A connector and connector assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connector and a connector assembly, the connector comprising a box body, a cover body and a fixing member, the cover body having a rotation axis, the cover body being capable of rotating relative to the box body about the rotation axis, the fixing member being arranged on at least one side of the box body in the axial direction of the rotation axis, wherein the fixing member comprises a first limiting part, the rotation axis of the cover body is in clamped connection with the first limiting part, and the first limiting part is used for limiting the rotation axis from being pulled out of the fixing member. The present disclosure sets the fixing member independent of the box body to limit the rotation axis of the cover body of the connector, thereby avoiding the cover body from falling off the box body due to improper tension during assembly and use of the connector, and further causing the connector to be scrapped, effectively improving the structural stability and reliability of the connector, and reducing the production and use loss and the risk of scrapping.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and more particularly to a connector and connector assembly. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of electrical connector technology, snap-fit ​​connectors are widely used in various types of electronic devices and electrical connection applications such as automotive and robotic systems. Snap-fit ​​connectors enable convenient and rapid connection of current or signals.

[0003] Currently, snap-fit ​​connectors are mainly divided into front-flip and rear-flip types. However, regardless of whether it's a front-flip or rear-flip connector, the cover must be opened by flipping it over during connection, and then snapped back on after the circuit connection is completed. However, the current design of snap-fit ​​connectors results in lower strength and structural stability of the connector cover. During use and production, improper application of external forces can easily pull the cover off the connector body, causing connector damage and rendering it unusable. Furthermore, the small size of the connectors makes repair difficult, and connectors with damaged covers must be scrapped, leading to higher production costs and wear and tear. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the problems existing in the related technologies, this disclosure provides a connector and a connector assembly.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a connector is provided, comprising:

[0006] Box body;

[0007] A lid having a rotation axis, the lid being able to rotate relative to the box body about the rotation axis;

[0008] A fixing member is disposed on at least one side of the housing along the axial direction of the rotation axis;

[0009] The fixing member includes a first limiting part, and the rotation shaft of the cover is engaged with the first limiting part. The first limiting part is used to prevent the rotation shaft from dislodging from the fixing member.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the fixing member further includes a positioning part, and the box body is provided with a positioning member, the positioning part abutting or engaging with the positioning member.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the positioning part includes a groove disposed in the fixing member, the positioning member includes a rib disposed in the box body, and the side wall of the groove is provided with at least one positioning protrusion, the positioning protrusion abutting against the rib.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first limiting part includes a receiving groove, and the positioning part includes a first groove. Along the thickness direction of the box body, the receiving groove communicates with the first groove.

[0013] The positioning element includes a first rib, which, together with the receiving groove, forms a receiving area for receiving the end of the rotating shaft.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the sidewall of the first groove is provided with the positioning protrusion.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the positioning part further includes a second groove. Along the length direction of the fixing member, the first groove and the second groove are spaced apart. The positioning member includes a second rib that extends into the second groove.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the positioning protrusions are respectively provided on the two opposite sidewalls of the second groove, and the two positioning protrusions are arranged opposite to each other or staggered.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the fastener includes a first end face, and the opening of the groove is disposed on the first end face;

[0018] The area of ​​the first end face other than the area with the groove is set as a fixing surface, and the fastener is fixedly connected to the box body through the fixing surface.

[0019] In one possible implementation, a circuit board is provided on the bottom surface of the box, and the fixing member includes a metal sheet, with the fixing surface welded to the circuit board.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the cover is further provided with a second limiting part, and the box is provided with a second mating part. When the cover is flipped relative to the box to a closed state, the second limiting part and the second mating part are engaged and limited.

[0021] In one possible implementation, one of the second limiting portion and the second mating portion is configured as a limiting block, and the other is configured as a limiting groove.

[0022] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a connector assembly is provided, including a connector as described in the first aspect of this disclosure, the connector being disposed of a first circuit board, the connector assembly further including a second circuit board inserted into the connector from one end of a cover remote from the connector;

[0023] When the cover of the connector is rotated to a closed state relative to the housing of the connector, the cover presses the second terminal of the second circuit board against the first terminal of the first circuit board, so as to electrically connect the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this disclosure are as follows: This disclosure sets a fixing component independent of the housing to limit the rotation axis of the connector cover, thereby preventing the cover from falling off the housing due to improper tension during connector assembly and use, which would lead to connector scrapping. This effectively improves the structural stability and reliability of the connector and reduces production and usage losses as well as the risk of scrapping.

[0025] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0027] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a connector with its cover in an open state, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of a connector with its cover in an open state, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0029] Figure 3 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a connector with its cover in a closed state, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a second schematic diagram of a connector with its cover in a closed state, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0031] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of section AA in the middle.

[0032] Figure 6 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a fastener according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of a fastener according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0035] With the development of electrical connector technology, snap-fit ​​connectors are widely used in various types of electronic devices and electrical connection applications such as automotive and robotic systems. Snap-fit ​​connectors enable convenient and rapid connection of current or signals.

[0036] Currently, snap-fit ​​connectors are mainly divided into front-flip and rear-flip types. However, regardless of whether it is a front-flip or rear-flip connector, when connecting, the cover needs to be opened by flipping it over, and the cover should be snapped back on after the circuit connection is completed.

[0037] However, the current design of snap-fit ​​connectors results in lower strength and structural stability of the connector cover. Furthermore, related technologies typically rely on the interference between the cover's pivot and the housing's connecting terminals for positioning. Because the interference between the connecting terminals at both ends of the housing and the cover is small, sometimes less than 1mm, improper external force can easily pull the cover off the connector body, causing damage and rendering the connector unusable. Simultaneously, the small size of the connector makes repair difficult; connectors with damaged covers must be scrapped, leading to higher production costs and wear and tear.

[0038] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this disclosure proposes a connector and connector assembly. The connector is equipped with a fixing component independent of the housing to limit the rotation axis of the connector cover, thereby preventing the cover from detaching from the housing due to improper tension during connector assembly and use, which would lead to connector failure. This effectively improves the structural stability and reliability of the connector and reduces production and usage losses as well as the risk of failure.

[0039] According to an exemplary embodiment, this disclosure provides a connector for connecting two circuit structures and transmitting current or signals. The connector is a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) connector, which is a connector that requires very little force to insert and remove, and has the advantages of easy operation, high reliability and durability. The circuit structure can be a circuit board, cable, etc. Depending on the circuit structure being connected, the connector can be divided into wire-to-wire connectors for connecting two cables, wire-to-board connectors for connecting cables and circuit boards, and board-to-board connectors for connecting circuit boards.

[0040] Furthermore, the connector can be either a front-flip connector or a rear-flip connector. Common snap-fit ​​connectors come in two forms: front-flip and rear-flip. In a front-flip connector, the cover 20 is located on the same side as the cable insertion end; the cover 20 needs to be flipped open to insert the cable, and then snapped back on for fixation. In a rear-flip connector, the cover 20 is located on the other side of the cable insertion end; after insertion, the cover 20 on the other side is snapped back on for fixation. Generally, front-flip connectors are more intuitive and convenient to operate, but are more difficult to install in space-constrained environments and have relatively poor stability. Rear-flip connectors, on the other hand, have the advantages of smaller space occupation and more stable connection, but installation is often more complex. The technical solution of this disclosure improves stability and reduces losses and production costs for both front-flip and rear-flip connectors. Those skilled in the art can choose the specific form of the connector according to actual needs.

[0041] It is worth noting that the following description and accompanying drawings use a board-to-board connector as an example. Of course, it is understood that those skilled in the art can also apply the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure to other types of connectors based on the content of the embodiments of this disclosure, and the embodiments of this disclosure do not impose too many restrictions on this.

[0042] like Figures 1-7 As shown, the connector provided in this embodiment includes a housing 10, a cover 20, and a fixing member 30. The housing 10 has multiple connection terminals 103 for electrical or signal connections. When the connector is connected to other circuit structures such as circuit boards and cables, the terminals of the circuit structure contact the connection terminals 103 inside the housing 10, thereby achieving an electrical or signal connection. The housing 10 of the connector has an internal circuit structure (not shown in the figure) for achieving electrical connections. This internal circuit structure can be, for example, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), and the connection terminals 103 are disposed on the internal circuit structure.

[0043] The cover 20 has a rotating shaft 21, which rotatably connects the cover 20 to the housing 10, allowing the cover 20 to rotate relative to the housing 10 around the rotating shaft 21. After the external circuit structure extends into the connector housing 10, rotating the cover 20 changes it from an open state to a closed state. The cover 20 presses against the connection terminal 103 in the housing 10 and the wiring terminals on the circuit structure, thereby ensuring a reliable physical connection between the wiring terminals and the connection terminal 103, thus ensuring the reliability and stability of the circuit connection.

[0044] The fixing member 30 is disposed on at least one side of the box body 10 along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 21, and is used to limit the rotation shaft 21 to prevent the rotation shaft 21 from falling off and causing the cover 20 to fall off. In one example, the fixing member 30 is disposed on one side of the box body 10 along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 21. By limiting the rotation shaft 21 on one side, the fixing member can reduce the production cost of using multiple fixing members 30 while achieving the function of limiting and fixing. Figure 1 Taking the orientation shown as an example, the fixing member 30 can be set on the left or right side of the rotation axis 21. In another example, the fixing member 30 is set on both sides of the housing 10 along the axial direction of the rotation axis 21, thereby improving the limiting effect and stability by limiting the position from both ends simultaneously. Figure 1 Taking the orientation shown as an example, the fixing component 30 can be set on the left and right sides of the rotating shaft 21. The fixing component 30 is set independently of the housing 10, so the limiting and installation of the rotating shaft 21 no longer depends on the housing 10, reducing the structural requirements of the housing 10 and facilitating manufacturing. At the same time, the fixing component 30 can be processed separately with higher processing precision, enabling better limiting and installation.

[0045] The fastener 30 includes a first limiting part, and the rotation shaft 21 of the cover 20 is connected to the first limiting part (e.g., Figure 2 The first limiting groove 102) is engaged with the cover 30. The first limiting part is used to restrict the rotation shaft 21 from disengaging from the fixing member 30. The first limiting part can be, for example, a limiting groove, a limiting buckle, a limiting hole, etc. The present disclosure does not impose too many restrictions on this, and those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs. Depending on the structure of the first limiting part of the fixing member 30, for example, when the first limiting part is a limiting groove, it can move from the opening position of the limiting groove to the bottom of the limiting groove to engage the rotation shaft 21 into the limiting groove; or, for example, when the first limiting part is a limiting hole, it can extend from one side of the fixing member 30 into the limiting hole and through the limiting hole to the other side of the fixing member 30 to achieve the limiting of the rotation shaft 21. The first limiting part does not restrict the rotation of the rotation shaft 21 relative to the box 10. It is used to restrict the rotation of the rotation shaft 21 relative to the box 10 in the upper, lower, left, and right directions of the box, thereby improving the installation reliability and stability of the cover 20.

[0046] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a fixing member 30 is provided to limit the rotation axis 21 of the connector cover 20, thereby preventing the cover 20 from falling off the housing 10 due to improper pulling force during the assembly and use of the connector, which would lead to the scrapping of the connector. This effectively improves the structural stability and reliability of the connector and reduces production and usage losses as well as the risk of scrapping.

[0047] In some embodiments, the housing 10 is provided with a first limiting groove 102 for receiving the end of the rotating shaft 21. For example... Figure 1As shown, the box body 10 is provided with a receiving portion 101. When the lid 20 is closed, it is received within the receiving portion 101. A first limiting groove 102 is provided on the side of the receiving portion 101 near both ends of the rotating shaft 21. The first limiting groove 102 is used to receive both ends of the rotating shaft 21. The first limiting groove 102 and the ends of the rotating shaft 21 are in clearance fit, allowing the rotating shaft 21 to rotate relative to the box body 10, thereby causing the lid 20 to rotate relative to the box body 10. Simultaneously, the first limiting groove 102 limits the ends of the rotating shaft 21, preventing the rotating shaft 21 from moving up and down, i.e., preventing the rotating shaft 21 from moving along... Figures 1-3 The vertical sway shown in the figure prevents the rotating shaft 21 from coming off the housing 10 and causing the cover 20 to fall off, thereby improving the structural stability and reliability of the connector and reducing the scrap rate and production cost during production and use.

[0048] In some embodiments, the connection terminal 103 includes an odd number of terminals 1031 and an even number of terminals 1032. For example... Figures 1-3 As shown, odd-numbered terminals 1031 and even-numbered terminals 1032 refer to the sequential arrangement of each connection terminal 103 along the arrangement direction of the connection terminals 103. The connection terminal 103 with an odd number is called odd-numbered terminal 1031, and the connection terminal 103 with an even number is called even-numbered terminal 1032. Odd-numbered terminals 1031 and even-numbered terminals 1032 are arranged alternately. Generally, odd-numbered terminals 1031 are longer connection terminals 103, and even-numbered terminals 1032 are shorter connection terminals 103.

[0049] like Figures 1-3 As shown, the cover 20 includes a first connecting portion 201 and a plurality of partitions 202. The extending direction of the first connecting portion 201 is parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 21. One side of each partition 202 is fixedly connected to the first connecting portion 201, and the other side is penetrated and fixedly connected by the rotating shaft 21. The positions of the odd-numbered terminals 1031 correspond one-to-one with the gaps between two adjacent partitions 202, i.e., the odd-numbered terminals 1031 are inserted between two adjacent partitions 202. The positions of the even-numbered terminals 1032 correspond one-to-one with the positions of the partitions 202.

[0050] In related technologies, due to the large number of connector terminals 103, the overall length of the connector is relatively large, while its thickness is usually thin. Therefore, when soldering the connector onto the circuit board, thermal expansion and contraction can easily cause the connector's flatness to exceed specifications, resulting in the connector's ends warping. This prevents the cover 20 from fully closing, causing the connector terminals 103 on both sides of the connector to fail to contact the inserted circuit structure wiring. This leads to poor contact between the connector terminals 103 inside the housing 10 and the circuit structure wiring. In situations where the connector's movement is unstable, such as extreme vibration, impact, or drop, the terminals on both sides that are electrically connected by the connector may not make contact, resulting in momentary interruption of the electrical signal and affecting the normal operation of the circuit. To avoid this problem, the fastener 30 is also used to fix the housing 10. By fixing the housing 10 to the fastener 30, the warping problem of the housing 10 is improved, thereby enhancing the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminals on both sides.

[0051] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figures 1-7 As shown, the fixing member 30 includes a positioning part 32, and the housing 10 is provided with a positioning member 11. The positioning part 32 and the positioning member 11 abut against or snap together. The fixing member 30 can be disposed on both sides of the housing 10 along the axial direction of the rotation axis 21. Through the mutual cooperation between the positioning part 32 and the positioning member 11, the fixing member 30 is fixed to the housing 10. Therefore, when the connector is soldered onto the circuit board, the fixing member 30 exerts a clamping force on the housing 10, firmly connecting the housing 10 to the circuit board, thereby preventing the housing 10 from moving up and down (i.e., along the axial direction). Figure 5 (as shown in the vertical direction movement) to prevent the end of the housing 10 from warping and improve the reliability of the connector.

[0052] In one example, the positioning part 32 includes a groove disposed in the fixing member 30, and the positioning member 11 includes a protruding rib disposed in the box body 10. Figure 5 As shown, the protruding ribs provided on the box body 10 are engaged with the grooves provided on the fixing member 30. The protruding ribs and the grooves cooperate to limit the movement, thereby limiting the fixing member 30 to the box body 10 and preventing the box body 10 from moving up and down.

[0053] In one example, the sidewall of the groove is provided with at least one positioning protrusion 323. For example... Figures 5-7 As shown, the positioning protrusion 323 abuts against the rib to improve the contact bonding force, thereby enhancing the limiting effect of the fixing member 30 on the housing 10 and making the connector structure more stable and reliable. The number of positioning protrusions 323 can be one, or multiple positioning protrusions 323 can be set at different positions to improve positioning reliability and stability. This embodiment does not impose excessive limitations on this, and those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs.

[0054] In some embodiments, the first limiting portion includes a receiving groove 31, and the positioning portion 32 includes a first groove 321. Along the thickness direction of the box body 10, the receiving groove 31 communicates with the first groove 321. The first groove 321 is used to engage with the box body 10 for limiting positioning, and the receiving groove 31 is used to engage with the rotating shaft 21 for limiting positioning. Figures 5-7 As shown, the positioning member 11 includes a first protruding rib 111, which is engaged within the first groove 321. The first protruding rib 111 and the receiving groove 31 together form a receiving area 324. The receiving area 324 is used to receive the end of the rotating shaft 21, allowing the rotating shaft 21 to rotate relative to the fixing member 30. It also serves to limit the rotation of the rotating shaft 21, restricting its radial movement and preventing it from wobbling, thereby improving the fit between the cover 20 and the fixing member 30. Figures 1-4 The stability of the connection between the boxes 10 shown. Figures 5-6 Taking the orientation shown as an example, when installing the fixing member 30 to limit the rotation shaft 21, the fixing member 30 is installed in a top-to-bottom direction. Figures 1-4 In the mounting groove 104 of the box 10 shown, during this process, the rotating shaft 21 first passes through the first groove 321, then gets into the receiving groove 31, and is confined in the receiving area 324 formed by the first protrusion 111 and the receiving groove 31.

[0055] In some embodiments, the positioning part 32 further includes a second groove 322, which is used to engage with and limit the positioning member 11 on the housing 10. For example... Figure 5 As shown, along the length direction of the fastener 30 (i.e., the width direction of the box 10, that is...) Figure 5 (As shown in the horizontal direction), the first groove 321 and the second groove 322 are spaced apart. The positioning member 11 includes a second rib 112, which extends into the second groove 322. The second groove 322 and the second rib 112 are engaged to improve the limiting effect of the fixing member 10 on the box body 10.

[0056] In one example, a positioning protrusion 323 is provided on the sidewall of the first groove 321, and positioning protrusions 323 are respectively provided on the two opposite sidewalls of the second groove 322. Figures 5-7 As shown, the two positioning protrusions 323 of the second groove 322 are arranged opposite to each other. Of course, it can be understood that the two positioning protrusions 323 of the second groove 322 can also be staggered on the two opposite side walls of the second groove 322, or arranged on the two adjacent side walls of the second groove 322.

[0057] The number and position of the positioning protrusions 323 on the sidewalls of the first groove 321 and the second groove 322 can be adjusted according to actual needs. For example, more positioning protrusions 323 can be set in a larger groove to improve the contact bonding force between the fixing member 30 and the box body 10, while fewer positioning protrusions 323 can be set in a smaller groove to ensure a better limiting effect, while also saving materials and processing costs. This embodiment does not impose too many restrictions on this, and those skilled in the art can set it according to actual needs.

[0058] Of course, it is understood that this embodiment of the present disclosure uses one or two grooves in the positioning part 32 as an example for explanation. In actual production, the number of grooves in the positioning part 32 can be increased according to actual needs to increase the contact area between the positioning part 32 and the positioning member 11 and improve the stability of the connection between the fixing member 30 and the box body 10. This embodiment of the present disclosure does not impose too many restrictions on the number of grooves in the positioning part 32. Those skilled in the art can set it according to actual needs.

[0059] In some embodiments, the housing 10 is provided with a mounting groove 104. For example... Figures 1-4 As shown, the mounting groove 104 is used to mount the fastener 30. The housing 10 is typically made of insulating material to avoid interference with the circuit connection or overheating and melting. For example, the housing 10 can be made of plastic, resin, or other materials and formed by injection molding. During injection molding, a mold plate (not shown in the figure) can be placed at the position corresponding to the mounting groove 104. The shape of the mold plate corresponds to the shape of the fastener 30, and the size of the mold plate can be the same as or slightly larger than the size of the fastener 30. During injection molding, the liquid injection material will avoid the position of the mold plate. After the material solidifies, the mold plate is removed, thus forming the mounting groove 104 for mounting the fastener 30 on the housing 10.

[0060] Of course, it is understood that the embodiment of this disclosure takes the box body 10 formed by injection molding as an example. When the box body 10 is made of other materials, such as glass, quartz, ceramic and other insulating materials with higher hardness, the mounting groove 104 can also be formed by grinding, etching and other methods. The embodiment of this disclosure does not impose too many restrictions on the material of the box body 10 and the process of the mounting groove 104. Those skilled in the art can make selections according to actual needs.

[0061] In some embodiments, the fastener 30 has a fixing surface that is fixedly connected to the housing 10. For example... Figures 5-7 As shown, the fastener 30 includes a first end face 33 and a groove (i.e., Figures 5-7The opening of the positioning part 32) is provided on the first end face 33. The area of ​​the first end face 33 other than the area with the groove is set as the fixing surface. The fixing member 30 is fixedly connected to the box body 10 through the fixing surface. The fixing connection can be one or a combination of several methods such as plug-in connection and adhesive connection. This embodiment does not impose too many restrictions on this.

[0062] In some embodiments, a circuit board (not shown) is disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 10, and the fixing member 30 is soldered to the circuit board. The circuit board can be, for example, the motherboard of an electronic device, such as... Figures 5-7 As shown, the fastener 30 includes a metal sheet. The fastening surface of the fastener 30 can penetrate the bottom surface of the housing 10, and the fastening surface is soldered to the circuit board, thereby fixing the housing 10 to the circuit board. Since the area of ​​the fastening surface is larger than the solder pad area of ​​the connector, sufficient solder can be applied during soldering, improving the solder retention force between the fastener 30 and the circuit board, thereby improving the connection reliability between the connector and the circuit board.

[0063] When welding the fastener 30, silver solder, copper solder, tin-lead solder, or other solders can be used. For example, solder paste can be used when welding the fastener 30. Solder paste, also called soldering paste, is a paste-like mixture formed by mixing solder powder, flux, and other surfactants, thixotropic agents, etc. It has advantages such as high welding quality, high process flexibility, low melting point, high reliability, and wide application range, and can meet the welding needs of various electronic products. Therefore, it is widely used in the welding of various electronic components.

[0064] In some embodiments, the fastener 30 is provided with a clearance portion 34. For example... Figures 5-7 As shown, the clearance part 34 is provided on the top surface of the fixing member 30 and is located at the end away from the rotation axis 21. The clearance part 34 can be transitioned by a slope, arc surface, etc. The clearance part 34 is used to avoid the material strip when the fixing member 30 is being fed, so as to facilitate the removal of the fixing member 30 from the material strip, and at the same time reduce the amount of material used and reduce production costs.

[0065] In some embodiments, the cover 20 is mutually restrained with the box 10 in the closed state, such as... Figures 1-3 As shown, the cover 20 is also provided with a second limiting part 22, and the box 10 is provided with a second mating part 12. When the cover 20 is flipped to the closed state relative to the box 10, the second limiting part 22 and the second mating part 12 engage and limit the connection, thereby preventing the closed cover 20 from opening due to mechanical vibration, drops or other accidental factors during the use of the connector, which could cause the connected circuit board or cable to become loose. By providing the second limiting part 22 and the second mating part 12 to engage and limit the connection, the stability and reliability of the connector are improved.

[0066] In some embodiments, one of the second limiting portion 22 and the second mating portion 12 is configured as a limiting block, and the other is configured as a limiting groove. In one example, such as... Figures 1-3 As shown, the second limiting part 22 is a limiting block, and the second mating part 12 is a limiting groove that mates with the limiting block. Of course, it is understood that the second limiting part 22 can also be set as a limiting groove, the second mating part 12 can be set as a limiting block, or other limiting structures can be used. This embodiment does not impose too many restrictions on this, and those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs.

[0067] In some embodiments, the cover 20 is further provided with a handle 203. For example... Figures 1-3 As shown, a handle 203 is disposed on the first connecting portion 201, that is, at the end of the cover 20 away from the rotation axis 21. The handle 203 is used to facilitate assembly workers or users to push or pull the cover 20. The handle 203 can be injection molded together with the cover 20, or it can be a separate handle 203 fixed to the cover 20. The shape of the handle 203 can be a groove, cylinder, prism, ring, etc., or it can be a screw, nut, or other parts fixed to the cover 20. Those skilled in the art can set the handle 203 according to actual needs. This embodiment does not impose too many restrictions on the specific form of the handle 203.

[0068] According to an exemplary embodiment, such as Figures 1-7 As shown, this disclosure provides a connector assembly, which includes the connector described in the above embodiments. The connector is used to connect two circuit structures and transmit current or signals. The circuit structure can be a circuit board, cable, etc. The connector includes a housing 10, a cover 20, and a fixing member 30. The cover 20 has a rotating shaft 21, which rotatably connects the cover 20 to the housing 10, allowing the cover 20 to rotate relative to the housing 10 around the rotating shaft 21. The fixing member 30 is disposed on at least one side of the housing 10 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 21, and is used to limit the rotating shaft 21 to prevent the cover 20 from falling off. The fixing member 30 includes a first limiting part, and the rotating shaft 21 of the cover 20 is engaged with the first limiting part. The first limiting part restricts the rotating shaft 21 from disengaging from the fixing member 30. The first limiting part can be, for example, a limiting groove, a limiting buckle, etc. This disclosure does not impose excessive restrictions on the specific form of the first limiting part; those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs.

[0069] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, by setting the fixing member 30 to limit the rotation axis 21 of the cover 20, it is possible to avoid the cover 20 from falling off due to improper tension during the assembly and use of the connector, thereby causing the connector to be scrapped. This effectively improves the structural stability and reliability of the connector and reduces production and use losses and scrapping risks.

[0070] In some embodiments, the connector is a board-to-board connector. A board-to-board connector is also a connector used to connect circuit boards, exemplarily, such as... Figures 1-5 As shown, the connector is provided with a first circuit board 41, and the connector assembly also includes a second circuit board (not shown in the figure). The second circuit board is inserted into the connector from the end of the cover 20 away from the connector. When the cover 20 of the connector is rotated to the closed state relative to the housing 10 of the connector, the cover 20 presses the second terminal (not shown in the figure) of the second circuit board against the first terminal 411 of the first circuit board 41, so that the first terminal 411 and the second terminal respectively contact the connection terminal 103 of the connector, thereby realizing the electrical connection between the first circuit board 41 and the second circuit board.

[0071] The connector can be configured as described in the above embodiments, with only one cover 20 corresponding to the second circuit board, and the first circuit board 41 directly plugged into the connector. Alternatively, two covers 20 can be configured, corresponding to the first circuit board 41 and the second circuit board respectively, thereby facilitating the connection of different circuit boards as needed and improving the flexibility of circuit connection.

[0072] Of course, it is understood that this disclosure uses a board-to-board connector as an example for detailed description. Those skilled in the art can also apply similar technical solutions to other connectors based on the content of this disclosure, such as wire-to-board connectors connecting cables and circuit boards, or wire-to-wire connectors connecting two cables. The connector cover 20 can be either a front-flip or rear-flip type; this disclosure does not impose excessive restrictions on this, and those skilled in the art can configure it according to actual needs.

[0073] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the claims.

[0074] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connector, characterized in that, include: Box body; A lid having a rotation axis, the lid being able to rotate relative to the box body about the rotation axis; A fixing member is disposed on at least one side of the housing along the axial direction of the rotation axis; The fixing member includes a first limiting part, and the rotation shaft of the cover is engaged with the first limiting part. The first limiting part is used to prevent the rotation shaft from dislodging from the fixing member.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing component also includes a positioning part, and the box body is provided with a positioning part, the positioning part and the positioning part abutting or engaging with each other.

3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning part includes a groove disposed in the fixing member, the positioning member includes a rib disposed in the box body, and the side wall of the groove is provided with at least one positioning protrusion, the positioning protrusion abutting against the rib.

4. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first limiting part includes a receiving groove, and the positioning part includes a first groove. Along the thickness direction of the box body, the receiving groove communicates with the first groove. The positioning element includes a first rib, which, together with the receiving groove, forms a receiving area for receiving the end of the rotating shaft.

5. The connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first groove has a positioning protrusion on its sidewall.

6. The connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The positioning part further includes a second groove. Along the length direction of the fixing member, the first groove and the second groove are spaced apart. The positioning member includes a second rib, which extends into the second groove.

7. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The positioning protrusions are respectively provided on the two opposite sidewalls of the second groove, and the two positioning protrusions are arranged opposite each other or staggered.

8. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fastener includes a first end face, and the opening of the groove is disposed on the first end face; The area of ​​the first end face other than the area with the groove is set as a fixing surface, and the fastener is fixedly connected to the box body through the fixing surface.

9. The connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bottom surface of the box is provided with a circuit board, and the fixing component includes a metal sheet, with the fixing surface welded to the circuit board.

10. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The cover is also provided with a second limiting part, and the box is provided with a second mating part. When the cover is flipped relative to the box to a closed state, the second limiting part and the second mating part are engaged and limited.

11. The connector according to claim 10, characterized in that, One of the second limiting part and the second mating part is configured as a limiting block, and the other is configured as a limiting groove.

12. A connector assembly, characterized in that, The connector includes the connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the connector being provided with a first circuit board, and the connector assembly further includes a second circuit board inserted into the connector from one end of the cover remote from the connector; When the cover of the connector is rotated to a closed state relative to the housing of the connector, the cover presses the second terminal of the second circuit board against the first terminal of the first circuit board, so as to electrically connect the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

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