Connector

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector which enables two basic units of a battery pack to be electrically connected. More specifically, the connector according to the present invention is configured to electrically connect terminals of two adjacent basic units.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of batteries, and more particularly to a connector intended for electrically connecting the basic units of a battery pack. In particular, the present invention relates to a connector provided with a locking member which also acts as an indicator of a "good" connection. Background Art

[0002] A battery-to-battery connector known from the prior art is disclosed in document EP3358647.

[0003] In particular, and as shown in Figure 12 of document EP3358647, the device comprises a U-shaped connection clamp defining a U-shaped channel into which the connection projections of the batteries can be inserted and held by the spring action of the connection clamp.

[0004] The connector further comprises a movable element capable of taking one or the other of a disengaged position and an engaged position, and the movable element is provided with at least one wedge engaged in the U-shaped channel.

[0005] The wedge is specifically arranged such that the connection clamp has a spacing depending on the position of the movable element. In this regard, the disengaged position and the engaged position are positions of the movable element for which the wedge applies a first spacing and a second spacing less than the first spacing, respectively, to the wings of the connection clamp.

[0006] Thus, when connecting the connector to the connection projections of the batteries, the movable element is first in the disengaged position of the movable element in order to provide a sufficient spacing (first spacing) of the wings of the connection clamp and thus allow the connection projections to be inserted into the U-shaped channel. Then, this insertion is followed by a movement of the movable element from the disengaged position of the movable element to the engaged position of the movable element, such that the wings of the connection clamp are tightened against the projections and hold the latter by spring action.

[0007] Although such a device is easy to use, it is not satisfactory.

[0008] In fact, the connection clamp proposed in document EP3358647 is still bulky and, in some respects, difficult to use when limited working space is available.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector of reduced size. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This object is achieved by a connector for electrically connecting the terminals of the basic units of a battery pack, the terminals protruding with respect to the region of the basic unit called the connection region, the connector comprising:

[0011] - A male mold housing, the male mold housing is provided with a main body, the main body forms an outer shell, namely the so-called male mold outer shell, the outer shell is accessible to an opening, namely the so-called male mold opening, and the male mold opening is formed on the lower surface of the main body;

[0012] - A female mold housing, the female mold housing is intended to be attached to the connection area through one of the surfaces of the female mold housing, namely the so-called contact surface, and to form an outer shell, namely the so-called female mold outer shell, wherein the terminal is accommodated in the female mold housing, the female mold housing includes an insertion opening located on one of the surfaces of the female mold housing, namely the so-called insertion surface, the female mold outer shell is generally conformable to the main body, so as to allow the main body to be inserted into the female mold outer shell through the lower surface of the main body, and to allow the male mold housing to be snap-fitted in place, namely the so-called snap-fitting position, to be held;

[0013] - A connection member, the connection member is arranged in the male mold outer shell, and the connection member is intended to make contact with the terminal when the main body is in the snap-fitting position of the main body;

[0014] - A locking member, the locking member is slidably connected or pivotally connected to the female mold housing, and the locking member can take one or the other of a locking position and an unlocking position according to a sliding movement or a rotational movement, the unlocking position is the position where the locking member allows the main body to be inserted into the female mold outer shell to take the snap-fitting position of the main body, and the locking position is the position where the locking member locks the main body in the snap-fitting position of the main body.

[0015] According to one embodiment, wherein the male mold housing forms a cuboid, and the female mold housing includes four side walls, and the insertion surface is opposite to the contact surface.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the main body includes four side surfaces, and the male mold housing further includes a sub-body in the form of a cuboid, the sub-body extends beyond the main body through the surface opposite to the lower surface, the sub-body has the form of a cuboid, one surface of the sub-body, namely the so-called sub-section, extends the main section of one of the side surfaces, namely the so-called main section, in a coplanar manner, the main section and the sub-section together form a snap-fitting surface carrying snap-fitting means, and are intended to engage with complementary snap-fitting means carried by the female mold housing.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the complementary snap-fitting means is carried by the side wall of the female mold housing facing the snap-fitting surface, namely the so-called snap-fitting wall.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the snap-fit wall includes, along a direction perpendicular to the contact surface, i.e., the so-called sliding direction and starting from the contact surface, a first member, an intermediate member, and a second member carrying the complementary snap-fit device. The side edges of the intermediate member and the side edges of the second member are free so as to allow the second member to bend about an axis perpendicular to the sliding direction and included in the intermediate member during the snap-fit operation of the male mold housing and the female mold housing.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the locking member is formed by a one-piece member that is slidably connected according to a guiding pattern held by at least one track. Each track from the at least one track extends along the sliding direction from the contact surface. The track is discontinuous at the intermediate member and includes a first portion and a second portion carried by the first member and the second member respectively. When the locking member is in the locking position of the locking member, the locking member engages in one and the other of the first portion and the second portion of the at least one track so as to mechanically fix the first member and the second member, and when the locking member is in the unlocking position of the locking member, the locking member engages only in the second portion of the at least one track.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the locking member is configured to be snap-fitted against a second section when in the unlocking position of the locking member, and the locking member is configured to be snap-fitted against a first section and snap-fitted against the first section when in the locking position of the locking mechanism.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the locking member in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped includes a base that supports, on one of the faces of the locking member, i.e., the so-called guiding face, at least one reverse track that engages with the at least one track. The base is further extended by two side walls and a thrust wall through a face of the locking member opposite to the guiding face.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the body includes two studs, each of the two studs is arranged on different sides adjacent to the main section, i.e., the so-called guiding faces. The two studs are configured to be guided towards an insertion position by guiding means and the so-called guiding wall formed on two side walls adjacent to the snap-fit wall. The insertion position is the position where the male mold housing is in the snap-fit position. The two studs are further configured to engage with the locking member such that when the locking member is in the locking position of the locking member, the locking member locks the studs in the insertion position of the studs.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the device for guiding the guiding wall includes a guiding notch that extends from a guiding inlet located at the insertion surface towards the contact surface to terminate at an end, a so-called adjacent end, at a distance from the contact surface. The guiding notch is configured such that when the body is inserted into the female mold housing, each stud engages in the guiding notch and is to be guided along the guiding notch until the insertion position of the stud.

[0024] According to one embodiment, once each stud engages in the guiding notch, it includes an end portion that protrudes relative to the guiding wall carrying the guiding notch in question, and this end portion is intended to engage with the locking member.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the locking member in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped includes four walls arranged around the side wall of the female mold housing. The locking member is arranged to slide between one of a locking position and an unlocking position along a direction perpendicular to the guiding notch and is included in a plane defined by one or the other of the guiding walls. Two walls of the locking member, so-called locking walls, and each wall faces the guiding wall and are each configured to engage with the end portion of the stud such that when the locking member is in the unlocking position of the locking member, each stud can be freely guided in the guiding notch, and such that when the locking member is in the locking position of the locking member, each stud is locked in the insertion position of the stud.

[0026] According to one embodiment, each locking wall includes a guiding groove on its inner surface that extends from a first end towards a second end and is parallel to the guiding notch. Each locking wall further includes a rectangular hole that is perpendicular to the guiding groove and extends from the second end of the guiding groove towards a third end. The guiding groove is arranged such that when the locking member is in the unlocking position of the locking member, the guiding groove faces one of the guiding notches and enables the end portion of the stud to be guided from the first end to the second end, and the guiding groove is configured to cause the screw to assume the insertion position of the screw. The rectangular hole is arranged such that when the locking member travels from the unlocking position of the locking member to the locking position of the locking member, the end portion is guided from the second end towards the third end in order to lock the end portion in the insertion position of the end portion.

[0027] According to one embodiment, each of the guiding walls includes a widened edge, and each widened edge partially provides the sliding connection between the female mold housing and the locking member.

[0028] According to one embodiment, each guiding wall includes a retaining bar at one of the edges of the guiding wall, the retaining bar contacts the expanding edge, the retaining bar is adapted to engage with a boss formed on the flared edge, and the retaining bar is adapted to allow the locking member to be held in one and the other of the locking position and the unlocking position.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the connecting member includes at least one clamp, the at least one clamp includes a base, two wings extend from the base substantially symmetrically with respect to the base, and when the body is in the snap-fit position of the body, the terminal having a planar shape is intended to be inserted between the wings.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the connecting member includes a contact section, the contact section is received in a housing, namely a connecting housing, and the housing is arranged in the extension of the sub-body through a face of the housing that is opposite to the second section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 Figure 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of two basic units arranged side by side in a battery pack;

[0033] Figure 2 Figure 2 is a schematic perspective and partial exploded view illustration of a connector according to a first example of a specific implementation of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 Figure 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of a male mold housing according to a first example of a specific implementation of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 Figure 4 depicts the male mold housing shown in Figure 3 according to a perspective view and from the lower face of the body of the male mold housing;

[0036] Figure 5 Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary connecting member that can be implemented within the scope of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 Figure 6 is an illustration of the female mold housing shown in Figure 2 according to a perspective view;

[0038] Figure 7 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Figure 7 is a diagram of the female mold housing as shown in another perspective view, showing various sections of the through-opening and the snap-fit wall; Figure 6 shows the through-opening and various sections of the snap-fit wall;

[0039] Figure 8 Figure 8 is Figure 8 a schematic diagram of the female mold housing as shown in, showing details of the insertion opening;

[0040] Figure 9 Figure 9 shows the insertion of the body into the female mold housing;

[0041] Figure 10 Figure 10 shows the locking member according to the perspective view and through the guiding surface of the locking member, the guiding member being adapted to be used in the first connector example of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 11 Figure 11 shows the locking member according to the perspective view and through one of the surfaces of the locking member that is opposite to the guiding surface; Figure 10 of the locking member;

[0043] Figure 12 Figure 12 is a schematic diagram according to the perspective view and the partial exploded view of the connector according to the second example of the specific implementation of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 13 Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the male mold housing according to the perspective view of the second example of the specific implementation of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 14 Figure 14 is another schematic diagram of the male mold housing according to the perspective view of the second example of the specific implementation of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 15 Figure 15 is Figure 12 a diagram of the female mold housing as shown in the perspective view;

[0047] Figure 16 Figure 16 is Figure 12 another diagram of the female mold housing as shown in the perspective view;

[0048] Figure 17 Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the male mold housing inserted into the female mold housing, and shows the end portion of one of the studs;​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[0049] Figure 18 Figure 18 is another schematic illustration of the male housing inserted into the female housing and shows the end portion of another stud;

[0050] Figure 19 Figure 19 shows the locking member according to the second connector example and according to the perspective view;

[0051] Figure 20 Figure 20 shows the locking member of the Figure 19 with the female housing installed;

[0052] Figure 21 Figure 21 shows the details of the guide groove and the rectangular hole;

[0053] Figure 22 Figure 22 depicts the details of the contact section;

[0054] Figure 23 Figure 23 depicts the connection device;

[0055] Figure 24 Figure 24 depicts another example of the connection device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The present invention relates to a connector that enables electrical connection of two basic units of a battery pack. More specifically, the connector according to the present invention is configured to electrically connect the terminals of two adjacent basic units.

[0057] Thus, the present invention relates to a connector for electrically connecting the terminals of the basic units of a battery pack, the terminals protruding with respect to the region of the basic unit, i.e., the so-called connection region, and the connector comprising:

[0058] - a male housing provided with a body that forms a housing, i.e., a so-called male housing, which is accessible for an opening, i.e., a so-called male opening, formed in the lower face of the body;

[0059] ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​- A female mold housing, which is intended to be attached to the connection area through one of the faces of the female mold housing, namely the so-called contact face, and in order to form an outer shell, namely the so-called female mold outer shell, wherein the terminal is accommodated in the female mold housing. The female mold housing includes an insertion opening located on one of the faces of the female mold housing, namely the so-called insertion face. The female mold outer shell is generally conformable to the body to allow the body to be inserted into the female mold outer shell through the lower face of the body, and to allow it to be held by snap-fitting the male mold housing in place, namely the so-called snap-fitting position;

[0060] - A connection member, which is arranged in the male mold outer shell and is intended to form contact with the terminal when the body is in the snap-fitting position of the body;

[0061] - A locking member, which is slidably or pivotally connected to the female mold housing, and the locking member can take one or the other of a locking position and an unlocking position according to a sliding movement or a rotational movement. The unlocking position is the position where the locking member allows the body to be inserted into the female mold outer shell to take the snap-fitting position of the body, and the locking position is the position where the locking member locks the body in the snap-fitting position of the body.

[0062] The male mold housing can form a cuboid, while the female mold housing can include four side walls, and the insertion face is opposite to the contact face.

[0063] It should be understood that the expressions "connection member" and "terminal" are each associated with a connection element, one having a male mold architecture and the other having a female mold architecture.

[0064] According to the present invention, before assembling the basic unit with other basic units to form a battery pack, the female mold housing is intended to be attached to the connection area of the basic unit. According to the present invention, and contrary to the arrangements known from the prior art, the female mold housing includes a locking member attached in a sliding connection manner. This construction helps to associate the male mold housing with the female mold housing in order to establish an electrical connection between the connection member and the terminal accommodated in the female mold outer shell.

[0065] In addition, the locking member also acts as a "good connection" indicator. More specifically, the locking member is configured to allow the body to be inserted into the female mold outer shell only when the locking member is in the unlocking position of the locking member. Additionally, in the presence of the body, the sliding of the locking member from the unlocking position of the locking member to the unlocking position of the locking member is possible only when the male mold housing is in the snap-fitting position of the male mold housing.

[0066] Therefore, Figure 1depicts two basic units 11 and 12, each of which includes terminals 13 and 14 protruding with respect to regions, namely the so-called connection regions 15 and 16. Each connection region is substantially planar.

[0067] Thus, Figure 2 depicts a first example of a connector 10 according to the present invention.

[0068] The connector 10 particularly includes a male housing 200, a female housing 300, a locking member 400, and a connecting member. The connecting member is not shown in Figure 2 but is shown by means of other drawings and described in the following statements of the present invention.

[0069] The male housing 200 (also shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 ) includes a body 201 in the form of a cuboid, which forms a housing, namely the so-called male housing 201a, which is accessible for an opening formed on the lower face 201b of the body 201, namely the so-called male opening 201c. As Figure 4 shown, the male opening 201c can take the form of a slot. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this single form, and those skilled in the art who wish to implement the present invention will be able to consider other forms. The male opening 201c can, for example, cover the entire lower face 201b.

[0070] The male housing 201a is also adapted to accommodate a connecting member 500 as a fixed connection. For example, the connecting member 500 can include at least one clamp. In particular, at least one clamp includes a base, and two wings extend from the base symmetrically with respect to the base. According to this configuration, a terminal 13 or a terminal 14 in the form of a protrusion can be inserted and clamped by the two wings so as to establish an electrical contact between the terminal and the connecting member 500. It should be understood, however, that this aspect will become clear in the remainder of this document. The establishment of the contact between the terminal and the connecting member 500 involves the insertion of the terminal into the male housing 201a through the male opening 201c.

[0071] Advantageously, as Figure 5 shown, at least one clamp can include a connecting clamp 501 and a clamping clamp 502. In this regard, the connecting clamp 501 includes two connecting wings 501a and 501b joined together by a connecting base 501c. Equally, the clamping clamp 502 includes two clamping wings 502a and 502b, which are interconnected by a clamping base 502c and are arranged on both sides of the connecting clamp 501 so as to apply a spring force to each of the connecting wings 501a and the connecting wing 501b, which spring force tends to fasten the two clamping wings against each other.

[0072] The male mold housing 200 may further include a sub-body 202 in the form of a cuboid. In particular, the sub-body 202 extends beyond the main body 201 through the face of the main body opposite to the lower face 201b. More specifically, the sub-body 202 includes a face, namely a so-called sub-section 204b and a so-called main section 204a. The sub-section is located in the extension of one of the four side faces of the main body 201, and the main section and the sub-section 204b together form a face, namely a so-called snap-fit face 204c.

[0073] "Side face" is understood to mean a face exposed to the external environment. The expression "side face" is contrary in meaning to the expression "inner face".

[0074] The sub-body may have a base different from that of the main body. For example, the base of the sub-body may be larger than the base of the main body.

[0075] However, according to this first example, the main section and the sub-section are coplanar. This last aspect is not necessarily verified in the second example, which will be described in the remaining part of this text.

[0076] The female mold housing 300 is provided with four side walls 302, 303, 304 and 305, and the female mold housing is intended to be attached to the connection area through a face of the female mold housing, namely a so-called contact face 301, and the female mold housing is intended to form an outer shell, namely a so-called female mold outer shell 306, in which the terminals 13 and 14 are accommodated ( Figure 6 )). The female mold housing 300 further includes an opening, namely a so-called insertion opening 307, on a face of the female mold housing opposite to the contact face 301. Each of the two side walls 302 and 304 includes an edge, namely an so-called inlet edge 302a and inlet edge 304a, which is opposite to the contact face 301 and partially defines the insertion opening 307.

[0077] In addition, the female mold outer shell 306 is conformable to the main body 201 so as to allow the main body 201 to be inserted into the female mold outer shell 306 through the lower face 201b of the main body and to allow the establishment of contact between the connection member and the terminal. It should also be understood that, without specific specification, the insertion of the main body 201 into the female mold outer shell occurs along the direction from the insertion opening 307 towards the contact face 301.

[0078] For example, for terminals formed by (flat) protrusions and a connection member including at least one clamp, the electrical connection between the two elements is established by inserting and clamping the terminal between the wings of the clamp.

[0079] Additionally, the male housing 200 and the female housing 300 respectively include snap - fit means and complementary snap - fit means configured to engage with each other. In particular, the snap - fit means and the complementary snap - fit means are configured to hold the male housing 200 by snap - fitting when the body of the male housing is inserted into the female housing and when contact is established between the connection member and the terminal (accommodated in the female housing).

[0080] According to the present invention, the snap - fit means is carried by the snap - fit surface 204c, and more specifically, in this first example, the snap - fit means is carried by the sub - section 204b. In particular, the snap - fit means may include a lug 205 protruding relative to the snap - fit surface 204c. In this regard, the lug 205 includes an inclined section 205a and an adjacent section 205b along the direction from the main section 204a to the sub - section 204b.

[0081] Still according to the present invention, when the body is inserted into the female housing 306, the complementary snap - fit means is carried by the side wall of the female housing opposite to the snap - fit surface, namely the so - called snap - fit wall 305. In this regard, the snap - fit wall 305 includes two substantially parallel faces, which are respectively referred to as the first face 309a and the second face 309b. In particular, the first face 309a is the outer face of the female housing, while the second face 309b is the inner face of the female housing.

[0082] In particular, and according to the first connector example, the snap - fit wall 305 extends along a direction perpendicular to the contact surface, namely the so - called sliding direction, and includes a first part 305a, an intermediate part 305b, and a second part 305c ( Figure 6 and Figure 7 ). In particular, the snap - fit wall 305 is configured to be flexible at the intermediate part 305b. In these aspects, the first part 305a is attached to the side wall 302 on one hand and to the side wall 304 on the other hand over the entire range of the two side edges of the first part. On the other hand, the side edges of the intermediate part 305b and the second part 305c are free.

[0083] The "side edges" of the part 305a, the part 305b, and the part 305c are edges parallel to the extending direction.

[0084] This configuration enables the distinction between the rigidity of the first part and the rigidity of the intermediate part and the second part. More specifically, the first part held by the side edges of the first part is less likely to deform when a force is applied to the first part. On the contrary, when a force is applied to the second part, the intermediate part and the second part (the side edges of the intermediate part and the second part are free) are prone to deformation, and in particular, prone to bending.

[0085] It should be understood that the material forming the female mold housing, and more specifically the material forming the snap-fit wall, is adapted to allow the second part to bend along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the snap-fit wall. More specifically, the second part can bend around an axis perpendicular to the sliding direction and included in the intermediate part.

[0086] Thus, according to the present invention, as long as no force is applied to the snap-fit wall and in particular no force is applied to the second part, the snap-fit wall is generally planar.

[0087] Again according to this first example, complementary snap-fit means are arranged on the second part 305c. These can in particular include through-holes 308 opening outwards through the first face 309a and the second face 309b. The through-holes 308 can form a rectangular window defined by four internal faces ( Figure 8 ). Among these four internal faces, two internal faces are parallel to the contact face and are named the accessory face 308a and the snap-fit face 308b along the direction from the contact face towards the female mold opening.

[0088] Other configurations can be envisaged to form complementary snap-fit means. In particular, these configurations can include grooves or chambers.

[0089] In particular, the snap-fit face 308b is configured to form an abutment against which the lug is intended to bear when the body 201 is inserted into the female mold housing 307, in order to establish contact between the connecting member and the terminal housed in the female mold housing, and the snap-fit face is configured to take a position, namely the so-called snap-fit position.

[0090] In operation, and when inserting the body 201 of the male mold housing 200 (as Figure 9 shown), the inclined section 205b engages against the edge of the snap-fit wall opposite the contact face. During this engagement, and due to the "inclined" shape of the inclined section, the inclined section 205a exerts a force on the snap-fit wall and more specifically on the second part 305c. This force causes the second part 305c to bend, which opens the path for the body to be inserted into the female mold housing. After this insertion, the lug 205 is received in the through-hole 308, such that the second part 305c becomes flat again, and such that the abutment section 305b abuts against the snap-fit face 308b. The body is then in the snap-fit position of the body and cannot be removed without bending the secondary section again.

[0091] According to the present invention, the locking member is slidably connected to the female mold housing 300. In particular, the locking member is capable of taking one or the other of a locked position and an unlocked position according to a sliding movement. In this regard, the unlocked position is a position in which the locking member allows the body to be inserted into the female mold housing to take a snap-fit position of the body, while the locked position is a position in which the locking member locks the body in the snap-fit position of the body.

[0092] Figure 2 shows a locking member formed by a one-piece member 400 that is slidably connected to the snap-fit wall 305. This sliding connection is of the retaining type and is ensured by at least one track. More specifically, and as Figure 6 shown, the at least one track may include two tracks 310 and 320( Figure 2 ). Each of the tracks 310 and 320 extends, in particular, from the contact surface along the sliding direction and is discontinuous at the intermediate member. This discontinuity makes it easier for the second member to bend relative to the first member.

[0093] "Retaining type" should be understood to mean a locking member that hooks onto at least one track.

[0094] More specifically, the track 310 includes a first portion 310a and a second portion 310b carried by a first section and a second section, respectively.

[0095] Equivalently, the track 320 includes a first portion 320a and a second portion 320b carried by a first member and a second member, respectively.

[0096] Thus, when the locking member is in the locked position of the locking member, the locking member engages in one and the other of the first portions 310a, 320a and the second portions 310b, 320b of at least one track so as to mechanically fix the first member and the second member together. This mechanical connection between the first member and the second member strengthens the snap-fit wall and makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the second member 305c to bend.

[0097] When the locking member is in the unlocked position of the locking member, the locking member engages only in the second portions 310b, 320b so as to allow the second section to bend when the body 201 is inserted into the female mold housing 306.

[0098] In a particularly advantageous manner, the locking member can be configured to snap against the second member when the locking member is in the unlocked position of the locking member, and the locking member can be configured to snap against the first member when the locking member is in the locked position of the locking member.

[0099] ​Advantageously, the locking member 400 may have the form of a cuboid. In particular, the locking member 400 (shown in Figure 10 ) may include a bottom 401 that carries at least one reverse track that engages with the at least one track on one of the faces of the locking member, namely the so-called guiding face 402. In particular, the at least one reverse track may include a first reverse track 403 and a second reverse track 404.

[0100] The snap fit of the locking member 400 may be performed by auxiliary snap fit means carried by the bottom 401 and the snap fit wall 305 respectively. In particular, the snap fit wall may include a first lug 311 and a second lug 312 formed by a first part 305a and a second part 305c respectively ( Figure 7 ).

[0101] The bottom 401 may be provided with a protrusion 408 (e.g., obtained by cutting the bottom 401), which is configured to engage with one and the other of the first lug 311 and the second lug 312 when the locking member is in the locked position and the unlocked position respectively.

[0102] The locking member 400 may include two side walls 405, 406 and a thrust wall 407 connecting the two side walls 405, 406. The two side walls 405, 406 and the thrust wall 407 particularly extend beyond the bottom 401 through a face of them that is opposite to the guiding face 402. The locking member 400 may further include an auxiliary wall opposite to the thrust wall 407, which also extends beyond the bottom 401 through a face of the auxiliary wall that is opposite to the guiding face 402, and the auxiliary wall connects the two side walls 405, 406.

[0103] It should be understood that when the locking member is mounted on the female mold housing in a sliding connection manner, the thrust wall is opposite to the contact surface.

[0104] This structure of the locking member 400 provides sufficient rigidity such that when the locking member is in the locked position of the locking member, the locking member can effectively lock the body in the snap fit position of the body.

[0105] Figure 12 shows a second example of the connector 10 according to the present invention.

[0106] Similar to the device shown in Figure 2 , the connector 10 according to this second example includes a male mold housing 200, a female mold housing 300, a locking member 400 and a connecting member.

[0107] In addition, the connector 10 according to this second example basically has the same features as the first example.

[0108] ​However, the connector 10 according to this second example includes another arrangement for the locking member as well as snap - fitting means and complementary snap - fitting means.

[0109] The male housing 200 (shown in Fig.

[13] ) is still very similar to the male housing shown in the first example and has most of the same features. However, the male housing 200 differs in that the snap - fitting means (more specifically, the lugs 205) are formed on the first section 204a.

[0110] As Figure 13 and Figure 14 shown, the male housing 200 also includes two studs 206a and 206b, which are each arranged on different sides adjacent to the main section 204a, namely the so - called guiding surfaces 201a and guiding surface 201b. The studs 206a and 206b are specifically configured to be guided towards the insertion position by guiding means formed on two side walls adjacent to the snap - fitting wall 305 and the so - called guiding walls 302 and 304.

[0111] The insertion positions of the studs 206a and 206b are the positions where the male housing 200 is in the snap - fitting position.

[0112] The two studs 206a and 206b are also configured to engage with the locking member such that when the locking member is in the locking position of the locking member, the locking member locks the studs in their insertion positions. This aspect will be described in more detail in the remainder of the present invention.

[0113] In Figure 15 is shown the female housing 300 according to this second example. The latter basically has all the features of the female housing described with respect to the first example. However, in this second example, the complementary snap - fitting means are carried by the first part 305a. These complementary snap - fitting means can be particularly arranged within the female outer shell 306. By way of example, these complementary snap - fitting means can include grooves, notches or any other pattern that can engage with the snap - fitting means of the male housing to hold the snap - fitting means in the snap - fitting position by snapping into it.

[0114] It should be understood that the female housing does not necessarily have a second part.

[0115] The guiding means can include two notches 313 and 314 ( Figure 15 ) formed on the guiding walls 302 and 304 respectively.

[0116] In particular, the guiding notch 313 of the guiding wall 302 extends from the guiding inlet 313a (formed at the inlet edge 302a) towards the contact surface, and terminates at an adjacent end 313b at a certain distance from the contact surface ( Figure 15 ).

[0117] Equivalently, the guiding notch 314 of the guiding wall 304 extends from the guiding inlet 314a (formed at the inlet edge 304a) towards the contact surface, and terminates at an adjacent end 314b at a certain distance from the contact surface ( Figure 16 ).

[0118] The guiding notches 313 and 314 are configured such that when the body 201 is inserted into the female mold housing 306, each stud 206a and 206b engages in the guiding notch and is to be guided along the guiding notch until the insertion position of the stud is reached.

[0119] In particular, the stud 206a is intended to be guided by the guiding notch 313, while the stud 206b is intended to be guided by the guiding notch 314.

[0120] Once each stud 206a and 206b engages in the guiding notches 313 and 314, it includes an end portion that projects relative to the guiding wall carrying the respective guiding notches 313 and 314, and this end portion is intended to engage with a locking member.

[0121] For example, Figure 17 shows the stud 206a in the insertion position of the stud and in the guiding notch 313. In particular, in this figure, the stud 206a passes completely through the guiding wall 302 and thus includes a component that projects relative to the guiding wall 302, namely the so-called end portion 306aa.

[0122] Equivalently, Figure 18 shows the stud 206b in the insertion position of the stud and in the guiding notch 314. In particular, in this figure, the stud 206b passes completely through the guiding wall 304 and thus includes a component that projects relative to the guiding wall 304, namely the so-called end portion 306bb.

[0123] The end portion 306aa and the end portion 306bb are intended to engage with the Figure 19 shown locking member.

[0124] In this second example, the locking member forms a cuboid and includes four walls 410, 411, 412 and 413. The locking member 400 includes two completely open faces that are opposite to each other and are respectively referred to as the first face 414 and the second face 415.

[0125] In particular, the first face 414 is delimited by the free edges of the four walls 410, 411, 412 and 413, i.e. the so-called first edges, which are accessible via the first face 414.

[0126] Equivalently, the second face 415 is delimited by the free edges of the four walls 410, 411, 412 and 413, i.e. the so-called second edges opposite the first edges, which are accessible via the second face 415.

[0127] The locking member 400 is arranged to be disposed on the connection area, and more specifically is arranged such that the four walls 410, 411, 412 and 413 of the locking member surround the female mold housing 300.

[0128] In this regard, Figure 20 shows the locking member 400 disposed on the connection area such that the four walls 410, 411, 412 and 413 of the locking member surround the female mold housing 300.

[0129] In particular, in Fig.

[20] , the wall 410 faces the guide wall 302, while the wall 412 faces the guide wall 304.

[0130] "Facing" should be understood to mean "in contact with" or "near". Therefore, it should be understood that it is not necessary to specify that the wall 410 is parallel to the guide wall 302 and the wall 412 is parallel to the guide wall 304.

[0131] Furthermore, the locking member 400 rests on the connection area via the second face of the locking member. In order to limit the connection between the locking member and the female mold housing to a sliding connection, the inlet edges 302a and 304a can be divergent and / or externally curved and / or expanding.

[0132] In other words, the inlet edge 302a abuts against the first edge of the wall 410 (also referred to as the locking wall 410).

[0133] Equivalently, the inlet edge 304a abuts against the first edge of the wall 412 (also referred to as the locking wall 412).

[0134] According to this configuration, the locking member can slide between one of the locking positions and the unlocking positions in a direction perpendicular to the guide notch and located in a plane defined by one or the other of the guide walls (two walls of the locking member).

[0135] In addition, each locking wall is adapted to engage with the end portion of the stud.

[0136] In particular, when the locking member is in the unlocked position of the locking member, each stud can be freely guided in the guiding recess, and when the locking member is in the locked position of the locking member, each stud is locked in the insertion position of the stud.

[0137] As Figure 21 shown, each guiding wall includes a guiding groove 416 on the inner surface of the guiding wall, the guiding groove extending from a first end 416a to a second end 416b and extending parallel to the guiding recess. Each locking wall further includes a rectangular hole 417, the rectangular hole being perpendicular to the guiding groove 416 and extending from the second end 416b of the guiding groove to a third end 417b.

[0138] The guiding groove 416 is arranged such that when the locking member is in the unlocked position of the locking member, the guiding groove 416 faces one of the guiding recesses in the guiding recess, and such that the end portion of the stud can be guided from the first end 416a to the second end 416b, and the guiding groove is arranged to cause the stud to assume the insertion position of the stud.

[0139] The guiding groove is obtained by removing material from the inner surface of the guiding wall on which the groove is formed. In other words, the bottom of the guiding groove is spaced apart to allow the end portion of the stud to be guided without interacting with the inner surface in question.

[0140] The rectangular hole 417 is arranged such that when the locking member moves from the unlocked position of the locking member to the locked position of the locking member, the end portion is guided from the second end to the third end, thereby locking the end portion in the insertion position of the end portion.

[0141] Thus, in operation, and when inserting the body 201 of the male mold housing 200, the locking member is in the unlocked position of the locking member. Each guiding groove corresponds to a guiding recess, such that the end portion of each stud can be guided along one of the guiding recesses, such that the stud reaches the insertion position of the stud.

[0142] Once the male mold housing is in the snap-fit position, the locking member can assume the locked position of the locking member by guiding each of the end portions into the rectangular hole (the rectangular hole slides along the end portion of the stud).

[0143] Advantageously, each guiding wall includes a flexible retaining rod 418 at a first edge of the guiding wall (in contact with the expansion edge). The retaining rod 418 is particularly adapted to engage with a boss 419 formed on the expansion edge and enables the locking member to be held in one or the other of a locked position and an unlocked position. The boss 419 may be elongate and include two side faces, namely a so-called first side face and a second side face that are opposite each other. In particular, when the locking member is in the locked position of the locking member, the retaining rod 418 may snap-fit onto the first side of the boss, and when the locking member is in the unlocked position of the locking member, the retaining rod may snap-fit onto the second side of the boss.

[0144] Regardless of which example is considered, the connecting member may include a contact section that is received in a housing, namely a so-called connecting housing 600, which is arranged in an extension of the secondary body through a face of the housing that is opposite to the second section 204b ( Figure 13 ).

[0145] The contact section 520 ( Figure 5 and Figure 21 ) includes a central member 521 that is generally planar in shape and two curved side projections 522. The two projections 522 rest conformably on the base of the connecting housing so as to limit relative movement between the connecting member and the male mold housing.

[0146] The present invention relates to a connecting device 1000 for two basic units ( Figure 23 ). According to the present invention, the connecting device particularly includes a bus bar 700 and two connectors.

[0147] In particular, the bus bar extends between two ends, and the bus bar may be characterized by one or more folding portions 710 such that the bus bar is flexible. As Figure 23 shows, each connector is attached to a contact section of a contact member of one of the connectors 10.

[0148] In Figure 24 shown in other examples, a secondary bus bar 720 may be interposed between each end of the bus bar 700 and the connector 10. Clamps 730 may be arranged at each connection between the bus bar 700 and the secondary bus bar 720. These clamps may also include feet and a head that extends beyond the feet. The feet may be equipped with snap-fit means that allow the clamps to snap-fit onto the wall of the basic unit. The head, for its part, is arranged to allow connection of the bus bar and the secondary bus bar. This last aspect improves the mechanical cohesion of the connecting device when the combined length of the bus bar 700 and the secondary bus bar 720 is greater than 30 cm.

[0149] The present invention also relates to a third example of the connector 10, which third example substantially repeats the principles set forth with respect to the first and second examples.

[0150] However, in this third example, the locking member 400 is pivotally connected to the female housing and can thus assume a locking position and an unlocking position by a simple rotation.

[0151] In particular, the locking member 400, which is generally cylindrical in shape, is mounted coaxially with a spring element 500a and a connecting member 500, both of which are generally cylindrical in shape. More specifically, the connecting member 500 is received within the spring element 500, which in turn is received within the locking member 400. In this regard, when the locking member is in the locking position of the locking member, the locking member releases the spring element such that the spring element exerts a force tending to clamp the connecting member.

[0152] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and variant embodiments can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A connector (10) for electrically connecting terminals of basic units of a battery pack, the terminals protruding with respect to a region of the basic unit, namely a so-called connection region, the connector (10) comprising: - a male housing (200), the male housing being provided with a body (201), the body forming a housing, namely a so-called male housing (201a), the housing being accessible for an opening, namely a so-called male opening (201c), the male opening being formed in a lower face (201b) of the body (201); - a female housing (300), the female housing being intended to be attached to the connection region by one of the faces of the female housing, namely a so-called contact face (301), and so as to form a housing, namely a so-called female housing, wherein the terminal is received in the female housing (300), the female housing including an insertion opening (307) on one of the faces of the female housing, namely a so-called insertion face, the female housing being generally conformable to the body (201) so as to allow the body (201) to be inserted into the female housing through the lower face (201b) of the body and to allow retention by snap-fitting the male housing (200) in a position, namely a so-called snap-fitting position; - a connection member (500), the connection member being arranged in the male housing (201a), the connection member being intended to come into contact with the terminal when the body (201) is in the snap-fitting position of the body; - a locking member (400), the locking member being slidably or pivotally connected to the female housing (300), and the locking member being able to assume one or the other of a locked position and an unlocked position according to a sliding movement or according to a rotational movement, the unlocked position being the position in which the locking member (400) allows the body (201) to be inserted into the female housing to assume the snap-fitting position of the body, the locked position being the position in which the locking member (400) locks the body (201) in the snap-fitting position of the body.

2. The connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the male housing (200) forms a cuboid, and the female housing (300) includes four side walls, the insertion face being opposite to the contact face (301).

3. The connector (10) according to claim 2, wherein the body (201) includes four side surfaces, and the male housing (200) further includes a sub-body (202) in the form of a cuboid, the sub-body extending beyond the body (201) through a surface opposite to the lower surface (201b), the sub-body (202) having the form of a cuboid, one surface of the sub-body (202), namely a so-called sub-section (204b), extends a side surface among the side surfaces, namely a so-called main section (204a), in a coplanar manner, the main section (204a) and the sub-section (204b) together form a snap-fit surface (204c) carrying the snap-fit device and is intended to engage with a complementary snap-fit device carried by the female housing (300).

4. The connector (10) according to claim 3, wherein the complementary snap-fit device is carried by a side wall of the female housing (300) facing the snap-fit surface (204c), namely a so-called snap-fit wall.

5. The connector (10) according to claim 4, wherein the snap-fit wall extends along a direction perpendicular to the contact surface (301), namely a so-called sliding direction, and includes a first component (305a), an intermediate component, and a second component (305c) carrying the complementary snap-fit device from the contact surface (301), side edges of the intermediate component (305b) and side edges of the second component (305c) are free so as to allow the second component (305c) to bend around an axis perpendicular to the sliding direction and included in the intermediate component during the snap-fit operation between the male housing (200) and the female housing (300).

6. The connector (10) according to claim 5, wherein the locking member (400) is formed of a one-piece member, the one-piece member being in a sliding connection according to a guiding pattern held by at least one track (310, 320), each track from the at least one track extends along the sliding direction from the contact surface (301), the track is discontinuous at the intermediate component and includes a first part (310a, 320a) and a second part (310b, 320b) carried by the first component (305a) and the second component (305c) respectively, when the locking member (400) is in the locking position of the locking member, the locking member engages in one and the other of the first part and the second part of the at least one track so as to mechanically fix the first component (305a) and the second component (305c), and when the locking member is in the unlocking position of the locking member, the locking member (400) only engages in the second part of the at least one track.

7. The connector (10) according to claim 6, wherein the locking member (400) is configured to be snap - fitted against the second section when in the unlocked position of the locking member, and the locking member is configured to be snap - fitted against the first section and snap - fitted against the first section when in the locked position of the locking member.

8. The connector (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the locking member (400) in the form of a cuboid includes a bottom (401), the bottom carrying at least one reverse track (403, 404) engaging with the at least one track on one of the faces of the locking member, namely the so - called guiding face (402), and the bottom is further overtopped by two side walls and a thrust wall through a face of the locking member opposite to the guiding face.

9. The connector (10) according to claim 4, wherein the body (201) includes two studs, each of the two studs being arranged on different sides adjacent to the main section, namely the so - called guiding faces, and the two studs are configured to be guided towards the insertion position by guiding means and a so - called guiding wall formed on two side walls adjacent to the snap - fitting wall, the insertion position being the position where the male housing (200) is in the snap - fitting position, and the two studs are further configured to engage with the locking member (400) such that when the locking member (400) is in the locked position of the locking member, the locking member locks the studs in the insertion position of the studs.

10. The connector (10) according to claim 9, wherein the means for guiding the guiding wall includes guiding notches that extend from a guiding entrance located at the insertion face towards the contact face (301) to terminate at an end, namely the so - called adjacent end, at a certain distance from the contact face (301), and the guiding notches are configured such that when the body (201) is inserted into the female housing, each stud engages in the guiding notches to be guided along the guiding notches until the insertion position of the studs.

11. The connector (10) according to claim 10, wherein once each stud engages in the guiding notches, it includes an end portion that protrudes relative to the guiding wall carrying the respective guiding notch, and the end portion is intended to engage with the locking member (400).

12. The connector (10) according to claim 11, wherein the locking member (400) in the form of a cuboid includes four walls arranged around the side walls of the female mold housing (300), the locking member (400) is arranged to slide between one of the locking position and the unlocking position and the other along a direction perpendicular to the guiding notch and is included in a plane defined by one or the other of the guiding walls, two walls of the locking member (400) being so-called locking walls and each wall facing a guiding wall, each being configured to engage with the end portion of the stud such that when the locking member (400) is in the unlocking position of the locking member, each stud can be freely guided in the guiding notch, and such that when the locking member (400) is in the locking position of the locking member, each stud is locked in the insertion position of the stud.

13. The connector (10) according to claim 12, wherein each locking wall includes a guiding groove on the inner surface, the guiding groove extends from a first end to a second end and is parallel to the guiding notch, each locking wall further includes a rectangular hole, the rectangular hole is perpendicular to the guiding groove and extends from the second end of the guiding groove to a third end, the guiding groove is arranged such that when the locking member (400) is in the unlocking position of the locking member, the guiding groove is opposite to one of the guiding grooves and enables the end portion of the stud to be guided from the first end to the second end, and the guiding groove is configured to cause the stud to take the insertion position of the stud, the rectangular hole is arranged such that when the locking member (400) travels from the unlocking position of the locking member to the locking position of the locking member, the end portion is guided from the second end to the third end so as to lock the end portion in the insertion position of the end portion.

14. The connector (10) according to claim 13, wherein each of the guiding walls includes a widened edge, and each widened edge partially provides the sliding connection between the female mold housing (300) and the locking member (400).

15. The connector (10) according to claim 14, wherein each guiding wall includes a retaining rod at one of the edges of the guiding wall, the retaining rod contacts the widened edge, the retaining rod is adapted to engage with a boss formed on the widened edge, and the retaining rod is adapted to allow the locking member (400) to be held in one of the locking position and the unlocking position and the other.

16. The connector (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 15, wherein the connecting member (500) includes at least one clamp, the at least one clamp includes a base, two wings extend from the base symmetrically with respect to the base, and when the body (201) is in the snap-fit position of the body, the terminal having a planar shape is intended to be inserted between the wings.

17. The connector (10) according to one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the connecting member (500) comprises a contact section which is received in a housing, a so-called connection housing, which housing is arranged in an extension of the secondary body (202) by means of one of the faces of the housing which is opposite the second section.

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