A floating waterproof connector

Abstract

The application provides a floating waterproof connector, which comprises a mounting shell, a functional module shell connected with the mounting shell, and a connector shell connected with the functional module shell, wherein an electrical element is arranged in the connector shell, and a floating member is arranged between the connector shell and the functional module shell and / or between the functional module shell and the mounting shell to enable floating connection of the two, so that the service life of the connector can be prolonged in the case of multiple plugging and unplugging at a non-perpendicular angle; and the connector can maintain reliable connection and waterproof performance in the case of mutual impact of the modules during product movement in the connected state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water sports, and more specifically, to a floating waterproof connector. Background Technology

[0002] Electric products, such as electric surfboards, often employ modular designs, including battery modules, control modules, and power modules. To enable communication or power supply between different functional modules, current technology uses connectors, such as male and female connectors, fixed on the modules to achieve electrical connections between them.

[0003] During prolonged use, the modules will undergo multiple disassembly and assembly processes. The connectors are not inserted or removed perpendicularly, which can damage the male and female connectors. Furthermore, when modules are connected, they may impact or twist during movement, which can also damage or loosen the rigidly connected connectors.

[0004] On the other hand, for products used in aquatic environments, the connector structure also needs to have reliable waterproof performance.

[0005] In the prior art, US Patent Application US 2021 / 0371054 A1 discloses a connector for electrically connecting a battery module and a power module on an electric surfboard. The battery module and power module are not perpendicularly inserted when installed together. To address this issue, the application proposes using an elastic rubber ring between the male and female connectors to reduce the interaction force between them, while also providing waterproofing. However, after repeated insertion and removal, the rubber ring will be repeatedly compressed and deformed. This technical solution is practically difficult to effectively and sustainably meet both the requirements of protecting the male and female connectors and providing waterproofing in the long term.

[0006] US Patent Application US2025 / 382033 A1 discloses a connection method between the mast and propulsion device of an electric hydrofoil surfboard. To solve the above problems, the invention proposes an alternative solution of using a spring to make the electrodes abut against each other. This connection method reduces the electrode contact area, limits the current, and affects product performance.

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing structure to overcome the above-mentioned defects. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The main objective of this application is to provide a floating waterproof connector that can float in at least one direction, thereby improving the connector's service life under multiple insertions and removals at non-perpendicular angles; and that maintains reliable connection and waterproof performance during product movement and mutual impact of modules while the connector is in the connected state.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, this application provides a floating waterproof connector, including a mounting housing, a functional module housing connected to the mounting housing, and a connector housing connected to the functional module housing. The connector housing contains electrical components, and a floating member is provided between the connector housing and the functional module housing and / or between the functional module housing and the mounting housing to enable the two to float and connect.

[0010] Optionally, the connector housing and the functional module housing are fixedly disposed relative to each other, the functional module housing and the mounting housing are connected by bolts, the functional module housing has a through hole for the bolt to pass through, and the floating member is an elastic rubber ring disposed on the bolt, the elastic rubber ring abutting against the inner wall of the through hole.

[0011] Optionally, the connector housing is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the functional module housing.

[0012] Optionally, it also includes a bottom shell that forms a waterproof space with the functional module housing for installing the electronic module, and a waterproof rubber ring is provided between the functional module housing and the bottom shell.

[0013] Optionally, a mounting component is fixedly disposed inside the functional module housing, and the floating component is disposed between the connector housing and the mounting component.

[0014] Optionally, the mounting member has a pair of mounting grooves opening toward the center of the mounting member in at least one direction, the connector housing has a boss that mates with the mounting groove, and the floating member includes a first floating member disposed between the end face of the boss and the mounting groove.

[0015] Optionally, the floating member further includes a second floating member, which is sleeved on the boss.

[0016] Optionally, the connector housing is rotatably connected to the mounting member via a pivot.

[0017] Optionally, the floating member further includes a third floating member disposed between the mounting member and the connector housing.

[0018] Optionally, the connector housing or the mounting component is provided with a limiting element.

[0019] Optionally, a waterproof component is provided between the connector housing and the functional module housing.

[0020] Optionally, the waterproof component has a pleated structure.

[0021] The floating waterproof connector provided by this invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: by providing a floating component between the connector housing and the functional module housing and / or between the functional module housing and the mounting housing, the battery terminals and power terminals remain parallel when the connectors between functional modules are connected at a non-perpendicular angle. During the process of the battery being pressed down, the power terminals and battery terminals always maintain rotational movement, which will not damage the mechanical strength of the copper parts of the terminals. This connection is reliable and avoids the terminal current from becoming too high and burning out the terminals due to loosening of the power-conducting terminals. Moreover, during the movement of the product, the modules still maintain reliable connection and waterproof performance even when they impact each other. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the application and to make other features, objects, and advantages of the application more apparent. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain the application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention. Figure One (Example 1); Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention. Figure Two (Example 1); Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a floating component (Example 1); Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the connector housing and the functional module housing (Example 2). Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the connector housing and the mounting components (Example 2); Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the connector housing and the mounting components (Example 2); Figure 7 This refers to the connection status of functional modules. Figure One (Example 2); Figure 8 This refers to the connection status of functional modules. Figure Two (Example 2).

[0023] The components are: 1. Mounting housing; 2. Functional module housing; 3. Connector housing; 4. Mounting component; 5. Bolt; 6. Elastic rubber ring; 7. Mounting groove; 8. Circular boss; 9. First floating component; 10. Second floating component; 11. Third floating component; 12. Waterproof component; 13. Waterproof rubber ring; 14. Limiting component; 15. Bottom shell. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0025] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this application described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0026] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0027] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] In addition, the term "multiple" should mean two or more.

[0029] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. This application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0030] like Figures 1-3As shown, a floating waterproof connector includes a mounting housing 1, a functional module housing 2 connected to the mounting housing 1, and a connector housing 3 connected to the functional module housing 2. The connector housing 3 is provided with electrical components, and a floating member is provided between the functional module housing 2 and the mounting housing 1 to enable the two to float and connect.

[0031] In this embodiment, the connector housing 3 and the functional module housing 2 are fixedly arranged relative to each other, such as the connector housing 3 and the functional module housing 2 being fixedly connected by fasteners or integrally formed.

[0032] The functional module housing 2 and the mounting housing 1 are connected by bolts 5. The functional module housing 2 has through holes for the bolts 5 to pass through. Figure 3 As shown, the floating component is an elastic rubber ring 6 disposed on the bolt 5. The elastic rubber ring 6 abuts against the inner wall of the through hole. By designing a reasonable screw tightness of the bolt 5, the connector housing 3 can be connected to the mounting housing 1 by the bolt 5, while the connector housing 3 can float relative to the mounting component 4 at least in the planar direction. During installation, the screw of the bolt 5 passes through the through hole and is threadedly connected to the mounting housing 1, while the elastic rubber ring 6 on the bolt 5 is inserted into the through hole and abuts against its inner wall. That is, the size of the through hole is larger than the screw size of the bolt 5 and matches the size of the elastic rubber ring 6. The floating connection is achieved by utilizing the elastic deformation of the elastic rubber ring 6, and the elastic rubber ring 6 can be made of rubber.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, it also includes a bottom shell 15 that forms a waterproof space for installing electronic modules with the functional module housing 2. A waterproof rubber ring 13 is provided between the functional module housing 2 and the bottom shell 15, so that electronic modules such as control modules can be placed in the waterproof space and waterproofed by the waterproof rubber ring 13. This allows the connector and the functional module housing 2 to float relative to the mounting housing 1 as a waterproof whole, achieving a stable waterproof effect while also enabling the connector to float.

[0034] Example 2 In Embodiment 1, the connector and the functional module housing 2 float as a whole. When the connector is plugged in, due to the large moment of inertia, if the module is connected quickly during operation, the effect of buffering the force between the connectors by floating the connector and the functional module as a whole will be reduced. Therefore, in order to solve the above technical problem, this embodiment has the following structure: like Figures 4-6As shown, in this embodiment, an installation component 4 is fixedly installed inside the functional module housing 2, and the floating component is disposed between the connector housing 3 and the installation component 4. That is, the connector housing 3 can float relative to the installation component 4, that is, it can float relative to the functional module housing 2, which effectively improves the floating effect of the connector housing 3 when the connector is plugged in, thereby buffering the force on the connector.

[0035] like Figure 6 As shown, the mounting member 4 has a pair of mounting grooves 7 opening toward the center of the mounting member 4 in at least one direction, the connector housing 3 has a boss 8 that mates with the mounting groove 7, and the floating member includes a first floating member 9, which is disposed between the end face of the boss 8 and the mounting groove 7, so that the connector housing 3 can float relative to the mounting member 4 along the arrangement direction of the mounting groove 7. The first floating member 9 can be a spring or a rubber member.

[0036] like Figure 6 As shown, the floating component further includes a second floating component 10, which is sleeved on the boss 8. The second floating component 10 can be a rubber component. The first floating component 9 and the second floating component 10 enable the boss 8 to achieve floating connection with the three end faces of the mounting groove 7. The first floating component 9 enables the connector housing 3 to float relative to the mounting component 4 along the arrangement direction of the mounting groove 7. The second floating component 10 enables the connector housing 3 to float in a torsional manner relative to the mounting component 4 and to float in a direction that is at an angle to the arrangement direction of the mounting groove 7.

[0037] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the connector housing 3 and the mounting member 4 are rotatably connected via a rotating shaft. The floating member further includes a third floating member 11, which is disposed between the mounting member 4 and the connector housing 3. The third floating member 11 can be an elastic member such as a spring. Figure 7 As shown, the third floating member 11 causes the connector housing 3 to deflect relative to the mounting member 4 by a preset angle in the non-connected state. This preset angle deflection of the connector housing 3 reduces the angular deviation between connectors when connecting functional modules, further reducing the force on the connector housing 3 during connector mating. This is especially important in existing technologies where functional modules typically engage at one end first, and the connectors then mat at a certain non-perpendicular angle. Figure 8 As shown, through reasonable design, the connector housing 3 can be pre-deflected at a preset angle to align the connectors before connection, thereby providing limited buffering of the interaction forces when the connectors are plugged in, thus protecting the connectors.

[0038] like Figure 5 As shown, the connector housing 3 or the mounting component 4 is provided with a limiting member 14, which can limit the maximum range of rotation of the connector housing 3 along the rotating shaft, thereby restricting the connector housing 3 to operate within a suitable angle during the connector insertion and removal process.

[0039] like Figure 4 As shown, a waterproof component 12 is provided between the connector housing 3 and the functional module housing 2. The waterproof component 12 can be made of soft rubber. The connector housing 3, the waterproof component 12, and the functional module housing 2 form a waterproof space, maintaining the waterproof effect of the waterproof space when the connector housing 3 floats or deflects relative to the functional module housing 2. In this embodiment, the mounting component 4 and the floating component are both placed in the waterproof space, thereby ensuring that the floating effect of the connector housing 3 is effective under long-term use.

[0040] In order to reduce the damage to the waterproof component 12 due to excessive stretching during the floating process of the connector housing 3, the waterproof component 12 has a pleated structure.

[0041] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A floating waterproof connector, characterized in that, It includes a mounting housing, a functional module housing connected to the mounting housing, and a connector housing connected to the functional module housing. The connector housing contains electrical components, and a floating member is provided between the connector housing and the functional module housing and / or between the functional module housing and the mounting housing to enable the two to float and connect.

2. The floating waterproof connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The connector housing and the functional module housing are fixedly disposed relative to each other. The functional module housing and the mounting housing are connected by bolts. The functional module housing has a through hole for the bolt to pass through. The floating component is an elastic rubber ring disposed on the bolt. The elastic rubber ring abuts against the inner wall of the through hole.

3. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The connector housing is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the functional module housing.

4. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a bottom shell that forms a waterproof space with the functional module housing, and a waterproof rubber ring is provided between the functional module housing and the bottom shell.

5. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: An installation component is fixedly disposed inside the housing of the functional module, and the floating component is disposed between the connector housing and the installation component.

6. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The mounting member has a pair of mounting slots opening toward the center of the mounting member in at least one direction, the connector housing has a boss that mates with the mounting slots, and the floating member includes a first floating member disposed between the end face of the boss and the mounting slot.

7. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The floating component further includes a second floating component, which is sleeved on the boss.

8. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The connector housing is rotatably connected to the mounting component via a rotating shaft.

9. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The floating component further includes a third floating component, which is disposed between the mounting component and the connector housing.

10. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The connector housing or the mounting component is provided with a limiting element.

11. A floating waterproof connector as described in any one of claims 5-10, characterized in that: A waterproof component is provided between the connector housing and the functional module housing.

12. A floating waterproof connector as described in claim 11, characterized in that: The waterproof component has a pleated structure.

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