling two objects in a small operating space.

[0035] In a possible implementation, a first guide surface is provided on the lower surface of each engaging portion. The first guide surface gradually extends downward from an end of the corresponding engaging portion close to the introduction section as it moves away from the introduction section.

[0036] The first guiding surface can help the head of the connecting member to smoothly enter the receiving space.

[0037] In a possible implementation, a side surface of each engaging portion is provided with a second guide surface, and the second guide surface gradually extends inward from an end of the corresponding engaging portion close to the introduction section as it moves away from the introduction section.

[0038] The second guide surface can help the head of the connector to smoothly enter the receiving space.

[0039] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an article assembly comprising: the connector described above; and a first article, wherein the first article is provided with a mounting groove extending upward from a lower surface thereof, and the connector housing is inserted into the mounting groove to be fixed to the first article.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the item assembly further includes a second item, the second item is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove recessed downward from its upper surface, and the head of the connector's connecting piece is snap-fitted into the snap-fit ​​groove to connect the first item to the second item. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments.

[0042] It should be understood that the following drawings only depict certain embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be considered limiting of the scope.

[0043] It should also be understood that the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings to identify the same or similar elements.

[0044] It should also be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and that the sizes and proportions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily accurate.

[0045] Figure 1 2 is a schematic structural diagram of two objects connected by a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 2 and Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the two items in the decomposition.

[0047] Figures 4 to 6 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the connector structure.

[0048] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 Exploded view of the connector in .

[0049] Figures 8 to 10 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a connector and an article mounted thereon, wherein Figure 8 The connector is located at a first position relative to the housing of the connector. Figure 9 The middle connecting member is located at a second position relative to the housing. Figure 10 The middle connecting member is located at a third position relative to the housing.

[0050] Figure 11 Shown Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure of a tubular portion of the connector housing.

[0051] Figure 12 Shown Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure of the connector housing.

[0052] Figure 13 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a connector according to Modification 1 of the present disclosure.

[0053] Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a connector according to a second modification of the present disclosure.

[0054] Figure 15 Shown Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a part of an item.

[0055] Figure 16 It is along Figure 15 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA.

[0056] Figure 17 It is along Figure 15 Cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

[0057] Figures 18 to 20 Shows the Figure 1 The process of assembling two items together.

[0058] Figures 21 to 23 Shown Figure 1 The process of engaging the head of the connector of the connector with the engaging groove of the object. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The following is an exemplary description of the embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in many ways and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. The embodiments described herein are only for a more thorough and clear understanding of the present disclosure.

[0060] Example description of connector

[0061] refer to Figures 1 to 3The present disclosure provides a connector 100 for connecting an item 200 (i.e., a first item) to an item 300 (i.e., a second item). Item 200 is provided with a mounting slot 220 extending upward from its lower surface 210. The mounting slot 220 can be formed directly by the item 200 or by another component embedded in the item 200. The item assembly 300 is provided with a snap-fitting slot 320 recessed downward from its upper surface 310. The snap-fitting slot 320 can be formed directly by the item 300 or by another component embedded in the item 300.

[0062] In the drawings of this disclosure, the arrow Z+ may be used to indicate the upper side in the height direction, and the arrow Z- may be used to indicate the lower side in the height direction; the arrow X+ may be used to indicate one side in the length direction, and the arrow X- may be used to indicate the other side in the length direction; the arrow Y+ may be used to indicate one side in the width direction, and the arrow Y- may be used to indicate the other side in the width direction. It should be understood that in this disclosure, directional descriptions such as "up," "down," "height," "length," and "width" are relative, not absolute. These directional descriptions apply when the elements of this disclosure are in the postures and positions shown in the drawings.

[0063] refer to Figures 4 to 9 The connector 100 includes a housing 10 and a connector 20. The housing 10 is configured to be inserted into a mounting groove 210 to be fixed to an article 200. The housing 10 is provided with a receiving groove 12 extending upward from a lower surface 11 thereof. The connector 20 includes a main body 21 and a head 22, the main body 21 extending in the height direction, and the head 22 being located at the lower end of the main body 21. The main body 21 is slidably inserted into the receiving groove 12 relative to the housing 10 in the height direction, so that the connector 20 can be displaced between a first position and a second position relative to the housing 10 in the height direction. The head 22 is configured to be detachably engaged with the engaging groove 320 of the article 300 to connect the article 200 to the article 300.

[0064] exist Figure 8 and Figure 9 In the embodiment, the connecting member 20 is located at the first position and the second position respectively. Figure 8 As shown, when the connector 20 is in the first position, the head 22 is received in the mounting groove 220, that is, the lower end surface 221 of the head 22 is located above the lower surface 210 of the article 200 or flush with the lower surface 210, so that the head 22 does not protrude beyond the lower surface 210. Figure 9 As shown, when the connector 20 is in the second position, the main body 22 partially extends out of the mounting slot 220 so that the head 22 engages with the engagement slot 320. In other words, the connector 20 can move downward from the first position to the second position relative to the housing 10, and can move upward from the second position to the first position.

[0065] The connector 100 also includes a force-applying member 30, which is configured to apply force downward to the connector 20. The present disclosure does not limit the specific implementation of the force-applying member 30, as long as it can apply force downward to the connector 20 so that the head 22 and part of the main body 21 of the connector 20 can extend out of the receiving groove 12 when not pressed. In one example, the force-applying member 30 can be an elastic member 30 placed in the receiving groove 12 and located on the upper side of the main body 21, with one end of the elastic member 30 abutting the inner surface of the receiving groove 12 and the other end abutting the end face of the main body 21, so that the elastic member 30 is compressed and applies force downward to the connector 20. In particular, the elastic member 30 can be a compression spring 30. In another example, the force-applying member 30 can include a pair of magnetic members, one magnetic member is fixed to the upper end face of the main body and the other magnetic member is located on its upper side, and the two magnetic members are opposite to each other with the same poles to apply force downward to the connector through magnetic repulsion.

[0066] On the one hand, the connector 100 provided by the present disclosure has a lower risk of being damaged during transportation. If the connector 100 is mounted on the article 200 before transportation, the connector 20 can be moved to the first position by pressing the head 21 of the connector 20, so that the head is accommodated in the mounting groove 220. Then, the connector 20 can be maintained in the first position with the help of a fixture (for example, a tape that blocks the opening of the mounting groove 220). In this way, during the subsequent transportation process, the connector 20 will be protected and the risk of accidental damage to the connector 100 will be reduced. After the transportation is completed, the user can remove the fixture and allow the connector 20 to extend out of the mounting groove 220 under the action of the force-applying member 30, and then assemble the articles 200, 300.

[0067] On the other hand, the use of the connector 100 provided by the present disclosure is conducive to improving the convenience of the assembly process. In the case where the reserved operating space is small in the height direction, the connector 20 can be moved to the first position by pressing the head 22 of the connector 20 to reduce the height dimension of the combination of the connector 100 and the article 200, thereby ensuring that the article 200 equipped with the connector 100 can be placed in a suitable installation position with a suitable posture. After the article 200 reaches the installation position, the connector 20 will move downward under the action of the force-applying member 30, causing the head 22 to extend out of the installation slot 220 and engage with the engaging slot 320 of the article 300, thereby connecting the article 200 to the article 300. It can be seen that the use of the connector 100 provided by the present disclosure is conducive to improving the convenience of the assembly process.

[0068] refer to Figures 4 to 10The housing 10 is provided with a first action portion 13, and the main body 21 is provided with a second action portion 211. After the connecting member 20 passes the third position downward, the first action portion 13 and the second action portion 211 cooperate to apply force to the connecting member 20 upward. Figure 10 In the embodiment, the connector 20 is located at a third position relative to the housing 10. Figure 10 As shown in FIG. 2 , when the connecting member 20 is located at the third position, a portion of the main body 21 extends out of the mounting groove 220, and the height dimension of the extended portion is D1. Figure 9 As shown, when the connector 20 is in the second position, the portion of the main body 21 extending outside the mounting groove 220 has a height dimension D2. Here, D1 is smaller than D2. In other words, the third position is between the first and second positions. In other words, the connector 20 moves downward from the first position, through the third position, to the second position, and upward from the second position, through the third position, to the first position.

[0069] To reduce costs, the manufacturing precision of articles 200 and 300 is often low. For example, for articles 200 and 300 made of wood, the precision of the mounting groove 220 or the engaging groove 320 is often low. This low manufacturing precision may result in a poor match between the protruding portion of the connector 20 and the engaging groove, making it difficult to assemble the two articles 200 and 300 together or resulting in an insecure and unreliable connection between the two articles 200 and 300.

[0070] In the above-described implementation, when the connector 20 is located at any position between the third position and the second position relative to the housing 10, the head 21 of the connector 20 has an upward movement tendency under the action of the upward force provided by the first action portion 13 and the second action portion 211. Accordingly, when the connector 20 is located at any position between the third position and the second position, the head 21 of the connector 20 can effectively engage with the engaging groove 320 of the article 300, which provides an assembly margin. In this way, even if the processing accuracy of the two articles 200 and 300 is low, the extended length of the connector 20 can adapt to the position and size of the engaging groove 320. It can be seen that the current implementation is conducive to reducing the processing accuracy requirements of the articles 200 and 300, and solving the problem of being unable to assemble and the connection being not firm and reliable due to the low processing accuracy of the articles 200 and 300.

[0071] In one example, when the connector 20 is in the third position, the connector 100 is in a natural state. That is, when the head 22 of the connector 20 is not pressed upward and is not engaged with the engagement groove 320, the connector 30 is in the third position. In other words, when the connector 20 is in the third position, the downward force applied by the force-applying member 30 to the connector 20 is balanced by the upward force applied to the connector 20 by the first acting portion 13 and the second acting portion 211. Of course, in other examples, when the connector 20 is in the third position, the connector 100 may not be in a natural state.

[0072] refer to Figures 7 to 10 The inner side surface of the first action portion 13 includes a first action surface 131 extending upward and gradually outward, and the outer side surface of the second action portion 211 includes a second action surface 212 extending upward and gradually outward, so that after the main body 21 moves downward over the third position, the second action surface 212 squeezes the first action surface 131 to cause the first action portion 13 to elastically deform outward.

[0073] After the connecting member 20 passes the third position, due to the above-mentioned structure of the first action surface 131 and the second action surface 212, the first action portion 13 and the second action portion 211 will cooperate to provide an upward force for the connecting member 20. This implementation has many advantages such as simple structure, low manufacturing difficulty and non-destructiveness.

[0074] refer to Figure 3 and Figures 8 to 10 The outer periphery of the housing 10 may be provided with a plurality of teeth 14. The plurality of teeth 14 are configured such that when the housing 10 is inserted into the mounting groove 220, the plurality of teeth 14 are squeezed and deformed by the inner surface of the mounting groove 220 to prevent the housing 10 from being pulled downward from the mounting groove 220.

[0075] According to this implementation, after the housing 10 is inserted into the mounting groove 220, the housing 10 will be reliably fixed to the household item 200. At the same time, this implementation has many advantages such as simple structure and low manufacturing difficulty.

[0076] It should be noted that, in other examples, the housing 10 may not be provided with a plurality of teeth 14, but may be fixed to the object 200 in other ways. For example, in one example, the housing 10 and the object 200 may be fixed together using glue filled in the mounting groove 220.

[0077] refer to Figures 4 to 6 The plurality of teeth 14 may be configured to avoid the outer side of the first action portion 13. That is, the plurality of teeth 14 are defined by a portion outside the first action portion of the housing 10. In other words, the outer side of the first action portion 13 is not provided with teeth 14.

[0078] According to this configuration, the first acting portion 13 will be more elastic, which is beneficial to preventing the first acting portion 13 from being accidentally damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0079] refer to Figure 6 The housing 10 is provided with a pair of narrow slots 15 extending in the height direction and connecting the receiving groove 12 with the outside of the housing 10 . The pair of narrow slots 15 are arranged at intervals to form a first action portion 13 therebetween.

[0080] According to this structure, the first acting portion 13 will be more elastic, which is beneficial to prevent the first acting portion 13 from being accidentally damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0081] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the thickness of the first action portion 13 is smaller than the thickness of other parts of the housing 10 .

[0082] According to this structure, the first acting portion 13 will be more elastic, which is beneficial to prevent the first acting portion 13 from being accidentally damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0083] refer to Figure 4 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 The housing 10 is provided with a plurality of first action portions 13 at intervals along its circumference, and the main body 21 is provided with a plurality of second action portions 211 respectively matched with the plurality of first action portions 13 at intervals along its circumference.

[0084] The coordinated cooperation of the plurality of first acting portions 13 and the plurality of second acting portions 211 can provide a greater upward force for the connecting member 20. In addition, the coordinated cooperation of the plurality of first acting portions 13 and the plurality of second acting portions 211 can make the distribution of the force more uniform and balanced.

[0085] refer to Figures 7 to 10 The housing 10 is provided with a first abutment portion 16 within the receiving groove 12, and the main body 21 is provided with a second abutment portion 213 protruding from its outer circumference. When the connector 21 is in the second position, the second abutment portion 213 abuts against the first abutment portion 16 to limit further downward movement of the connector 20 relative to the housing 10. In other words, when the connector 21 is in the second position, the height dimension of the portion of the main body 21 extending out of the mounting groove 220 reaches a maximum dimension D2.

[0086] In the above implementation, the first abutment portion 16 and the second abutment portion 213 limit the maximum height dimension D2 of the portion of the main body 21 of the connector 20 extending outside the receiving groove 220, thereby preventing the main body 21 from accidentally falling out of the receiving groove 220 and causing connection failure.

[0087] refer to Figure 7The housing 10 includes a plurality of tubular portions 10-1 extending in height and sequentially connected in length. The plurality of tubular portions 10-1 collectively define a receiving slot 12. The main body 21 includes a plurality of columnar portions 21-1 extending in height and sequentially connected in length. The plurality of columnar portions 21-1 are respectively received in the portions of the receiving slot 12 defined by the plurality of tubular portions 10-1. The head 22 includes a plurality of cap-shaped portions 22-1 sequentially connected in length. The plurality of cap-shaped portions 22-1 are respectively provided at the lower ends of the plurality of columnar portions 21-1. In certain embodiments, the connector 100 may include a plurality of elastic members 30. The plurality of elastic members 30 may be respectively received in the portions of the receiving slot 12 defined by the plurality of tubular portions 10-1.

[0088] With this structure, the head of the connector 20 is larger in the longitudinal direction, thereby making the engagement between the head 21 and the engagement groove 320 more secure and stable. Furthermore, with this structure, a mounting groove 220 that matches the shape of the housing can be formed by simply machining multiple interconnected circular holes along the longitudinal direction of the article 200. Therefore, this structure helps reduce the difficulty of machining the mounting groove 220 of the article 200.

[0089] refer to Figure 11 Each tubular portion 10-1 includes a pair of half shells 10-2 extending in the height direction and capable of being assembled together. The upper ends of the pair of half shells 10-2 are connected together so that the pair of half shells 10-2 can be opened in a manner that their lower ends are separated from each other.

[0090] According to this structure, when assembling the connector 100, the pair of half shells 10-2 can be opened and the force applying member 300 and the connecting member 20 and other components can be assembled into the housing 10, and then the pair of half shells 10-2 can be spliced ​​together. This implementation method is conducive to reducing the difficulty of assembling the connector 100.

[0091] refer to Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 12 Each tubular portion 10-1 is provided with a pair of communicating holes 18 that connect the receiving groove 12 to the outside of the housing 10. A pair of splicing lines 10-3 formed by splicing the pair of half shells 10-2 extend to the pair of communicating holes 18 respectively, so that when the pair of half shells 10-2 are opened, the pair of communicating holes 18 are expanded.

[0092] As the connector 20 slides relative to the housing 10, air can flow between the receiving slot 12 and the exterior of the housing 10 through the pair of communication holes 18. This helps prevent the connector 20 from being unable to move relative to the housing due to air being unable to flow in or out. Furthermore, when the pair of half-shells 10-2 are opened, the pair of communication holes 18 effectively disperse the stress generated at the connection between the half-shells 10-2, thereby reducing the risk of fracture or damage to the housing 10.

[0093] The connector provided by the present disclosure is described above by way of example. It should be understood that the connector provided by the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Several possible variations are provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In different embodiments of the present disclosure, identical or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid repeated descriptions as appropriate.

[0094] refer to Figure 13 In the first modification, the first action portion 13a is configured as an extension portion 13a extending inwardly from the inner surface of the housing 10, and the second action portion 211a is configured as a shoulder portion 211a abutting against the end of the extension portion 13a. Figure 13 After the extension portion 13a is compressed and elastically deformed, an upward force is applied to the connecting member 20.

[0095] refer to Figure 14 In the second modification, the connector 20 further includes an action member 40. The action member 40 is configured to move downwards when the connector 20 passes the third position (i.e. Figure 14 The action member 40 is configured to move upwards to the connecting member 20 after the connecting member 20 moves downwards past the third position. As an example, the action member 40 may be an elastic member 40, one end of which abuts against the shoulder 17 protruding from the inner surface of the housing 10, and the other end abuts against the shoulder 214 defined by the main body 21, so that when the connecting member 20 moves downwards past the third position, the elastic member 40 is deformed under pressure and applies an upward force to the connecting member 20. In particular, the elastic member 40 may be a compression spring 40. Of course, in other examples, the action member 40 may also be implemented in other ways. For example, in one example, the action member 40 may include a pair of magnetic members, one magnetic member is fixed to the connecting member 20 and the other magnetic member may be fixed to the housing 10, and the two magnetic members are opposite to each other with the same poles so as to apply an upward force to the connecting member 20 through magnetic repulsion.

[0096] In the current implementation, through the actuator 40, when the connector 20 is located at any position between the third position and the second position relative to the housing 10, the head 22 of the connector 20 can effectively engage with the engagement slot 320 of the article 300, which provides an assembly margin. This allows for an extended length of the connector 20 to accommodate the position and size of the engagement slot 320, even if the machining precision of the two articles 200 and 300 is low. This demonstrates that the current implementation helps reduce the machining precision requirements for the articles 200 and 300, and addresses the issues of assembly difficulties and insufficiently secure and reliable connections caused by low machining precision.

[0097] Example description of the item

[0098] The article 300 and the engaging groove 320 are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0099] refer to Figures 15 to 17 The article 300 is provided with a locking groove 320 recessed downward from its upper surface 310. The locking groove 320 includes an introduction section 321 and a locking section 322 connected to each other along the length direction. The introduction section 321 is provided with an introduction surface 3211 that gradually extends downward from the upper surface 310 of the article 300 as it approaches the locking section 322. The locking section 322 is provided with a pair of locking portions 3221 extending inward from two opposite side surfaces of the locking section 322 in the width direction to form a receiving space 3222 on the lower side of the pair of locking portions 3221 that can accommodate the head 22 of the connecting member 20 of the connector 100. The pair of locking portions 3221 is configured to prevent the head 22 from being pulled out of the receiving space 3222 when the head 22 is placed in the receiving space 3222.

[0100] The advantages of the engaging groove 320 having such a structure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0101] refer to Figure 18 After the items 300 and 400 have been fixed to other components of the product, the remaining operating space between them is small, only enough for the item 200 to pass through. In this scenario, in order to install the item 200 on the item 300, you can first press the connector 20 to retract the head 22 into the installation groove 220. Figure 19 , the article 200 can be placed between the articles 300 and 400 so that the lower surface 210 of the article 200 is in close contact with the upper surface 310 of the article 300 to keep the head 22 in the mounting groove 220. Figure 20 , the object 200 can be moved to the X+ side so that the object moves to the installation position. Figure 20After the connector 100 is moved to the installation position, the head 22 of the connecting member 20 of the connector 100 engages with the engaging groove 320 of the article 300, thereby connecting the article 200 to the article 300.

[0102] More specifically, refer to Figure 21 As the article 200 moves toward the X+ side, the head 22 of the connector 20 gradually approaches the end of the introduction section 321 of the engaging groove 320 that is away from the engaging section 322. Figure 22 As the object 200 continues to move toward the X+ side, the head 22 of the connector 20 enters the introduction section 321 and gradually extends out under the guidance of the introduction surface 3211 of the introduction section 321. Figure 23 The head 22 enters the receiving space 3222 of the engaging section 32 to engage with the engaging groove 320 (ie, the head 22 is prevented from being pulled upward from the engaging groove 320 by the cooperation between the head 22 and the engaging portion 3221).

[0103] Reference Figure 20 、 Figure 19 and Figure 18 When disassembling, the object 200 can be moved in the X-direction from Figure 20 Move to the position in Figure 18 , thereby removing the article 200 from the article 300. Figure 23 、 Figure 22 and Figure 21 As the object 200 moves in the X-direction, the head 22 of the connector 20 first enters the introduction section 321 from the engaging section 322; then, the head 22 of the connector 20 will gradually retract into the installation groove 220 under the guidance of the introduction surface 3211, thereby disengaging the head 22 from the engaging groove 320, and then removing the object 200 from the object 300.

[0104] From the above analysis, it can be seen that adopting such a structure of the engaging groove 320 is conducive to improving the convenience of assembling or disassembling two objects 200, 300 in a smaller operating space.

[0105] refer to Figures 15 to 17, the lower surface of each engaging portion 3221 is provided with a first guide surface 3223. The first guide surface 3223 is configured to gradually extend downward from one end of its corresponding engaging portion 3221 close to the introduction section 321 as it moves away from the introduction section 321. The first guide surface 3223 can help the head 22 of the connector 20 smoothly enter the receiving space 3222. In particular, in an implementation with a first and second acting portion (or in an implementation with an acting member), as the head 22 of the connector 20 moves toward the receiving space 3222, the first guide surface 3223 can guide the head 22 to move downward past the third position, thereby causing the connector 20 to be subjected to an upward force provided by the first and second acting portions (or acting member). After the head 22 of the connector 20 reaches the receiving space 3222, the force causes the head 22 to press against the lower surface of the engaging portion 3221, which helps to improve the firmness and reliability of the connection between the head 22 and the engaging groove 3222.

[0106] Continue to refer Figures 15 to 17 Each engaging portion 3221 is provided with a second guide surface 3224 on its side surface. The second guide surface 3224 is configured to gradually extend inward from the end of its corresponding engaging portion 3221 closest to the introduction section 321 as it moves away from the introduction section 321. The second guide surface 3224 can help the head portion 22 of the connector 20 smoothly enter the receiving space 3222.

[0107] Example description of item components

[0108] The present disclosure also provides an article assembly. The article assembly includes the connector 100 and an article 200 described in the above-described embodiments and variations. The housing 10 of the connector 100 is inserted into the mounting slot 220 of the article 200 to secure the article 200. The article assembly may also include an article 300. The head 22 of the connector 20 of the connector 100 engages with the engagement slot 320 of the article 300 to connect the article 200 to the article 300.

[0109] It should be noted that the item assembly provided by the present disclosure may include other components in addition to the above-mentioned components. All the components contained in the item assembly can constitute a product. For example, the product may be a household product. The household product may be a product for human use, such as a TV cabinet, a wardrobe, a storage box or a table, etc. The household product may also be a product for pets, such as a pet climbing frame or a pet house, etc. Of course, the product is not limited to household products, but may also be other products. Items 10, 20 may be panels, such as wooden panels, plastic panels or metal panels, etc. Of course, in other examples, items 10, 20 may also be other components, such as rods or frames, etc.

[0110] It should be understood that the term "including" and its variations used in this disclosure are open-ended, i.e., "including but not limited to." The term "according to" means "at least in part according to." The term "one embodiment" means "a pair of embodiments"; the term "another embodiment" means "a pair of additional embodiments."

[0111] It should be understood that although the terms "first" or "second" may be used in the present disclosure to describe various elements (such as the first active part and the second active part), these elements are not defined by these terms, and these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

[0112] The scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Any changes or substitutions that can be conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present disclosure should be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a first object to a second object, wherein the first object is provided with a mounting groove extending upward from a lower surface thereof, characterized in that: The connector comprises: a housing, the housing being inserted into the mounting slot to be fixed to the first article, the housing being provided with a receiving slot extending upward from a lower surface thereof, and the housing being provided with a first action portion and a first abutment portion; a connecting member, the connecting member comprising a main body and a head located at a lower end of the main body; the main body being slidably inserted into the receiving groove, so that the connecting member can be displaced in a height direction relative to the housing between a first position in which the head is received in the mounting groove and a second position in which the main body is partially extended out of the receiving groove, the main body being provided with a second action portion and a second abutment portion; the head being configured to engage with the engaging groove of the second article; and A force applying member, wherein the force applying member is configured to apply force downward to the connecting member, When the connecting member is in the second position, the second abutting portion abuts against the first abutting portion to limit the connecting member from continuing to move downward relative to the housing; after the connecting member moves downward over a third position between the first position and the second position, the first acting portion and the second acting portion cooperate to apply force upward to the connecting member; when the connecting member is in the third position, a portion of the main body extends out of the mounting slot, and the downward force applied to the connecting member by the force-applying member is balanced with the upward force applied to the connecting member by the first acting portion and the second acting portion in cooperation.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The inner side surface of the first action portion includes a first action surface extending upward and gradually outward, and the outer side surface of the second action portion includes a second action surface extending upward and gradually outward, so that after the main body portion moves downward over the third position, the second action surface squeezes the first action surface to cause the first action portion to elastically deform outward.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: A plurality of teeth are provided on the outer periphery of the shell; the plurality of teeth are configured to be squeezed and deformed by the inner surface of the mounting groove when the shell is inserted into the mounting groove, so as to prevent the shell from being pulled downward from the mounting groove.

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein: The plurality of teeth avoid an outer side surface of the first acting portion.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The housing is provided with a pair of slots extending along the height direction and connecting the receiving groove with the outside of the housing. The pair of slots are arranged at intervals to form the first action portion therebetween.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the first acting portion is smaller than the thickness of other portions of the housing.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The housing is provided with a plurality of first action parts at intervals along its circumference, and the main body is provided with a plurality of second action parts at intervals along its circumference to respectively cooperate with the plurality of first action parts.

8. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The shell includes a plurality of tubular portions extending along the height direction and connected in sequence in the length direction, and the plurality of tubular portions jointly define the receiving groove; the main body includes a plurality of columnar portions extending along the height direction and connected in sequence in the length direction, and the plurality of columnar portions are respectively inserted into the portions of the receiving groove defined by the plurality of tubular portions; the head includes a plurality of cap-shaped portions connected in sequence in the length direction, and the plurality of cap-shaped portions are respectively arranged at the lower ends of the plurality of columnar portions.

9. The connector according to claim 8, wherein: Each tubular portion includes a pair of half shells extending in the height direction and capable of being spliced ​​together; the upper ends of the pair of half shells are connected together so that the pair of half shells can be opened with their lower ends away from each other.

10. The connector according to claim 9, wherein: Each tubular portion is provided with a pair of communicating holes connecting the receiving groove to the outside of the shell; a pair of splicing lines formed after the pair of half shells are spliced ​​together extend to the pair of communicating holes respectively, so that when the pair of half shells are opened, the pair of communicating holes are expanded.

11. An article, characterized in that The article is provided with a locking groove recessed downward from its upper surface, and the locking groove includes an introduction section and a locking section connected to each other along the length direction, and the introduction section is provided with an introduction surface gradually extending downward from the upper surface of the article as it approaches the locking section; the locking section is provided with a pair of locking parts extending inward from two side surfaces opposite to each other in the width direction of the locking section, so as to form a receiving space on the lower side of the pair of locking parts that can accommodate the head of the connector of the connector according to claim 1; the pair of locking parts is constructed to prevent the head from being pulled out of the receiving space upward when the head is placed in the receiving space.

12. The article according to claim 11, characterized in that A first guiding surface is provided on the lower surface of each engaging portion. The first guiding surface gradually extends downward from an end of the corresponding engaging portion close to the introduction section as it moves away from the introduction section.

13. The article according to claim 11, characterized in that A second guide surface is provided on the side surface of each engaging portion. The second guide surface gradually extends inward from an end of the corresponding engaging portion close to the introduction section as it moves away from the introduction section.

14. An article assembly, characterized in that The article components include: The connector according to claim 1; and The first article is provided with a mounting groove extending upward from a lower surface thereof, and the housing of the connector is inserted into the mounting groove to be fixed to the first article.

15. The article assembly according to claim 14, wherein: The article assembly further includes a second article, wherein the second article is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove recessed downward from an upper surface thereof, and the head of the connecting member of the connector is snap-fitted with the snap-fit ​​groove to connect the first article to the second article.

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