Connector assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly comprises a guide frame and a holding foot. The guide frame is formed in a metal die-casting mode and comprises a frame and a footstand integrally arranged on the frame. The holding foot is formed by a metal plate, and the holding foot integrally comprises an assembling part and a grabbing plate foot part extending out of the assembling part; the assembling part of the holding foot is assembled on the foot seat of the guide frame along an assembling direction. A guide rail structure and a buckling structure are arranged between the assembling part of the fixing foot and the foot seat of the guide frame, and the assembling part is assembled on the foot seat through the guide rail structure and is buckled and fixed on the foot seat through the buckling structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector assembly, in particular to a connector assembly with a guide frame formed by metal die casting. Background Art

[0002] Existing interconnect system connectors, such as those used for servers, can refer to the CXP series, SFP series or the like. The common feature of the connectors in the above series is that they are all connectors with metal frames. The aforementioned metal frame can be a full metal sheet structure, a full metal die-cast structure, or a combination of a metal sheet and a metal die-cast structure, depending on the application and requirements. The metal frame made of metal sheet is generally fixed to the circuit board by plugging the pins integrally constructed on the metal sheet into the holes of the circuit board. The shielding cover manufactured by metal die-casting can be integrally constructed with screw holes to be fixed to the circuit board by screw locking.

[0003] China utility model patent announcement number CN2519539Y (corresponding to the US invention patent announcement number US6454580) discloses a guide frame including a frame and a metal cover, wherein the receiving space configured to receive the photoelectric conversion module is defined by a metal die-casting frame as a whole, and the metal cover only partially covers the opening of the frame. This frame is usually manufactured by metal die-casting, and screw holes are integrally constructed on the frame by die-casting, so that the frame can be fixed on the circuit board by screw locking. Before screwing, a pair of positioning columns are provided at the bottom of the frame, and the positioning columns pre-fix the frame on the printed circuit board. However, in another process of screwing on the printed circuit board, the screws are required to lock the frame from the bottom surface of the circuit board. Therefore, in the screw locking operation, it is usually necessary to flip the circuit board upside down by 180 degrees, so that the bottom surface of the circuit board is facing upward for screw locking operation. The positioning columns of the frame can only provide a simple positioning function and obviously do not have an effective fixing function. Therefore, after the circuit board is flipped upside down, the flipped frame cannot be effectively fixed, which will cause the frame to loosen or fall off, and the screw locking operation cannot be carried out smoothly. Summary of the invention

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly that can improve at least one problem in the prior art.

[0005] Therefore, in some embodiments of the connector assembly of the present invention, it includes a guide frame and a retaining foot. The guide frame is formed by metal die-casting and includes a frame and a foot that is integrally provided on the frame. The retaining foot is formed by a metal plate, and the retaining foot integrally includes an assembly portion and a gripping plate foot extending from the assembly portion; the assembly portion of the retaining foot is assembled to the foot of the guide frame along an assembly direction. A guide rail structure and a buckle structure are included between the assembly portion of the retaining foot and the foot of the guide frame, and the assembly portion is assembled to the foot via the guide rail structure, and is buckled and fixed to the foot via the buckle structure.

[0006] In some embodiments, the guide rail structure includes a convex rail and a concave rail that cooperate with each other, the convex rail is arranged on the assembly part of the retaining foot, and the concave rail is arranged on the foot seat; the buckle structure includes an elastic buckle piece and a buckle piece receiving part that cooperate with each other, the elastic buckle piece is arranged on the assembly part of the retaining foot, and the buckle piece receiving part is arranged on the foot seat.

[0007] In some embodiments, the foot of the guide frame is constructed as a mounting protrusion protruding from the outer side surface of the frame, and the assembling portion of the retaining foot is assembled to the foot along a downward assembly direction; the concave rails are arranged on both sides of the foot and extend along the up-down direction; the assembling portion of the retaining foot includes an outer plate, and two side plates located on both sides of the outer plate; the two convex rails are arranged on the inner edges of the two side plates, and the two convex rails extend along the up-down direction and extend toward each other facing each other; the grab plate foot extends downward from the lower end of the outer plate; the elastic clip is arranged on the outer plate of the assembling portion, and the clip receiving portion is arranged on the outer side surface of the foot.

[0008] In some embodiments, the outer side plate of the assembling portion has an opening, the elastic clip is configured as a cantilever spring extending upward and inward from a lower edge of the opening, and the clip receiving portion is configured as a groove.

[0009] In some embodiments, the assembly portion further includes a limiting baffle located at an upper edge of the outer plate, and the limiting baffle is limited in a downward direction by an upper end of the foot seat.

[0010] In some embodiments, the limit baffle is an elastic spring structure.

[0011] In some embodiments, the connector assembly is suitable for being arranged on a substrate, wherein the substrate is provided with a socket for the gripper foot to be inserted, and the gripper foot is configured as a pinhole-shaped crimping foot inserted into the socket of the substrate.

[0012] In some embodiments, the connector assembly is suitable for being set on a substrate, and the substrate is provided with a through hole for matching with the locking piece; the guide frame also includes a locking block that is integrally constructed and protrudingly formed on the frame, and the locking block has a locking hole suitable for matching with the locking piece; the guide frame is suitable for being set on the upper surface of the substrate, and the locking piece passes through the through hole of the substrate from the lower surface of the substrate and is locked in the locking hole.

[0013] In some embodiments, the connector assembly is adapted to be disposed on a substrate, the substrate being provided with a positioning hole, and the guide frame further comprises a positioning column which is integrally constructed and adapted to be inserted into the positioning hole of the substrate.

[0014] In some embodiments, the foot base of the guide frame has bottom limiting surfaces located on both sides of the bottom and facing upward, and the bottom limiting surfaces cooperate to limit the lower edge of the side plate of the retaining foot.

[0015] In some embodiments, the foot of the guide frame has positioning protrusions located on both sides of the bottom, and the side panels of the assembly portion of the retaining foot are provided with positioning notches located at the bottom edge and used to cooperate with and accommodate the positioning protrusions.

[0016] The present invention adds the foot seat for assembling the retaining foot to the frame of the guide frame formed by metal die casting, and the guide frame can be temporarily fixed to the substrate through the substrate fixing function of the retaining foot. As a result, the substrate that is not fully assembled together with the connector assembly can be turned over, so that the operator can conveniently lock the guide frame to the substrate through the locking member (such as a screw). In addition, by adding the retaining foot to the guide frame formed by metal die casting, the guide frame can be more firmly fixed to the substrate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a first embodiment of a connector assembly of the present invention, a substrate, and a pluggable module;

[0019] Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment and the substrate;

[0020] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment viewed from the bottom;

[0021] Figure 4 is a partial three-dimensional view of a foot base and a fixing foot of the first embodiment;

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A partial exploded perspective view of the first embodiment in FIG. 1 , in which the retaining foot of the first embodiment is flipped at an angle;

[0023] Figure 6 It is a partial three-dimensional exploded view of a foot base and a retaining foot of a second embodiment of a connector assembly of the present invention.

[0024] The reference numerals are as follows:

[0025] 100 Connector Assembly

[0026] 1 Guide frame

[0027] 11 Framework

[0028] 111 Top frame

[0029] 112 bottom frame part

[0030] 113 Side frame

[0031] 113a Buckle bump

[0032] 114 rear frame

[0033] 115 Interior Space

[0034] 116 Socket

[0035] 117 Window

[0036] 118 Bottom opening

[0037] 12 feet

[0038] 121 bottom limit surface

[0039] 122 Positioning bump

[0040] 13 Locking block

[0041] 131 Locking hole

[0042] 14 Positioning column

[0043] 15 Support block

[0044] 2 socket connector

[0045] 21 base

[0046] 211 Slots

[0047] 3 Holding feet

[0048] 31 Assembly Department

[0049] 311 Outer plate

[0050] 311a Opening

[0051] 312 Side Panel

[0052] 313 Side Panel

[0053] 314 limit baffle

[0054] 315 Positioning gap

[0055] 32 Grab board foot

[0056] 33 Supporting feet

[0057] 4 Rail structure

[0058] 41 raised rail

[0059] 42 Concave track

[0060] 5. Buckle structure

[0061] 51 Elastic buckle

[0062] 52 Clasp receiving part

[0063] 200 substrates

[0064] 201 Positioning hole

[0065] 202 jack

[0066] 203 Piercing

[0067] 300 pluggable modules

[0068] 301 Housing

[0069] 301a Connector

[0070] 302 Plug-in circuit board

[0071] 303 Cable

[0072] 400 Locking Hardware

[0073] D1 Front-to-back direction

[0074] D2 Left and right direction

[0075] D3 up and down direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description.

[0077] See also Figures 1 to 4A first embodiment of the connector assembly 100 of the present invention is suitable for being arranged on a substrate 200 and being suitable for being plugged into a pluggable module 300. The substrate 200 can be, for example but not limited to, a printed circuit board, and the substrate 200 has a plurality of positioning holes 201, a plurality of plug holes 202, and a plurality of through holes 203. The pluggable module 300 includes a housing 301 having a plug-in portion 301a, a plurality of plug-in circuit boards 302 arranged on the housing 301 and extending to the plug-in portion 301a, and a cable 303 arranged on the housing 301 and electrically connected to the plurality of plug-in circuit boards 302. The connector assembly 100 includes a guide frame 1, a socket connector 2, and two retaining legs 3.

[0078] The guide frame 1 is generally made of all-metal material and formed by metal die-casting. The guide frame 1 has both the function of guiding and the function of shielding electromagnetic interference (EMI). The guide frame 1 includes a frame 11 extending along a front-to-back direction (arrows point forward, reverse direction points rearward), the frame 11 having a top frame portion 111 and a bottom frame portion 112 opposite to each other along a top-to-bottom direction D3 (arrows point upward, reverse direction points downward), two side frame portions 113 opposite to each other along a left-to-right direction D2 (arrows point right, reverse direction points left) and connected between the top frame portion 111 and the bottom frame portion 112, a rear frame portion 114 located at the rear along the front-to-back direction D1 and connecting the rear edges of the two side frame portions 113, an internal space 115 defined by the top frame portion 111, the bottom frame portion 112, the two side frame portions 113 and the rear frame portion 114, and a socket 116 located at the front and defined by the top frame portion 111, the bottom frame portion 112 and the two side frame portions 113. The guide frame 1 further includes two foot seats 12 integrally constructed on the two side frame parts 113 of the frame 11, a plurality of locking blocks 13 integrally constructed and protrudingly formed on the two side frame parts 113 of the frame 11, and a plurality of positioning posts 14 integrally constructed and extending downward from the bottom of the frame 11 and adapted to be inserted into the plurality of positioning holes 201 of the substrate 200. Each of the locking blocks 13 has a locking hole 131. The locking holes 131 of the plurality of locking blocks 13 are adapted to be fixed to the substrate 200 in cooperation with a plurality of locking members 400. The guide frame 1 is adapted to be disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 200. The plurality of locking members 400 respectively pass through the plurality of through holes 203 of the substrate 200 from the lower surface of the substrate 200 and are respectively locked in the plurality of locking holes 131. The locking members 400 are, for example, screws, and the locking holes 131 are, for example, internal threaded holes. In the first embodiment, each of the feet 12 of the guide frame 1 is constructed as a mounting protrusion protruding from the outer side surface of the frame 11 .

[0079] The socket connector 2 is suitable for being arranged on the upper surface of the substrate 200. The socket connector 2 includes a base body 21 having a plurality of slots 211, and a plurality of terminals (not shown) arranged on the base body 21 and extending to the slots 211. The frame 11 is covered on the socket connector 2 to accommodate the socket connector 2 in the internal space 115. The socket 116 of the frame 11 is used for the insertion portion 301a of the pluggable module 300 to enter. When the insertion portion 301a of the pluggable module 300 enters the internal space 115, the plurality of plug-in circuit boards 302 of the pluggable module 300 can be inserted into the plurality of slots 211 of the socket connector 2 to contact with the plurality of terminals of the socket connector 2, thereby completing the docking between the pluggable module 300 and the socket connector 2.

[0080] In the first embodiment, the frame 11 of the guide frame 1 also has a window 117 at the top, and a bottom opening 118 at the bottom for the socket connector 2 to pass through. One option is that the guide frame 1 may also include a metal cover (not shown) for covering the window 117 at the top of the frame 11. Another option is that a heat sink (not shown) may be provided on the guide frame 1, and the heat sink enters the internal space 115 downward through the window 117, and contacts with the socket connector 2 or / and the pluggable module 300 to cooperate in heat dissipation. The multiple buckle protrusions 113a on the side frame portion 113 of the frame 11 can be used to buckle a buckle (not shown) for fixing the metal cover or the heat sink.

[0081] See also Figures 2 to 5 The two fixing legs 3 are formed of a metal plate, for example, a metal sheet is formed by stamping and bending. The two fixing legs 3 are respectively mounted on the two foot seats 12 of the guide frame 1. Each of the fixing legs 3 is integrally constructed to include an assembly portion 31 for assembly to the corresponding foot seat 12 of the guide frame 1, and a gripping plate leg 32 extending downward from the assembly portion 31 along the up-down direction D3 and suitable for being assembled in the corresponding insertion hole 202 of the substrate 200 to grip and fix the substrate 200. The gripping plate leg 32 is configured as an eye of needle (EON) press fit leg, which can be inserted into the insertion hole 202 of the substrate 200, and is squeezed and clamped in the insertion hole 202 of the substrate 200. The positioning column 14 can cooperate with the gripping foot portion 32 of the retaining foot 3 to provide a positioning function on the base plate 200 , which is beneficial for the gripping foot portion 32 of the retaining foot 3 to be aligned and inserted into the insertion hole 202 of the base plate 200 .

[0082] The assembly portion 31 of each of the retaining legs 3 and the foot base 12 of the guide frame 1 include a guide rail structure 4 and a buckle structure 5. The assembly portion 31 is assembled to the foot base 12 through the guide rail structure 4, and is buckled and fixed to the foot base 12 through the buckle structure 5. The assembly portion 31 of the retaining legs 3 is assembled to the foot base 12 of the guide frame 1 along an assembly direction. In the first embodiment, the assembly direction is a downward direction. Specifically, the assembly portion 31 of the retaining legs 3 is assembled to the foot base 12 by moving downward along the up-down direction D3 from above the foot base 12. However, in other embodiments, the assembly direction may be other directions, and is not limited to the first embodiment.

[0083] The assembly portion 31 of each retaining leg 3 includes an outer plate 311, a side plate 312 and a side plate 313 located at the front and rear sides of the outer plate 311, and a limit baffle 314 located at the upper edge of the outer plate 311. The outer plate 311 has an opening 311a. The gripping plate foot portion 32 extends downward from the lower end of the outer plate 311. The guide rail structure 4 includes a convex rail 41 and a concave rail 42 that cooperate with each other. The convex rail 41 is arranged on the assembly portion 31 of the retaining leg 3, specifically, the convex rail 41 is arranged on the inner edges of the side plates 312 and the side plates 313, and extends along the up-down direction D3 and extends toward each other facing each other. The concave rail 42 is arranged on the front and rear sides of the foot seat 12 configured as the mounting protrusion of the foot seat 12, and extends along the up-down direction D3. The limiting baffle 314 is limited in the downward direction by the upper end of the foot 12, and the limiting baffle 314 can be constructed as a curved sheet with an elastic spring structure. Each foot 12 of the guide frame 1 has two bottom limiting surfaces 121 located at the front and rear sides of the bottom and facing upward, and the two bottom limiting surfaces 121 cooperate to limit the lower edges of the side plates 312 and the side plates 313 of the corresponding retaining legs 3.

[0084] The buckle structure 5 includes an elastic buckle 51 and a buckle receiving portion 52 that cooperate with each other. The elastic buckle 51 is arranged on the assembly portion 31 of the fixing foot 3. The elastic buckle 51 is arranged on the outer plate 311 of the assembly portion 31 and is configured as a cantilever spring extending upward and inward from the lower edge of the opening 311a of the outer plate 311. The buckle receiving portion 52 is arranged on the outer side surface of the foot seat 12 and is configured as a groove for accommodating the elastic buckle 51.

[0085] During the assembly process, the retaining foot 3 can stably slide downward relative to the foot seat 12 through the guidance between the convex rail 41 and the concave rail 42 of the guide rail structure 4, so that the elastic clip 51 of the buckle structure 5 can fall into the clip receiving portion 52. In this process, since the limit baffle 314 is elastic, when the limit baffle 314 abuts against the upper end of the foot seat 12, the retaining foot 3 can still move downward for a controllable distance, so that the elastic clip 51 can completely fall into the clip receiving portion 52, and the elastic clip 51 can be tightly pressed upward against the upper inner edge of the clip receiving portion 52, so that the strength and stability of the retaining foot 3 after assembly can be increased, and the matching tolerance between the elastic clip 51 and the clip receiving portion 52 can also be absorbed. Furthermore, the limiting baffle 314 of the retaining foot 3 and the bottom limiting surface 121 of the foot seat 12 can stably limit the lowest position of the retaining foot 3 relative to the foot seat 12 .

[0086] In addition, it is worth mentioning that in the first embodiment, each of the fixing legs 3 further includes two supporting legs 33 located on both sides of the gripping plate leg 32. The two supporting legs 33 can be located at a position lower than the bottom surface of the frame 11. By supporting the two supporting legs 33 on the upper surface of the substrate 200, the root of the fixing legs 3 can be raised above the substrate 200, and the insertion depth of the gripping plate leg 32 can also be limited. In addition, the bottom surface of the frame 11 of the guide frame 1 is integrally provided with a plurality of supporting blocks 15, and the plurality of supporting blocks 15 are used to support the frame 11 and raise it above the substrate 200, and the plurality of supporting blocks 15 can also be pressed on the grounding circuit (not shown) of the substrate 200 to produce a grounding effect. In addition, the gripping plate leg 32 of the fixing legs 3 can also be connected to the grounding circuit of the substrate 200 to produce a grounding effect. It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the base 12 for assembling the retaining leg 3 may also be disposed on the rear frame portion 114 at the rear end of the guide frame 1 , and should not be limited to the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

[0087] See also Figure 6 The second embodiment of the connector assembly 100 of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that each of the foot seats 12 of the guide frame 1 has two positioning protrusions 122 located at the front and rear sides of the bottom and facing upward. The side plate 312 and the side plate 313 of the assembly portion 31 of each of the retaining legs 3 are each provided with a positioning notch 315 located at the bottom edge and used to accommodate the corresponding positioning protrusion 122. The positioning protrusion 122 and the positioning notch 315 can play a role in alignment and strengthening the assembly strength, and limit the lowest position of the retaining leg 3 relative to the guide frame 1.

[0088] In summary, the present invention adds the foot seat 12 for assembling the retaining foot 3 to the frame 11 of the guide frame 1 formed by metal die casting, and the guide frame 1 can be temporarily fixed to the substrate 200 through the substrate 200 fixing function of the retaining foot 3. In this way, the substrate 200 that is not fully assembled together with the connector assembly 100 can be turned over, so that the operator can conveniently lock the guide frame 1 to the substrate 200 through the locking member 400 (such as a screw). In addition, by adding the retaining foot 3 to the guide frame 1 formed by metal die casting, the guide frame 1 can be more firmly fixed to the substrate 200.

[0089] However, the above is only an embodiment of the present invention, and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. All simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the description of the present invention are still within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising: A guide frame is formed by metal die-casting and comprises a frame and a footrest integrally arranged on the frame; The holding foot is formed of a metal plate and integrally comprises an assembling portion and a gripping plate foot portion extending from the assembling portion; the assembling portion of the holding foot is assembled to the foot seat of the guide frame along an assembly direction; A guide rail structure and a buckle structure are included between the assembly part of the retaining foot and the foot seat of the guide frame. The assembly part is assembled on the foot seat through the guide rail structure, and is buckled and fixed on the foot seat through the buckle structure.

2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The guide rail structure includes a convex rail and a concave rail that cooperate with each other, the convex rail is arranged on the assembly part of the retaining foot, and the concave rail is arranged on the foot seat; the buckle structure includes an elastic buckle piece and a buckle piece receiving part that cooperate with each other, the elastic buckle piece is arranged on the assembly part of the retaining foot, and the buckle piece receiving part is arranged on the foot seat.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein: The foot of the guide frame is constructed as a mounting protrusion protruding from the outer side surface of the frame, and the assembling portion of the retaining foot is assembled to the foot along a downward assembly direction; the concave rails are arranged on both sides of the foot and extend along the up-down direction; the assembling portion of the retaining foot includes an outer plate, and two side plates located on both sides of the outer plate; the two convex rails are arranged on the inner edges of the two side plates, and the two convex rails extend along the up-down direction and extend toward each other facing each other; the grab plate foot extends downward from the lower end of the outer plate; the elastic clip is arranged on the outer plate of the assembling portion, and the clip receiving portion is arranged on the outer side surface of the foot.

4. The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The outer side plate of the assembling part has an opening, the elastic clip is configured as a cantilever spring extending upward and inward from the lower edge of the opening, and the clip receiving portion is configured as a groove.

5. The connector assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The assembling portion further comprises a limiting baffle plate located at the upper edge of the outer plate, and the limiting baffle plate is limited in a downward direction by the upper end of the foot seat.

6. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein: The limit baffle is a spring sheet structure with elasticity.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: The connector assembly is suitable for being arranged on a substrate, wherein a plug hole for inserting the gripping plate foot is provided on the substrate, and the gripping plate foot is configured as a pinhole-shaped crimping foot inserted into the plug hole of the substrate.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: The connector assembly is suitable for being arranged on a substrate, and the substrate is provided with a through hole for matching with the locking piece; the guide frame also includes a locking block which is integrally constructed and protrudes from the frame, and the locking block has a locking hole suitable for matching with the locking piece; the guide frame is suitable for being arranged on the upper surface of the substrate, and the locking piece passes through the through hole of the substrate from the lower surface of the substrate and is locked in the locking hole.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: The connector assembly is suitable for being arranged on a substrate, the substrate is provided with a positioning hole, and the guide frame further comprises a positioning column of an integral structure and suitable for being inserted into the positioning hole of the substrate.

10. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein: The foot seat of the guide frame has bottom limiting surfaces located on both sides of the bottom and facing upwards, and the bottom limiting surfaces cooperate to limit the lower edge of the side plate of the retaining foot.

11. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein: The foot seat of the guide frame has positioning protrusions located on both sides of the bottom, and the side plate of the assembly part of the retaining foot is provided with a positioning notch located at the bottom edge and used for cooperating and accommodating the positioning protrusions.

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