Terminal module and connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal module and a connector, the terminal module comprises a connecting terminal and an insulating block, the connecting terminal is provided with a connecting arm, the insulating block comprises a body and elastic arms arranged on two opposite sides of the body, the connecting arm is fixed on the body, the elastic arms comprise assembling parts connected to the body, and the assembling parts are fixed on the body. Elastic hooks are arranged on the sides, deviating from each other, of the two assembling parts, and the elastic hooks are used for being matched with clamping parts in the connector shell in a clamping mode. The terminal module is detachably matched with the connector shell and can be disassembled from the interior of the connector shell, so that cyclic utilization of parts is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of connectors, and in particular to a terminal module and a connector. Background Art

[0002] A connector generally refers to an electrical connector, which is a device that connects two active devices and transmits current or signals. Its function is to build a bridge of communication between blocked or isolated circuits inside the circuit, thereby allowing current to flow and the circuit to achieve its intended function.

[0003] The existing connector housing and the insulating block of the terminal module are integrally formed, and this matching method cannot be disassembled. The terminal module in the connector or the connector housing and other parts cannot be recycled and reused, which is not in line with the green and environmentally friendly design concept. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide a terminal module and a connector, wherein the terminal module is detachably matched with a connector housing and can be disassembled from the connector housing to achieve recycling of parts.

[0005] To this end, in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a terminal module, including:

[0006] a connecting terminal having a connecting arm; and

[0007] The insulating block includes a main body and elastic arms arranged on opposite sides of the main body, the connecting arm is fixed on the main body, the elastic arm includes an assembly part connected to the main body, and a spring hook is arranged on the side of the two assembly parts facing away from each other, and the spring hook is used to engage with the snap-fit ​​part in the connector housing.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the connecting arm has a first arm portion and a second arm portion connected at an angle, and two insulating blocks are provided, namely a first insulating block and a second insulating block, the first arm portion is provided on the first insulating block, and the second arm portion is provided on the second insulating block.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the connecting end of the assembly portion is connected to the body, a distance is provided between the free end of the assembly portion and the body, and the spring hook is provided at the free end of the assembly portion.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the body and the elastic arm are integrally formed.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the side of the spring hook away from the assembly part is a first mating surface, and the first mating surface is used to cooperate with the clamping part. The first mating surface includes a first guide surface, a transition surface and a first bending surface connected at an angle in sequence, and an end of the first bending surface away from the transition surface is connected at an angle to the outer surface of the assembly part, and a first assembly recess is formed.

[0012] In a possible implementation manner, a rounded surface is connected between the first guide surface and the transition surface.

[0013] In a possible implementation manner, the connecting arm is embedded and molded on the insulating block.

[0014] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a connector, which includes a shell and the terminal module described in the first aspect, wherein two snap-fitting parts are arranged in the shell, and the two snap-fitting parts are respectively snap-fitted with the two spring hooks of the terminal module.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the snap-fitting portion has a second mating surface, the second mating surface includes a second guide surface and a second bending surface connected at an angle, the second bending surface is connected at an angle to the inner surface of the shell, and forms a second assembly recess, and the second assembly recess is snap-fitted with the spring hook.

[0016] In a possible implementation, four terminal modules are provided, and the four terminal modules are arranged in a matrix.

[0017] According to the terminal module and connector provided in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal module elastically snaps the spring hook on the body to the shell of the connector, and the spring hooks on both sides of the body respectively match with the two snap-fit ​​parts on the shell, so that the body is snap-fitted and fixed to the shell; when disassembly is required, the snap-fit ​​between the spring hook and the snap-fit ​​part can be cancelled. In this way, a detachable connection between the terminal module in the connector and the shell of the connector is achieved, and the connector parts can be recycled and reused. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In addition, in the drawings, the same components are marked with the same reference numerals, and the drawings are not drawn according to the actual scale.

[0019] Figure 1A schematic diagram showing the structure of a terminal module provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 A three-dimensional diagram of a terminal module provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of an insulating block provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0022] Figure 4 Show Figure 3 The main view of

[0023] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a connector provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0024] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 The main view of

[0025] Figure 7 Show Figure 6 Sectional view in the AA direction;

[0026] Figure 8 Show Figure 7 A partial enlarged view of middle A;

[0027] Fig. 9 A schematic structural diagram of a housing in a connector provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0028] Fig.10 Show Fig. 9 A partial enlarged view of B.

[0029] Description of reference numerals:

[0030] 1. Connect the terminals;

[0031] 2. connecting arm; 21. first arm portion; 22. second arm portion;

[0032] 3. Insulating block; 4. Main body; 5. Elastic arm; 51. Assembly part;

[0033] 52, spring hook; 521, first guide surface; 522, transition surface; 523, first bending surface; 524, first assembly recess; 525, fillet surface;

[0034] 53. Spacing;

[0035] 6. Shell;

[0036] 7. Clamping portion; 71. Second guide surface; 72. Second bending surface; 73. Second assembly recess; 74. Buffer surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0038] like Figure 1-Figure 5 As shown, the embodiment of the present application provides a terminal module, including a connecting terminal 1 and an insulating block 3. The connecting terminal 1 has a connecting arm 2. The insulating block 3 includes a body 4 and elastic arms 5 arranged on opposite sides of the body 4, the connecting arm 2 is fixed to the body 4, the elastic arm 5 includes an assembly portion 51 connected to the body 4, and a spring hook 52 is arranged on the side of the two assembly portions 51 facing away from each other, and the spring hook 52 is used to engage with the clamping portion 7 in the connector housing 6.

[0039] By elastically snapping the spring hook 52 on the body 4 onto the housing 6 of the connector, the spring hooks 52 on both sides of the body 4 respectively cooperate with the two snap-fitting parts 7 on the housing 6, so that the body 4 is snap-fitted and fixed to the housing; when disassembly is required, the snap-fitting between the spring hook 52 and the snap-fitting part 7 can be cancelled. In this way, a detachable connection between the terminal module in the connector and the housing 6 of the connector is achieved, and the connector components can be recycled and reused.

[0040] Specifically, during the connection process, the two spring hooks 52 are squeezed in the direction of approaching each other after being subjected to force after cooperating with the clamping portion 7. After being squeezed, the spring hooks 52 have elastic restoring force under their own elastic force, so that the two spring hooks 52 have a tendency to move away from each other. Of course, the spring hooks 52 can also be subjected to other forces other than the clamping portion 7, such as by being squeezed by a tool. When the force on the spring hooks 52 is released, the two spring hooks 52 move in the direction of moving away from each other, and after or during the movement, they are clamped with the clamping portion 7 of the housing 6, thereby realizing a fixed connection between the terminal module and the housing 6 of the connector.

[0041] Of course, when the terminal module needs to be removed from the connector housing 6, it is only necessary to apply a force to the two spring hooks 52, and the direction of the force is to drive the two spring hooks 52 toward each other to complete the removal in the reverse order of the installation process.

[0042] The connecting arm 2 of the connecting terminal 1 is embedded in the insulating block 3. The embedded setting does not require the use of other insulating blocks 3 for cooperation, thereby ensuring the stability of the connection between the connecting terminal 1 and the insulating block 3.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the connecting arm 2 has a first arm portion 21 and a second arm portion 22 connected at an angle, and the insulating block 3 is provided with two, namely the first insulating block 3 and the second insulating block 3, the first arm portion 21 is provided on the first insulating block 3, and the second arm portion 22 is provided on the second insulating block 3. The first arm portion 21 of the connecting terminal 1 is fixedly connected by the spring hook 52 on the first insulating block 3 and the snap-fitting portion 7 at the position of the housing 6, and the spring hook 52 on the second insulating block 3 is snap-fitted with the snap-fitting portion 7 at the position of the housing 6 to fix the second arm portion 22 of the connecting terminal 1, so that the entire connecting terminal 1 is stably connected to the housing 6. In addition, through this connection method, the connecting terminal 1 is restricted in the directions of the X-axis and the Y-axis, which can effectively prevent the connecting terminal 1 from shaking in the housing 6, thereby affecting the connection effect.

[0044] The included angle between the first arm portion 21 and the second arm portion 22 may be a right angle.

[0045] Reference Figures 1 to 4 The connecting end of the assembly portion 51 is connected to the body 4 , a distance 53 is provided between the free end of the assembly portion 51 and the body 4 , and the spring hook 52 is provided at the free end of the assembly portion 51 .

[0046] Specifically, for the convenience of description, the present application takes the insulating block 3 as a rectangular plate-shaped structure as an example for description, and defines the length direction and width direction of the rectangular plate-shaped structure as the first direction and the second direction respectively. Of course, it can be known that when the insulating block 3 is a square structure, the distance of the insulating block 3 in the length direction and the width direction is the same, so at this time one of the length direction or the width direction is the first direction, and the other is the second direction. Now as an exemplary description, the connecting arm 2 of the connecting terminal 1 is extended along the second direction and arranged on the insulating block 3, and the two elastic arms 5 are arranged on both sides of the body 4 in the first direction for detailed description.

[0047] Among them, the two sides of the assembly part 51 in the second direction are respectively the connecting end of the assembly part 51 and the free end of the assembly part 51, and the spacing 53 is the gap between the main body 4 and the elastic arm 5 in the first direction. The elastic hook 52 will be subjected to force along the first direction during the installation process. Therefore, the setting of the spacing 53 can provide a moving space for the elastic arm 5 after the force is applied. In addition, the structural stress of the elastic arm 5 can also be alleviated, thereby avoiding the situation where the elastic arm 5 is damaged due to the small movable space after the elastic arm 5 is subjected to force.

[0048] Optionally, the two elastic arms 5 are arranged on both sides of the main body 4 in the first direction and close to the end of the main body 4 in the second direction. In this case, the gap can be a groove opened by the main body 4 along the second direction; thereby, a moving space can be provided for the elastic arm 5. At the same time, since the elastic arm 5 is opened at the end, the depth of the groove can be adapted to the length of the elastic arm 5 in the second direction. Compared with the elastic arm 5 set at other positions, the elastic arm 5 located at the end can ensure that the depth of the groove is minimized, and can also ensure the connection reliability between the elastic arm 5 and the main body 4.

[0049] The main body 4 and the elastic arm 5 are integrally formed, and the reliability of the connection between the elastic arm 5 and the main body 4 is guaranteed, thereby ensuring the stability of the elastic arm 5 connected to the shell 6, and effectively reducing the possibility of damage to the elastic arm 5 during assembly and disassembly.

[0050] Reference Figures 3 to 10 In some embodiments, the side of the spring hook 52 away from the assembly part 51 is a first mating surface, and the first mating surface is used to match with the clamping part 7. The first mating surface includes a first guide surface 521, a transition surface 522, and a first bending surface 523 connected at an angle in sequence. The end of the first bending surface 523 away from the transition surface 522 is connected at an angle to the outer surface of the assembly part 51, and a first assembly recess 524 is formed. The first guide surface 521 is set to play a guiding role when the spring hook 52 is matched with the clamping part 7, and the spring hook 52 is driven to move in the direction close to the body 4 under the action of the guiding force, so as to compress the spring hook 52 so that the spring hook 52 has an elastic reset force. Therefore, when the guiding force is released, the spring hook 52 moves in the direction away from the body 4 under the elastic action of the elastic reset force, so as to be clamped on the clamping part 7, that is, the first assembly recess 524 is clamped with the part of the clamping part 7 used for guiding and matching with the first guide surface 521.

[0051] Specifically, the side of the clamping portion 7 facing the spring hook 52 is the second assembly surface, and the second assembly surface includes a second bending surface 72 and a second guide surface 71 connected in sequence at an angle, the guiding direction of the second guide surface 71 is the same as the guiding direction of the first guide surface 521, the second bending surface 72 is bent in a direction away from the connecting terminal 1, and a second assembly recess 73 is formed between the second bending surface 72 and the inner wall surface of the housing 6; the sequential connection direction described above for the first mating surface is the same as the sequential connection direction described for the second mating surface. According to the accompanying drawings Figure 4 It can be seen that the sequential connection direction of the first mating surface is one of the directions in the second direction. For the sake of convenience, the above-mentioned sequential connection direction of the first mating surface is defined as the positive direction of the second direction. Conversely, the other direction of the second direction is the reverse direction of the second direction.

[0052] It can be known that the sequential connection direction of the above-mentioned first mating surface is parallel to and opposite to the assembly direction of the spring hook 52. Therefore, the assembly direction of the spring hook 52 is the opposite direction of the second direction. Specifically, first, the connection terminal 1 is moved to the inside of the housing 6 along the positive direction of the second direction, and then the continued movement of the connection terminal 1 allows the first guide surface 521 and the second guide surface 71 to fit together, and under the guidance of the guide surface, the spring hook 52 moves toward the side close to the body 4, until the spring hook 52 moves to the second bending surface 72, and the spring hook 52 moves toward the direction close to the inner wall surface of the housing 6 under the action of the elastic reset force, and until the first bending surface 523 of the spring hook 52 cooperates with the second bending surface 72 of the clamping part 7, completing the clamping of the spring hook 52 and the clamping part 7. At this time, the spring hook 52 is located in the second assembly recess 73 of the clamping part 7, and the clamping part 7 is located in the first assembly recess 524 of the spring hook 52. Furthermore, under the cooperation between the first bending surface 523 and the second bending surface 72 , the movement of the spring hook 52 relative to the housing 6 in the opposite direction along the second direction is restricted.

[0053] Preferably, the angle between the first bending surface 523 and the transition surface 522 is a right angle, and the angle between the second bending surface 72 and the second guide surface 71 is a right angle.

[0054] Of course, in order to avoid damage to the clamping portion 7 during the assembly process, a buffer surface 74 is connected between the second guide surface 71 and the second bending surface 72, and the buffer surface 74 and the second guide surface 71 and the second bending surface 72 are all connected at an angle, and the buffer surface 74 is arranged parallel to the transition surface 522 to cooperate with the transition surface 522.

[0055] Reference Figure 3 In addition, a rounded surface 525 is connected between the first guide surface 521 and the transition surface 522, and transition buffering is achieved by setting the rounded surface 525.

[0056] Reference Figure 3 and Fig.10 , wherein the first assembly recess 524 can be a recess with an angle enclosed by the first bending surface 523 and the straight edge of the outer wall of the body 4. Of course, the first assembly recess 524 can also be a recess with two angles enclosed by the first bending surface 523 and the bending edge of the outer wall of the body 4, in which case it is a groove-shaped structure. In addition, the second assembly recess 73 can be a recess with an angle enclosed by the second bending surface 72 and the straight edge of the inner wall of the shell 6. Of course, the second assembly recess 73 can also be a recess with two angles enclosed by the second bending surface 72 and the bending edge of the inner wall of the shell 6, in which case it is a groove-shaped structure.

[0057] The groove-shaped structure can limit the installation position of the terminal module in the second direction during the connection process, ensure that the terminal module can be moved to the assembly position, and limit the further movement of the terminal module. Of course, in this structure, in order to facilitate disassembly, only one of the two groove-shaped structures mentioned above can be provided.

[0058] Reference Figures 1 to 10 In summary, the terminal module provided in the embodiment of the present application has the spring hook 52 on the body 4 elastically snap-fitted to the housing 6 of the connector, and the spring hooks 52 on both sides of the body 4 respectively cooperate with the two snap-fitting parts 7 on the housing 6, so that the body 4 is snap-fitted and fixed to the housing; when disassembly is required, the snap-fitting between the spring hook 52 and the snap-fitting part 7 can be cancelled. In this way, a detachable connection between the terminal module in the connector and the housing 6 of the connector is achieved, and the recycling and reuse of the connector components is achieved.

[0059] Reference Figures 1 to 10 The embodiment of the present application further provides a connector, which includes a shell 6 and the aforementioned terminal module, wherein two snap-fitting portions 7 are provided in the shell 6, and the two snap-fitting portions 7 are respectively snap-fitted with the two spring hooks 52 of the terminal module.

[0060] The clamping portion 7 has a second mating surface, which includes a second guide surface 71 and a second bending surface 72 connected at an angle. The second bending surface 72 is connected to the inner surface of the shell 6 at an angle and forms a second assembly recess 73. The second assembly recess 73 is clamped and matched with the spring hook 52.

[0061] During installation, the terminal module moves in the positive direction of the second direction until the first guide surface 521 of the spring hook 52 is in contact with the second guide surface 71 of the clamping portion 7, and under the action of the guide force, the continued movement of the spring hook 52 causes the spring hook 52 to move synchronously toward the direction close to the body 4 to compress the spring hook 52. After the spring hook 52 moves to the second assembly recess 73, the spring hook 52 moves toward the direction away from the body 4 under the action of the elastic restoring force, thereby being clamped in the second assembly recess 73.

[0062] In some embodiments, the terminal module is provided in plurality, and different connectors of the terminal modules with different numbers and arrangements are all within the protection scope of the present application.

[0063] Among them, four terminal modules can be provided, and the four terminal modules are arranged in a matrix. In this case, the connector is a network connector, which is arranged in a matrix manner, is easy to install, reduces cable costs, and improves design flexibility.

[0064] It should be noted that the phrases "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an exemplary embodiment", "some embodiments", etc. mentioned in the specification indicate that the described embodiments may include certain features, structures or characteristics, but not every embodiment may include the certain features, structures or characteristics. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, when describing certain features, structures or characteristics in conjunction with an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to implement such features, structures or characteristics in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly or not explicitly described.

[0065] It should be easily understood that “on,” “above,” and “over” in the present disclosure should be interpreted in the broadest manner, so that “on” not only means “directly on something,” but also includes the meaning of “on something” with intervening features or layers therebetween, and “above” or “over” not only includes the meaning of “above” or “over,” but also may include the meaning of “above” or “over something” with no intervening features or layers therebetween (i.e., directly on something).

[0066] In addition, spatially relative terms, such as "below," "below," "beneath," "above," "above," etc., may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature relative to other elements or features as shown in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the figures. The device may have other orientations (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

[0067] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "comprise a ..." do not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the elements.

[0068] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit it. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A terminal module, characterized in that: include: A connecting terminal (1), wherein the connecting terminal (1) has a connecting arm (2); as well as The insulating block (3) comprises a body (4) and elastic arms (5) arranged on opposite sides of the body (4); the connecting arm (2) is fixed to the body (4); the elastic arm (5) comprises an assembly portion (51) connected to the body (4); and elastic hooks (52) are arranged on the sides of the two assembly portions (51) facing away from each other. The elastic hooks (52) are used to engage with the engaging portion (7) in the connector housing (6).

2. The terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting arm (2) comprises a first arm portion (21) and a second arm portion (22) connected at an angle, two insulating blocks (3) are provided, namely a first insulating block (3) and a second insulating block (3), the first arm portion (21) is provided on the first insulating block (3), and the second arm portion (22) is provided on the second insulating block (3).

3. The terminal module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting end of the assembly part (51) is connected to the body (4), a distance (53) is provided between the free end of the assembly part (51) and the body (4), and the spring hook (52) is provided at the free end of the assembly part (51).

4. The terminal module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The main body (4) and the elastic arm (5) are integrally formed.

5. The terminal module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The side of the spring hook (52) away from the assembly portion (51) is a first mating surface, and the first mating surface is used to cooperate with the clamping portion (7). The first mating surface includes a first guide surface (521), a transition surface (522), and a first bending surface (523) which are connected in sequence at an angle. The end of the first bending surface (523) away from the transition surface (522) is connected to the outer surface of the assembly portion (51) at an angle, and forms a first assembly recess (524).

6. The terminal module according to claim 5, characterized in that: A rounded surface (525) is connected between the first guide surface (521) and the transition surface (522).

7. The terminal module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The connecting arm (2) is embedded and formed on the insulating block (3).

8. A connector, characterized in that: It comprises a shell (6) and a terminal module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein two snap-fitting parts (7) are arranged in the shell (6), and the two snap-fitting parts (7) are snap-fitted with the two spring hooks (52) of the terminal module respectively.

9. The connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The clamping portion (7) has a second mating surface, the second mating surface includes a second guide surface (71) and a second bent surface (72) connected at an angle, the second bent surface (72) is connected at an angle to the inner surface of the shell (6) and forms a second assembly recess (73), and the second assembly recess (73) is clamped and matched with the spring hook (52).

10. The connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: There are four terminal modules, and the four terminal modules are arranged in a matrix.

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