Locking structure and connector

Abstract

The application discloses a locking structure and a connector. The locking structure comprises a spring sheet, a lock catch and an unlocking part. The spring sheet extends outwardly from a reference surface along a first direction, the distance between the spring sheet and the reference surface increases along the first direction, the end of the spring sheet with a small distance from the reference surface is a fixed end, and the end of the spring sheet with a large distance from the reference surface is a free end. The lock catch is slidably matched with the spring sheet along the first direction. A step surface perpendicular to the first direction is arranged on the contact surface of the lock catch and the spring sheet, the step surface is arranged in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a sliding groove extending along the first direction is further arranged on the contact surface of the lock catch and the spring sheet. The unlocking part is slidably arranged in the sliding groove along the first direction, and one end of the unlocking part is provided with an unlocking part, which is a convex arc surface arranged towards the spring sheet. The application can realize quick unlocking in a limited space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector technology, and particularly relates to locking structures and connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Spring contacts and locking mechanisms are commonly used in connectors to enable quick connection. Correspondingly, unlocking requires external force to deform the spring contact and disengage it from the locking mechanism. Normally, an operator can press the spring contact to deform it, but in confined installation spaces, the space around the connector is insufficient for an operator to insert their fingers to press the spring contact. In flat I / O connectors like the one described in this application, the spring contact and locking mechanism are typically located on both sides. The limited space on the sides prevents fingers from being inserted, making it difficult to unlock and remove the connector by pressing. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application proposes a locking structure and connector to address the aforementioned technical problems. The specific technical solution is as follows:

[0004] The locking structure includes:

[0005] A spring sheet extends outward from a reference surface along a first direction, the distance between the spring sheet and the reference surface increases along the first direction, the end with a smaller distance between the spring sheet and the reference surface is a fixed end, and the end with a larger distance between the spring sheet and the reference surface is a free end;

[0006] The latch is slidably engaged with the spring piece along a first direction. A stepped surface perpendicular to the first direction is provided on the contact surface between the latch and the spring piece. The stepped surface is disposed away from the first direction. A sliding groove extending along the first direction is also provided on the contact surface between the latch and the spring piece.

[0007] The unlocking component is slidably disposed in the groove along a first direction, and one end of the unlocking component is provided with an unlocking part, which is a raised arc surface facing the spring piece.

[0008] When the spring and the latch are not locked, the unlocking part is accommodated inside the latch;

[0009] When the spring and the latch slide together in the first direction, the unlocking part and the latch simultaneously contact the spring from the fixed end to the free end and squeeze the spring to deform it toward the reference surface.

[0010] After the spring and the latch slide along the first direction until the step surface of the latch slides past the free end of the spring, the spring deforms and resets away from the reference surface and presses the free end against the step surface, restricting the spring and the latch from sliding in the opposite direction of the first direction, and the spring and the latch are in a locked state.

[0011] When the spring and the latch are in the locked state, the unlocking member slides in the opposite direction of the first direction, so that the unlocking part abuts against the free end of the spring and continues to slide and squeeze the spring as the unlocking member slides, causing the spring to deform towards the reference surface. When the free end of the spring leaves the step surface, the restriction that the spring and the latch slide in the opposite direction of the first direction is released.

[0012] Furthermore, when the unlocking part is accommodated between the end of the latch and the step surface, the maximum distance of the arc protrusion of the unlocking part matches the depth of the step surface.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a spring, and the sidewall of the unlocking member has a limiting protrusion that is perpendicular to the reference plane of the spring and extends away from the reference plane. One end of the spring presses against the limiting protrusion, and the other end presses against a limiting surface in the opposite direction of the first direction.

[0014] Furthermore, the limiting protrusion is provided with a stop portion extending in the opposite direction along the first direction. The distance between the end face of the stop portion and the limiting surface is a preset distance. When the stop portion moves a preset distance toward the limiting surface, the spring piece is squeezed and disengaged from the step surface by the unlocking portion.

[0015] Furthermore, the spring is sleeved on the outside of the stop portion.

[0016] Based on the locking structure described above, this application also provides a connector, including a female connector and a male connector, wherein the female connector and the male connector are pluggably connected along a first direction and are locked and unlocked by the locking structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

[0017] The female end connector includes:

[0018] First shell;

[0019] A first connector assembly is fixed inside the first housing;

[0020] A cover, the cover surrounding the side and back of the first housing, the cover including a first sheet attached to the back of the first housing and a second sheet attached to the side of the first housing, the elastic tab being disposed on the second sheet and extending outward.

[0021] Furthermore, the first housing has pairs of protrusions on both sides, with a gap formed between the pairs of protrusions on each side.

[0022] The male connector includes:

[0023] The second housing has the latches located on both sides of it and engaging with the spring clips.

[0024] The second connector assembly is fixed inside the second housing;

[0025] An unlocking element, which is disposed within the latch.

[0026] Furthermore, the male connector also includes a handle, which spans across both sides of the male connector and is fixedly connected to the latch.

[0027] The beneficial effects of this invention are: it can quickly unlock with one hand in a confined space. Since unlocking is performed by sliding the unlocking component, and the stop part limits the sliding limit position of the unlocking component, unlocking can be completed at this limit position. In addition, the force direction of the handle, the pulling direction of the male connector, and the sliding direction of the unlocking component are all in the same direction. Therefore, when the handle is pulled to the limit position with one hand, the unlocking component will just reach the unlocked state, and the male connector can be pulled out from the female connector. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the connector;

[0029] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the female connector.

[0030] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the first connector assembly;

[0031] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the structure of the first housing.

[0032] Figure 5 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the covering component;

[0033] Figure 6 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the male connector.

[0034] Figure 7 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the second connector assembly;

[0035] Figure 8 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the second housing.

[0036] Figure 9 What is shown is Figure 8 A magnified view of a section at point C;

[0037] Figure 10 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the unlocking component;

[0038] Figure 11 The diagram shown illustrates the external state of the unlocking component assembled into the latch.

[0039] Figure 12 The diagram shows the internal state of the unlocking component assembled into the latch. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments.

[0041] Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of a connector, which includes a male connector 200 and a female connector 100. The male connector 200 and the female connector 100 are pluggably connected to each other to enable signal transmission.

[0042] Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of the female connector 100, which is welded and fixed to the PCB board 300 as a signal I / O interface of the PCB board 300. The female connector 100 includes a first plug assembly 110, a first housing 120, and a cover 130. The first plug assembly 110 is fixed inside the first housing 120, and the cover 130 covers and fixes the outside of the first housing 120, locking the first plug assembly 110 as a whole.

[0043] The male connector 200 and female connector 100 of this application are not limited to signal transmission on the PCB board 300.

[0044] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the first connector assembly 110. The first connector assembly 110 includes a first contact 111 and a first package 112. The first contact 111 is encapsulated and fixed inside the first package 112. The first contact 111 and the first package 112 are usually fixed by injection molding. The first contact 111 exposes a contact end 111a and a solder end 111b on the first package 112. The contact end 111a contacts and engages with the male connector 200, and the solder end 111b is soldered and fixed to the solder pads on the PCB board 300.

[0045] Figure 4 The diagram shows a schematic of the structure of the first housing 120. The first direction AB is the insertion direction of the connector and also the assembly direction of the first connector assembly 110 within the first housing 120. End A is the insertion end. The middle part of the first housing 120 has a cavity extending along the first direction AB to accommodate the insertion of the first connector assembly 110. The first housing 120 has pairs of protrusions 121 on both sides, with a gap 122 formed between the pairs of protrusions 121 on each side. The insertion end of the first housing 120 is also provided with a groove 123, which is provided on both sides of the first housing 120 corresponding to the protrusions 121.

[0046] Figure 5The diagram shows the structure of the cover 130, which can be formed by bending sheet metal. The cover 130 is U-shaped and covers the side and back of the first housing 120. The side of the first housing 120 away from the insertion end of the first housing 120. Since the first insertion assembly 110 is inserted and fixed through the back of the first housing 120, the cover 130 can cover and limit the first insertion assembly 110.

[0047] The cover 130 includes a first sheet 131 attached to the back of the first housing 120 and a second sheet 132 attached to the side of the first housing 120. In addition, since the side of the first housing 120 is provided with a pair of protrusions 121, the second sheet 132 is correspondingly locked in the gap 122, which forms a limiting effect on the cover 130 as a whole and can prevent the cover 130 from slipping off in the direction perpendicular to the PCB board 300. The protrusion of the protrusion 121 exceeds the thickness of the second sheet 132.

[0048] The second sheet 132 has a continuous bending section 133 at the insertion end. By continuously bending, the end of the cover 130 is embedded in the groove 123, so that the cover 130 can be completely fixed to the outside of the first housing 120.

[0049] The second sheet 132 also has a spring piece 134 extending outward along the first direction AB with the second sheet 132 as the reference surface. In the assembled state of the first connector assembly 110, the distance between the spring piece 134 and the second sheet 132 increases from the insertion end A to the direction away from the insertion end A; the end of the spring piece 134 with a smaller distance from the reference surface is the fixed end, and the end of the spring piece 134 with a larger distance from the reference surface is the free end; the spring piece 134 is formed by stamping the second sheet 132.

[0050] Figure 6 The diagram shows the structure of the male connector 200, which includes a second plug assembly 210, a second housing 220, a locking member 230, and an unlocking member 240. The second housing 220 is fixed to the outside of the second plug assembly 210, the locking member 230 is used to fix the second housing 220, and the unlocking member 240 is disposed inside the second housing 220 to enable quick unlocking.

[0051] Figure 7The diagram shows the structure of the second connector assembly 210, which includes a second contact 211, a first encapsulation body 212, and a cable 213. The cable 213 and the second contact 211 are fixed and then encapsulated and fixed by the first encapsulation body 212, which can be fixed using injection molding. The surface of the first encapsulation body 212 is provided with bosses 214, which are located on the top and bottom surfaces of the first encapsulation body 212. Here, the top and bottom surfaces of the first encapsulation body 212 refer to the two surfaces parallel to the PCB board 300 under the assembly.

[0052] Figure 8 The diagram shows the structure of the second housing 220. The first package 212 is fixed inside the second housing 220. The second housing 220 has a positioning hole 221, which cooperates with the boss 214 to position and install the second housing 220. The two sides of the second housing 220 have latches 222 that cooperate with the spring piece 134 to lock. During the insertion of the male connector 200 and the female connector 100, the latches 222 contact the spring piece 134 in the corresponding insertion gap 122 and cooperate with the spring piece 134 to lock the male connector 200 and the female connector 100.

[0053] Figure 9 What is shown is Figure 8 A partial enlarged view at point C shows that the inner side of the latch 222 has a stepped surface 223, which is positioned away from the insertion end of the male connector 200. Figure 1 When the male connector 200 and the female connector 100 are inserted, the latch 222 enters the gap 122 and first squeezes the spring 134, causing the spring 134 to deform inward until the step surface 223 slides past the spring 134. At this time, the spring 134 will immediately deform outward and rest against the step surface 223, thereby restricting the male connector 200 from being pulled out, thus achieving the locking of the male connector 200 and the female connector 100.

[0054] Figure 10 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the unlocking member 240, which has a base 241 that can slide along a first direction AB, and an unlocking part 242 disposed on the base 241 facing the insertion end. The unlocking part 242 faces inward and is a convex arc surface; combined with Figure 9 The inner side of the latch 222 has a groove 224 for accommodating the sliding of the unlocking member 240, so that the unlocking member 240 can slide along the first direction AB inside the latch 222.

[0055] Figure 11The diagram shows the external state of the unlocking member 240 assembled into the latch 222. With the male connector 200 and female connector 100 not inserted, the unlocking part 242 is accommodated between the end of the latch 222 and the stepped surface 223. The maximum protrusion of the arc surface of the unlocking part 242 does not exceed the depth of the stepped surface 223, meaning the unlocking part 242 is completely accommodated within the latch 222, facilitating its insertion into the gap 122 along with the unlocking member 240. Preferably, the maximum protrusion of the arc surface of the unlocking part 242 is equal to the depth of the stepped surface 223. The depth of the step surface 223 is such that, since the unlocking part 242 is an arc surface, when the unlocking part 240 is subjected to external force and slides away from the insertion end of the male connector 200 along the first direction AB, the arc surface of the unlocking part 242 will contact the spring piece 134 and gradually press the spring piece 134 inward through the arc surface until the unlocking part 242 completely slides over the step surface 223. At this time, the spring piece 134 is also completely pressurized and disengaged from the step surface 223, releasing the pressure between it and the step surface 223, and the male connector 200 can then be pulled out from the female connector 100.

[0056] Figure 12 The diagram shows the internal state of the unlocking component 240 assembled into the latch 222, in conjunction with... Figure 6 and Figure 10 The unlocking component 240 also includes a limiting protrusion 243, which extends outward perpendicularly to the base 241. A spring 250 is provided inside the latch 222. One end of the spring 250 presses against the limiting protrusion 243, and the other end of the spring 250 presses against the insertion end of the male connector 200 in the latch 222 to apply pre-pressure and elastic force during reset to the unlocking component 240.

[0057] The latch 222 has an open end facing away from the insertion point to facilitate the assembly of the unlocking member 240 into it. The locking member 230 is fixed to the open end of the latch 222 to seal the opening of the latch 222, so that the other end of the spring 250 can press against the locking member 230. The top and bottom surfaces of the latch 222 are provided with engagement protrusions 225. The locking member 230 is U-shaped and has a locking hole that engages with the engagement protrusions 225.

[0058] Combination Figure 10 and Figure 12 The limiting protrusion 243 is provided with a stop part 244 extending along the first direction AB and facing away from the insertion end. The distance between the end face of the stop part 244 and the locking member 230 is a preset distance, which is used to prevent the unlocking member 240 from sliding excessively beyond the step surface 223 during unlocking, which would cause the spring piece 134 to get stuck in the step surface 22 again and fail to unlock. At the same time, the stop part 244 can be used to fit inside the spring 250 to stabilize the spring 250.

[0059] Combination Figure 6The male connector 200 also includes handles 245 connecting the two unlocking members 240. The handles 245 span across both sides of the male connector 200 and are fixedly connected to the unlocking members 240 on both sides respectively. The function of the handles 245 is twofold: firstly, to form the two unlocking members 240 into a single unit for easy operation, as pulling the handles 245 simultaneously causes the unlocking members 240 on both sides to slide and unlock; secondly, to enable quick one-handed unlocking in confined spaces. Since unlocking is performed by sliding the unlocking members 240, and the stop part 244 limits the sliding limit position of the unlocking members 240, unlocking can be completed at this limit position. In addition, the force direction of the handles 245, the pulling direction of the male connector 200, and the sliding direction of the unlocking members 240 are all in the same direction. Therefore, when the handles 245 are pulled to the limit position with one hand, the unlocking members 240 will be in the unlocked state, and the male connector 200 can be pulled out from the female connector 100.

[0060] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it.

Claims

1. A locking structure, characterized in that, include: A spring sheet extends outward from a reference surface along a first direction, the distance between the spring sheet and the reference surface increases along the first direction, the end with a smaller distance between the spring sheet and the reference surface is a fixed end, and the end with a larger distance between the spring sheet and the reference surface is a free end; The latch is slidably engaged with the spring piece along a first direction. A stepped surface perpendicular to the first direction is provided on the contact surface between the latch and the spring piece. The stepped surface is disposed away from the first direction. A sliding groove extending along the first direction is also provided on the contact surface between the latch and the spring piece. The unlocking component is slidably disposed in the groove along a first direction, and one end of the unlocking component is provided with an unlocking part, which is a raised arc surface facing the spring piece. When the spring and the latch are not locked, the unlocking part is accommodated inside the latch; When the spring and the latch slide together in the first direction, the unlocking part and the latch simultaneously contact the spring from the fixed end to the free end and squeeze the spring to deform it toward the reference surface. After the spring and the latch slide along the first direction until the step surface of the latch slides past the free end of the spring, the spring deforms and resets away from the reference surface and presses the free end against the step surface, restricting the spring and the latch from sliding in the opposite direction of the first direction, and the spring and the latch are in a locked state. When the spring and the latch are in the locked state, the unlocking member slides in the opposite direction of the first direction, so that the unlocking part abuts against the free end of the spring and continues to slide and squeeze the spring as the unlocking member slides, causing the spring to deform towards the reference surface. When the free end of the spring leaves the step surface, the restriction that the spring and the latch slide in the opposite direction of the first direction is released.

2. The locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the unlocking part is accommodated between the end of the latch and the step surface, the maximum distance of the arc protrusion of the unlocking part matches the depth of the step surface.

3. The locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a spring, and the sidewall of the unlocking member has a limiting protrusion that is perpendicular to the reference surface of the spring and extends away from the reference surface. One end of the spring presses against the limiting protrusion, and the other end presses against a limiting surface in the opposite direction of the first direction.

4. The locking structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The limiting protrusion is provided with a stop portion extending in the opposite direction along the first direction. The distance between the end face of the stop portion and the limiting surface is a preset distance. When the stop portion moves a preset distance toward the limiting surface, the spring piece is squeezed and disengaged from the step surface by the unlocking portion.

5. The locking structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spring is fitted on the outside of the stop part.

6. A connector, characterized in that, It includes a female connector and a male connector, which are pluggably connected along a first direction and are locked and unlocked by a locking structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The female end connector includes: First shell; A first connector assembly is fixed inside the first housing; A cover, the cover surrounding the side and back of the first housing, the cover including a first sheet attached to the back of the first housing and a second sheet attached to the side of the first housing, the elastic tab being disposed on the second sheet and extending outward.

8. The connector according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first housing has pairs of protrusions on both sides, with a gap between the pairs of protrusions on each side.

9. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The male connector includes: The second housing has the latches located on both sides of it and engaging with the spring clips. The second connector assembly is fixed inside the second housing; An unlocking element, which is disposed within the latch.

10. The connector according to claim 9, characterized in that, The male connector also includes a handle, which spans across both sides of the male connector and is fixedly connected to the latch.

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