A BTB electrical connector structure

Abstract

The application discloses a BTB electric connector structure, which comprises a male connector and a female connector. The male connector is provided with a locking protrusion at opposite ends, and the female connector is provided with a bending buckle capable of elastically deforming at the opposite ends. When the bending buckle abuts against the locking protrusion, the bending buckle elastically avoids the locking protrusion, and after the female connector and the male connector are mutually matched in place, the bending buckle is elastically reset to the moving path of the locking protrusion in the pulling-out direction, thereby forming a mechanical locking effect, improving the holding force after mutual matching, and reducing the possibility of accidental separation of the female connector and the male connector when subjected to vibration, impact or external force in the pulling-out direction. By simultaneously pressing the bending buckles at the two ends of the female connector, the bending buckles are elastically deformed and exit the moving path of the locking protrusion in the pulling-out direction, so that the locking between the male connector and the female connector can be released, and the locking reliability after mutual matching and the convenience of dismounting operation are considered.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] BTB electrical connectors, or board-to-board connectors, typically consist of male and female connectors that can be mated together. Both the male and female connectors contain conductive terminals for transmitting electrical signals or current. Metal components may be placed at the ends of the connectors to facilitate soldering, current conduction, or structural reinforcement between the connector and the circuit board. After mating, the male and female connectors typically maintain their electrical connection through contact pressure and retention force generated by the elastic contact between their corresponding conductive terminals.

[0003] However, the mating retention force of existing BTB electrical connectors is mainly provided by the conductive terminals. The metal components at both ends of the connector typically only serve the functions of current conduction, welding fixation, or structural reinforcement, without providing additional mechanical locking force for the male and female connectors. Therefore, the self-locking force after connector mating is relatively limited. When the connector is subjected to vibration, impact, or external force in the pull-out direction, the male and female connectors may become relatively loose or accidentally separate. Increasing the pull-out force solely by increasing the contact pressure of the conductive terminals may also increase the insertion force of the connector and the mechanical load on the terminals, which is detrimental to balancing electrical contact performance, insertion and removal operation, and connection retention reliability. Therefore, how to improve the self-locking retention capability of BTB electrical connectors after mating without relying on simply increasing the contact pressure of the conductive terminals has become a technical problem that needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: how to improve the mechanical retention force of the male connector and the female connector after they are plugged in by utilizing the original end fittings of the board-to-board electrical connector without overly relying on the clamping force of the conductive terminals and without adding additional independent locking parts.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a BTB electrical connector structure, comprising: The male connector has male fittings at its two opposite ends, and the male fittings have locking protrusions that bend outwards. The female connector has female fittings at both opposite ends, and the female fittings have bending buckles that bend inward and can be elastically deformed. The bent buckle abuts against the locking protrusion and provides elastic clearance. After the female connector and the male connector are mated in place, the bent buckle elastically resets and is located on the moving path of the locking protrusion along the pull-out direction, so as to restrict the separation of the female connector and the male connector along the pull-out direction. When the bending latches at both ends of the female connector are pressed simultaneously, the bending latches undergo elastic deformation and disengage from the locking protrusion along the movement path of the pull-out direction, thereby releasing the lock between the female connector and the male connector.

[0006] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: This invention provides male connector fittings with locking protrusions at both ends of the male connector and elastically deformable bent latches at both ends of the female connector. After the male and female connectors are mated, the bent latches elastically return to their original position along the movement path of the locking protrusions in the pull-out direction, forming a mechanical stop in the pull-out direction. Therefore, in addition to the insertion and extraction holding force provided by the conductive terminals, the male and female connectors can obtain an additional mechanical self-locking force through the locking fit between the fittings at both ends. This reduces the connector holding force's reliance solely on the elastic contact pressure of the conductive terminals, improving the connection stability and pull-out resistance after mating.

[0007] This invention utilizes the existing end fittings of the male and female connectors to form a locking fit structure, enabling the end fittings to take on a mechanical locking function in addition to their original conductive, welding, or structural reinforcement functions. This helps to make full use of the limited structural space at both ends of the BTB electrical connector and reduces the need for independent locking parts, thereby helping to control the overall size of the connector, the number of parts, and the complexity of assembly.

[0008] During the mating process between the female and male connectors, the bending latch can elastically avoid the pressure of the locking protrusion, allowing the two connectors to mate smoothly. After mating, the bending latch can automatically reset and lock itself due to its own elasticity, without the need for additional locking operations. This balances the convenience of connector mating operations with the reliability of locking after mating.

[0009] The male and female connectors form a locking fit at their opposite ends, which limits the male and female connectors from both ends. This distributes the locking effect on both sides of the connector, reducing the possibility of misalignment or unilateral tilting when the connector is subjected to pull-out force, thereby improving the stability of the mating state between the male and female connectors.

[0010] When the connector needs to be disassembled, press the bending clips at both ends of the female connector simultaneously. This causes the bending clips to elastically deform and disengage from the locking protrusion along the pull-out direction, thus releasing the mechanical lock between the male and female connectors. This avoids forcibly separating the connector by increasing the external force of pull-out, which helps reduce the mechanical load on the conductive terminals and connector body during disassembly, while also ensuring high self-locking retention force and connector disassembly. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the BTB electrical connector structure according to an embodiment of the present invention (male connector and female connector separated). Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the BTB electrical connector structure according to an embodiment of the present invention (male connector and female connector in mating state). Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the BTB electrical connector structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Label Explanation: 1. Male connector; 11. Male fitting; 12. Locking protrusion; 121. Guide surface; 122. Stop surface; 2. Female connector; 21. Female fitting; 22. Bending buckle; 221. Elastic arm; 222. Locking part; 23. Pressing part; 24. Cutting notch. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely represents selected embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent drawings. Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0014] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3A BTB electrical connector structure includes a male connector 1 and a female connector 2. The male connector 1 has male fittings 11 at opposite ends, each fitting having an outwardly bent locking protrusion 12. The female connector 2 has female fittings 21 at opposite ends, each fitting having an inwardly bent and elastically deformable bent latch 22. The bent latch 22 abuts against the locking protrusion 12 and provides elastic clearance. After the male connector 1 is mated in place, the bent latch 22 elastically resets and is located on the moving path of the locking protrusion 12 along the pull-out direction, so as to restrict the separation of the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 along the pull-out direction; when the bent latches 22 at both ends of the female connector 2 are pressed at the same time, the bent latches 22 undergo elastic deformation and exit the moving path of the locking protrusion 12 along the pull-out direction, so as to release the locking between the female connector 2 and the male connector 1.

[0015] As can be seen from the above description, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: By providing male fittings 11 with locking protrusions 12 at both ends of the male connector 1 and elastically deformable bent buckles 22 at both ends of the female connector 2, the bent buckles 22 elastically avoid contact with the locking protrusions 12 and elastically return to the moving path of the locking protrusions 12 along the pull-out direction after the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated in place. This creates an additional mechanical locking effect between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, improving the holding force after mating and reducing the possibility of accidental separation when the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are subjected to vibration, impact or external force in the pull-out direction. At the same time, by pressing the bent buckles 22 at both ends of the female connector 2 simultaneously, the bent buckles 22 elastically deform and exit the moving path of the locking protrusions 12 along the pull-out direction, the locking between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 can be released, thus balancing the reliability of the locking after mating and the convenience of disassembly.

[0016] Furthermore, the two male fittings 11 located at both ends of the male connector 1 are correspondingly provided with the two female fittings 21 located at both ends of the female connector 2. The locking protrusion 12 on each male fitting 11 and the bent buckle 22 on the corresponding female fitting 21 form a locking engagement structure.

[0017] As described above, by setting the two male fittings 11 at both ends of the male connector 1 and the two female fittings 21 at both ends of the female connector 2 in a one-to-one correspondence, and by forming a locking engagement structure with the locking protrusion 12 on each male fitting 11 and the bent buckle 22 on the corresponding female fitting 21, a locking effect can be provided simultaneously from the opposite ends of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, making the locking force distribution in the pull-out direction more balanced, reducing the possibility of unilateral tilting, skewness or partial disengagement when the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are subjected to force, thereby improving the stability of their mating state.

[0018] Furthermore, the locking protrusion 12 is integrally formed by bending a portion of the male end fitting 11 toward the outside of the male end connector 1, and the bent buckle 22 is integrally formed by bending a portion of the female end fitting 21 toward the inside of the female end connector 2.

[0019] As described above, by setting the locking protrusion 12 to be integrally bent outward from a portion of the male fitting 11 toward the outside of the male connector 1, and setting the bent buckle 22 to be integrally bent inward from a portion of the female fitting 21 toward the inside of the female connector 2, the locking protrusion 12 and the bent buckle 22 can be directly formed using the original materials of the male fitting 11 and the female fitting 21, without the need for additional independent locking parts. This helps to reduce the number of parts and assembly steps, and improves the connection stability between the locking protrusion 12 and the male fitting 11, and between the bent buckle 22 and the female fitting 21. At the same time, it helps to control the overall size of the BTB electrical connector structure.

[0020] Furthermore, the bending buckle 22 includes an elastic arm 221 connected to the female end fitting 21 and a locking part 222 disposed at the free end of the elastic arm 221. The elastic arm 221 can drive the locking part 222 to move elastically in a direction close to or away from the locking protrusion 12.

[0021] As described above, by including an elastic arm 221 connected to the female end fitting 21 and a locking part 222 disposed at the free end of the elastic arm 221, and by using the elastic arm 221 to drive the locking part 222 to move elastically in the direction of approaching or moving away from the locking protrusion 12, the locking part 222 can generate controlled elastic avoidance when the female end connector 2 and the male end connector 1 are mated, and after mating, it forms a locking engagement with the locking protrusion 12 by relying on the elastic recovery effect of the elastic arm 221, thereby improving the reliability of the elastic action of the bending buckle 22 and facilitating locking and unlocking by changing the position of the locking part 222.

[0022] Furthermore, the locking protrusion 12 is provided with a guide surface 121 and a stop surface 122. During the mating process of the female connector 2 and the male connector 1, the locking part 222 slides along the guide surface 121 and drives the elastic arm 221 to generate elastic deformation. After the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated in place, the locking part 222 passes over the guide surface 121 and is positioned opposite to the stop surface 122 in the pull-out direction.

[0023] As described above, by providing a guide surface 121 and a stop surface 122 on the locking protrusion 12, when the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated, the locking part 222 can slide along the guide surface 121 and drive the elastic arm 221 to gradually generate elastic deformation. This helps to reduce the resistance when the locking part 222 passes over the locking protrusion 12, making the mating process smoother. After mating, the locking part 222 passes over the guide surface 121 and is positioned opposite to the stop surface 122 in the pull-out direction. The stop surface 122 can form a clear mechanical block on the locking part 222, thereby improving the locking reliability and pull-out resistance between the locking part 222 and the locking protrusion 12.

[0024] Furthermore, the female end fitting 21 is also provided with a pressing part 23 connected to the elastic arm 221. The pressing part 23 is located outside the female end connector 2 and is at least partially exposed. When the pressing part 23 is pressed, it causes the elastic arm 221 to undergo elastic deformation, so that the locking part 222 exits the moving path of the locking protrusion 12 along the pull-out direction.

[0025] As described above, by providing a pressing part 23 connected to the elastic arm 221 on the female end fitting 21, and placing the pressing part 23 on the outside of the female end connector 2 and at least partially exposed, the operator can directly apply pressing force to the pressing part 23. The pressing part 23 drives the elastic arm 221 to produce elastic deformation, thereby causing the locking part 222 to exit the moving path of the locking protrusion 12 in the pulling direction. Thus, the locking can be released by active pressing, avoiding the need to forcibly separate the female end connector 2 and the male end connector 1 by increasing the pulling force. This helps to reduce the mechanical load borne by the male end connector 1, the female end connector 2 and their internal conductive structures during disassembly.

[0026] Furthermore, the pressing parts 23 on the two female end fittings 21 are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the female end connector 2. When the two pressing parts 23 are pressed down simultaneously, they respectively drive the corresponding bending buckles 22 to move elastically away from the corresponding locking protrusions 12.

[0027] As described above, by setting the pressing parts 23 on the two female end fittings 21 at opposite ends of the female end connector 2, and when the two pressing parts 23 are pressed down simultaneously, the corresponding bent buckles 22 move elastically away from the corresponding locking protrusions 12, thus simultaneously releasing the locking engagement at both ends of the female end connector 2. This avoids situations where the female end connector 2 and the male end connector 1 are tilted, stuck, or subject to localized force concentration due to releasing only one side of the lock, thereby making the separation process smoother and reducing the possibility of accidentally unlocking the whole by accidentally touching a single pressing part 23.

[0028] Furthermore, at least one blanking notch 24 is provided at the connection position between the bending buckle 22 and the female end fitting 21. The blanking notch 24 is used to reduce the local cross-sectional stiffness of the bending buckle 22 in order to improve the elastic deformation capacity of the bending buckle 22.

[0029] As described above, by providing at least one blanking notch 24 at the connection position between the bent buckle 22 and the female end fitting 21, the local cross-sectional stiffness of the bent buckle 22 can be reduced by using the blanking notch 24, thereby improving the elastic deformation capacity of the bent buckle 22. This makes it easier for the bent buckle 22 to generate the required elastic deformation when it abuts against the locking protrusion 12 or is pressed, which helps to reduce the elastic avoidance resistance during the mating process and the pressing force required when unlocking. Furthermore, the elastic performance of the bent buckle 22 can be adapted by adjusting the number, position, or size of the blanking notch 24.

[0030] Furthermore, when the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated in place, the projection of the bending buckle 22 and the locking protrusion 12 in the pull-out direction at least partially overlaps, forming a preset interference amount to limit the separation of the female connector 2 and the male connector 1.

[0031] As described above, when the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated in place, the projections of the bent latch 22 and the locking protrusion 12 in the pull-out direction at least partially overlap, forming a preset interference amount. This ensures that the bent latch 22 is located on the moving path of the locking protrusion 12 in the pull-out direction, so that the locking protrusion 12 is mechanically blocked by the bent latch 22 when the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are separated, thereby forming a clear and stable anti-pull-out effect. At the same time, the locking and retaining force between the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 can be adapted by adjusting the preset interference amount.

[0032] Furthermore, the surfaces of the locking protrusion 12 and the bending buckle 22 that abut against each other along the pull-out direction are inclined relative to the pull-out direction and form a preset pull-out angle. The preset pull-out angle and the preset interference amount together limit the pull-out force after the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated.

[0033] As described above, by setting the surfaces of the locking protrusion 12 and the bent buckle 22 that abut against each other along the pull-out direction at an inclined angle relative to the pull-out direction, and by using the preset pull-out angle and the preset interference amount to limit the pull-out force after the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated, the force direction and slippage tendency between the locking protrusion 12 and the bent buckle 22 can be changed by adjusting the preset pull-out angle, and the mechanical resistance between the two can be adjusted by combining the preset interference amount. Thus, while meeting the self-locking retention force requirement, excessive pull-out force is avoided, achieving a balance between locking reliability and disassembly convenience.

[0034] Example In one embodiment, a BTB electrical connector structure is provided, including a male connector 1 and a female connector 2. The male connector 1 has male fittings 11 at its two opposite ends, and the male fittings 11 have locking protrusions 12 bent outwards. The female connector 2 has female fittings 21 at its two opposite ends, and the female fittings 21 have bent buckles 22 bent inwards and capable of elastic deformation. The bent buckles 22 abut against the locking protrusions 12 and elastically avoid them. After the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated in place, the bent buckles 22 elastically reset and are located on the movement path of the locking protrusions 12 in the pull-out direction, so as to restrict the separation of the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 in the pull-out direction. When the bent buckles 22 at both ends of the female connector 2 are pressed at the same time, the bent buckles 22 elastically deform and exit the movement path of the locking protrusions 12 in the pull-out direction, so as to release the locking between the female connector 2 and the male connector 1.

[0035] Specifically, the male connector 1 includes a male insulating body, a male conductive terminal disposed within the male insulating body, and male fittings 11 installed at opposite ends of the male insulating body. The female connector 2 includes a female insulating body, a female conductive terminal disposed within the female insulating body, and female fittings 21 installed at opposite ends of the female insulating body. The male and female insulating bodies can be injection molded from high-temperature resistant insulating materials to meet the requirements of circuit board reflow soldering and electrical insulation. The male fittings 11 and female fittings 21 are formed by stamping, blanking, and bending of conductive and elastic metal strips, such as phosphor bronze or other copper alloy materials, to balance current conduction capacity, formability, and elastic recovery capacity; in practical applications, other conductive metal materials can also be selected according to the working current, mechanical strength, elastic deformation, and welding process, and this embodiment of the invention does not limit this.

[0036] "The two opposite ends" refers to the two ends of the male connector 1 or the female connector 2 along its length. Male fittings 11 are respectively installed at the two ends of the male insulating body, and female fittings 21 are respectively installed at the two ends of the female insulating body. Male fittings 11 and female fittings 21 can be installed on the corresponding insulating bodies via insert molding, press-fitting, or other fixing methods, and can be provided with soldering parts for soldering to the circuit board.

[0037] "Outer side" refers to the direction from the inside of the male connector 1 away from its center area, while "inner side" refers to the direction from the outside of the female connector 2 towards its center mating area. A portion of the metal sheet of the male connector 11 is bent outwards to form a locking protrusion 12, and a portion of the metal sheet of the female connector 21 is bent inwards to form a bent latch 22. The locking protrusion 12 and the bent latch 22 are positioned to contact each other after the male connector 1 and female connector 2 are mated.

[0038] "Pull-out direction" refers to the direction in which the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 move from a mating state to a disengaged state, and this direction is opposite to the mating insertion direction of the two. "Movement path of locking protrusion 12 along the pull-out direction" refers to the spatial area traversed by the locking protrusion 12 relative to the bending latch 22 when the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are separated from each other, moving along the pull-out direction.

[0039] When male connector 1 and female connector 2 begin to mate, the bent latch 22 first contacts the locking protrusion 12. As the two connectors continue to approach each other, the locking protrusion 12 applies a lateral force to the bent latch 22, causing the bent latch 22 to elastically deform away from the locking protrusion 12, thus creating elastic avoidance. When male connector 1 and female connector 2 are fully mated, the bent latch 22 passes over the locking protrusion 12 and resets under its own elastic restoring force, allowing the bent latch 22 to enter the movement path of the locking protrusion 12 in the pull-out direction. When male connector 1 is subjected to an external force in the pull-out direction, the locking protrusion 12 and the bent latch 22 abut against each other, thereby preventing the two connectors from separating.

[0040] When disassembly is required, press down on the bent latches 22 at both ends of the female connector 2 simultaneously, causing the two bent latches 22 to elastically deform and disengage from the corresponding locking protrusions 12 along the pull-out direction. At this time, the locking protrusions 12 are no longer mechanically blocked by the bent latches 22, and the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 can separate from each other along the pull-out direction.

[0041] Working principle: During the mating process between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, the locking protrusion 12 drives the bending latch 22 to elastically avoid contact. After mating, the bending latch 22 automatically resets into the movement path of the locking protrusion 12, forming a reverse mechanical stop with the locking protrusion 12 and the bending latch 22. During disassembly, pressing both ends of the bending latch 22 simultaneously causes it to exit the movement path of the locking protrusion 12, thus switching from the locked state to the unlocked state. This structure utilizes the male fitting 11 and the female fitting 21 to form an additional mechanical locking force independent of the contact force of the conductive terminals, improving the vibration resistance, impact resistance, and pull-out resistance of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 after mating. Simultaneously, pressing the bending latch 22 actively releases the lock, avoiding the need for forced disassembly of the connector with excessive pull-out force, thus balancing connection reliability and disassembly convenience.

[0042] In one embodiment, two male fittings 11 located at both ends of the male connector 1 are correspondingly provided with two female fittings 21 located at both ends of the female connector 2. The locking protrusion 12 on each male fitting 11 and the bent buckle 22 on the corresponding female fitting 21 form a locking engagement structure.

[0043] Male connector 1 has a male fitting 11 installed at each of its two ends along its length, and the two male fittings 11 respectively form locking protrusions 12; female connector 2 has a female fitting 21 installed at each of its two ends along its length, and the two female fittings 21 respectively form bent snaps 22. When male connector 1 and female connector 2 are mated, the male fittings 11 and female fittings 21 at the same end correspond to each other, so that the corresponding locking protrusions 12 and bent snaps 22 form a set of locking engagement structures.

[0044] The two sets of locking mechanisms can be arranged symmetrically relative to the center of the connector, ensuring that the distances from the two locking positions to the connector center are essentially the same. The two locking protrusions 12 can be at the same height, and the two bent latches 22 can also be at the same height, thus ensuring that the locking actions at both ends are essentially synchronized. In practical applications, the positions of the two sets of locking mechanisms can be adjusted according to the connector length, terminal arrangement area, and circuit board mounting space; the embodiments in this application do not limit their absolute dimensions.

[0045] Working principle: After the male connector 1 and female connector 2 are mated in place, the bent latches 22 at both ends enter the corresponding locking protrusions 12 along the pull-out direction. The two sets of locking structures jointly bear the load in the pull-out direction. When the two connectors are subjected to pull-out force, the locking protrusions 12 at both ends abut against the corresponding bent latches 22, distributing the pull-out load to both ends of the connector. Through the locking structures that are set one-to-one at both ends, the mechanical locking force can be evenly distributed at the opposite ends of the male connector 1 and female connector 2, reducing unilateral tilting, inclination, and local stress concentration, and improving the stability of the connector mating posture and the overall pull-out resistance.

[0046] In one embodiment, the locking protrusion 12 is integrally formed by bending a portion of the male end fitting 11 toward the outside of the male end connector 1, and the bent buckle 22 is integrally formed by bending a portion of the female end fitting 21 toward the inside of the female end connector 2.

[0047] The male fitting 11 can be made from a continuous metal strip through a progressive stamping die, forming a bendable sheet portion in a predetermined area of ​​the male fitting 11. The sheet portion is then bent outwards towards the male connector 1 through a bending station to form a locking protrusion 12. There is no welded joint or independent connecting part between the locking protrusion 12 and the main body of the male fitting 11.

[0048] The female end fitting 21 is formed using the same or a compatible stamping and bending process. During the blanking process, the female end fitting 21 forms a sheet-like area that constitutes the bending latch 22. This sheet-like area is then bent inward toward the female end connector 2, so that the bending latch 22 can engage with the locking protrusion 12. The bending position can use a rounded transition to reduce stress concentration at the root of the bend and to maintain the elastic recovery capability of the bending latch 22 during multiple mating and unlocking processes.

[0049] The locking protrusion 12 and the bending buckle 22 can be completed in one step during the metal stamping stage or through two processes: pre-bending and final bending. When using step bending, the influence of metal springback on the forming angle can be reduced, and the positional accuracy of the locking protrusion 12 and the bending buckle 22 can be improved.

[0050] Working principle: The male fitting 11 and female fitting 21 serve as metal components at the connector ends, and each also forms a locking protrusion 12 and a bent latch 22 through its own integrated bending structure. After mating, the mechanical locking load is directly borne by the integrated locking protrusion 12 and bent latch 22. The integrated bending structure reduces independent locking parts and corresponding assembly processes, lowers the risk of parts loosening, and ensures high structural continuity and connection strength between the locking protrusion 12 and the male fitting 11, and between the bent latch 22 and the female fitting 21. It also helps control the overall dimensions of the BTB electrical connector.

[0051] In one embodiment, the bending buckle 22 includes an elastic arm 221 connected to the female end fitting 21 and a locking part 222 disposed at the free end of the elastic arm 221. The elastic arm 221 can drive the locking part 222 to move elastically in a direction close to or away from the locking protrusion 12.

[0052] The elastic arm 221 extends outward from the main body of the female end fitting 21, with one end continuously connected to the main body of the female end fitting 21 and the other end forming a free end capable of free displacement. The locking part 222 is formed at the free end of the elastic arm 221. The locking part 222 can be further bent, rolled or stamped from the free end to give the locking part 222 a surface that can contact the locking protrusion 12.

[0053] The elastic arm 221 constitutes a cantilevered elastic structure. The length of the elastic arm 221 extends from the main body of the female fitting 21 towards the free end. Its elastic stiffness is determined by the width, length, material thickness, and bending rate of the elastic arm 221. The length and width of the elastic arm 221 can be set according to the internal space of the connector, the required displacement of the locking part 222, the mating insertion force, and the pressing unlocking force. The three-dimensional structure only represents one specific form; the dimensions of the elastic buckle in different directions can be extended or shortened according to the actual product.

[0054] The locking part 222 is located at the free end of the elastic arm 221, so that the elastic arm 221 can be moved as a whole by the locking part 222 when it is subjected to external force. When the locking part 222 moves toward the locking protrusion 12, it enters the locking position. When the locking part 222 moves away from the locking protrusion 12, it forms an avoidance or unlocking position.

[0055] Working principle: During mating, the locking protrusion 12 applies a force to the locking part 222, which transmits the force to the elastic arm 221, causing the elastic arm 221 to bend elastically and move the locking part 222 away from the locking protrusion 12. After mating, the elastic arm 221 releases its elastic potential energy and moves the locking part 222 back to its original position. During unlocking, a pressing force is applied to the bent latch 22, causing the elastic arm 221 to bend again and move the locking part 222 out of its locked position. The elastic arm 221 provides a clear and controllable elastic displacement path for the locking part 222, enabling the bent latch 22 to repeatedly complete the avoidance, reset, and unlocking actions. The locking part 222 centrally bears the contact and stopping function with the locking protrusion 12, which helps improve the consistency of the locking action, the reliability of elastic recovery, and the service life.

[0056] In one embodiment, the locking protrusion 12 is provided with a guide surface 121 and a stop surface 122. During the mating process of the female connector 2 and the male connector 1, the locking part 222 slides along the guide surface 121 and drives the elastic arm 221 to generate elastic deformation. After the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated in place, the locking part 222 passes over the guide surface 121 and is positioned opposite to the stop surface 122 in the pull-out direction.

[0057] The guide surface 121 is located on the side of the locking protrusion 12 facing the mating insertion direction and is inclined relative to the mating insertion direction. The guide surface 121 gradually transitions from the lower region to the higher region of the locking protrusion 12, so that after the locking part 222 contacts the guide surface 121, it can gradually slide along the guide surface 121 instead of directly impacting the highest position of the locking protrusion 12.

[0058] The stop surface 122 is located on the side of the locking protrusion 12 facing the pull-out direction. After the stop surface 122 and the locking part 222 are mated in place, they are positioned opposite each other in the pull-out direction, thereby forming an abutment when the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 tend to separate. The guide surface 121 and the stop surface 122 can be connected by an arc transition area to reduce scratches caused by sharp edges to the locking part 222. After the locking protrusion 12 is stamped and bent, it can be deburred to ensure the smoothness of the sliding of the locking part 222 along the guide surface 121.

[0059] Working principle: When the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 mate, the locking part 222 slides along the guide surface 121. The guide surface 121 converts the force in the mating direction into a component force that causes the elastic arm 221 to bend, allowing the locking part 222 to gradually avoid the guide surface. After the locking part 222 passes the guide surface 121, the elastic arm 221 drives the locking part 222 to reset, so that the locking part 222 is located on the side of the stop surface 122 facing the pull-out direction. When a pull-out action occurs, the locking part 222 abuts against the stop surface 122, preventing the two connectors from separating further. The guide surface 121 can reduce the resistance required for the locking part 222 to pass over the locking protrusion 12 during the mating process, reducing collisions and jamming; the stop surface 122 can form a clear mechanical stop after mating, improving the pull-out resistance and locking reliability of the locking structure.

[0060] In one embodiment, the female end fitting 21 is further provided with a pressing part 23 connected to the elastic arm 221. The pressing part 23 is located outside the female end connector 2 and is at least partially exposed. When the pressing part 23 is pressed, it causes the elastic arm 221 to undergo elastic deformation, so that the locking part 222 exits the moving path of the locking protrusion 12 along the pull-out direction.

[0061] The pressing part 23 is formed by extending or bending a portion of the female end fitting 21 and forms a continuous force transmission structure with the elastic arm 221. The pressing part 23 is located on the outside of the female end insulating body, and the female end insulating body forms an operating opening or clearance space at the position corresponding to the pressing part 23, so that the pressing part 23 is at least partially exposed, and the operator can contact the pressing part 23 with his / her fingers or unlocking tools.

[0062] The pressing part 23 can be formed into a flat or arc-shaped surface with a certain contact area to apply downward pressing force. After receiving downward pressing force, the pressing part 23 transmits the force to the elastic arm 221, causing the elastic arm 221 to bend and deform, and driving the locking part 222 to move away from the locking protrusion 12. The operating stroke of the pressing part 23 is based on the movement path that allows the locking part 222 to completely disengage from the locking protrusion 12 in the pull-out direction.

[0063] The female end insulation body can also form a limiting surface in the moving direction of the pressing part 23 or the elastic arm 221. When the pressing part 23 reaches the set stroke, it abuts against the limiting surface to limit the elastic arm 221 from continuing to deform and reduce the possibility of the elastic arm 221 undergoing plastic deformation due to excessive pressing.

[0064] Working principle: The pressing part 23 serves as the input point for external operating force, transmitting downward pressing pressure to the elastic arm 221. When the elastic arm 221 bends, it moves the locking part 222 away from the locking protrusion 12, causing the locking part 222 to switch from the locked position to the unlocked position. After the pressing force is removed, the elastic arm 221 and the pressing part 23 return to their original positions under the elasticity of the materials. The exposed pressing part 23 allows for convenient and direct release of the mechanical lock, reducing the pulling force required during disassembly, minimizing the mechanical load on the conductive terminals, insulating body, and solder joints caused by forced pull-out, and improving the convenience of connector maintenance and disassembly / reassembly operations.

[0065] In one embodiment, the pressing parts 23 on the two female end fittings 21 are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the female end connector 2. When the two pressing parts 23 are pressed down at the same time, they respectively drive the corresponding bent buckles 22 to move elastically away from the corresponding locking protrusions 12.

[0066] Two pressing parts 23 are located at two ends along the length of the female connector 2, and are respectively connected to the elastic arm 221 and the bending buckle 22 at the same end. Both pressing parts 23 have accessible operating areas on the outside of the female connector 2, allowing the operator to press down simultaneously with two fingers, or to apply downward force synchronously using an unlocking tool corresponding to the position of the two pressing parts 23.

[0067] The pressing directions of the two pressing parts 23 are basically parallel, and the unlocking displacement directions of the two bent latches 22 are respectively in directions away from the corresponding locking protrusions 12. During the pressing process, the two elastic arms 221 respectively undergo elastic bending, causing the locking parts 222 at both ends to exit the corresponding locking protrusions 12 in a basically synchronous manner along the pull-out direction. After completing the double-end unlocking, the male connector 1 or the female connector 2 is then moved along the pull-out direction.

[0068] Working principle: When both pressing parts 23 are pressed down simultaneously, the elastic arms 221 at both ends drive the corresponding bent latches 22 away from the corresponding locking protrusions 12, causing both sets of locking mechanisms to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state simultaneously. When the two connectors move in the pulling direction, there are no unreleased mechanical stops at either end. Simultaneous release of the locking at both ends avoids tilting, jamming, and localized force concentration caused by locking on one side, making the separation process of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 smoother; at the same time, the simultaneous operation at both ends reduces the possibility of the entire connector being unlocked due to accidental contact with a single pressing part 23.

[0069] In one embodiment, at least one blanking notch 24 is provided at the connection position between the bent buckle 22 and the female end fitting 21. The blanking notch 24 is used to reduce the local cross-sectional stiffness of the bent buckle 22 in order to improve the elastic deformation capacity of the bent buckle 22.

[0070] The blanking notch 24 can be formed simultaneously during the stamping and blanking process of the female end fitting 21. In one specific embodiment, the blanking notch 24 is located at the root region where the bending buckle 22 connects to the main body of the female end fitting 21. The blanking notch 24 is arranged along the extension direction of the elastic arm 221, thereby reducing the effective cross-sectional width at the root of the elastic arm 221. The blanking notch 24 can also be located in the middle region of the bending buckle 22 to change the effective deformation area of ​​the elastic arm 221.

[0071] The blanking notch 24 can be a single notch or multiple notches spaced apart along the width or length of the elastic arm 221. The blanking notch 24 can be elongated, arc-shaped, U-shaped, or other shapes that can be formed by stamping. The number, direction, and size of the blanking notches 24 are determined based on the required elasticity, material thickness, locking force, and pressing unlocking force of the bending buckle 22. The number of blanking notches 24 can be one or more, and is not limited to a single direction.

[0072] The edges of the blanking notch 24 can be rounded to avoid sharp inner corners, thereby reducing stress concentration during repeated elastic deformation. When determining the dimensions of the blanking notch 24, the stress and displacement of the elastic arm 221 can be analyzed first through finite element simulation, and then corrected through the mutual force, unlocking force, and repeated insertion and extraction tests of actual samples.

[0073] Working principle: The notch 24 reduces the effective cross-sectional area and moment of inertia of the local area of ​​the bending buckle 22, allowing the elastic arm 221 to generate a larger elastic displacement under the same external force. When the bending buckle 22 abuts against the locking protrusion 12 or when the pressing part 23 is pressed, the area with the notch 24 constitutes the main elastic deformation area. The notch 24 can adjust the elastic stiffness without significantly increasing the overall space occupied by the bending buckle 22, reducing the elastic avoidance resistance during mating and the pressing force during unlocking. Furthermore, by adjusting the number, position, and size of the notches 24, the elastic recovery capability of the bending buckle 22 can be matched with the locking force.

[0074] In one embodiment, when the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated in place, the projections of the bent buckle 22 and the locking protrusion 12 in the pull-out direction at least partially overlap, forming a preset interference amount for limiting the separation of the female connector 2 and the male connector 1.

[0075] "The projections in the pull-out direction at least partially overlap" means that when viewed along the pull-out direction, the area of ​​the bent buckle 22 used for stopping and the area of ​​the locking protrusion 12 used for stopping have overlapping portions. This overlapping portion corresponds to a preset interference amount between the bent buckle 22 and the locking protrusion 12.

[0076] The preset interference amount can be determined by the bending height of the locking protrusion 12, the bending position of the bent buckle 22, the extension length of the locking part 222, and the installation positions of the male end hardware 11 and the female end hardware 21 in the insulating body. During the design process, a structural model is first established based on the target pull-out force. The deformation of the elastic arm 221, the locking contact force, and the structural stress under different interference conditions are calculated through simulation. Then, an actual sample is fabricated for pull-out force testing, and the forming dimensions of the locking protrusion 12 or the bent buckle 22 are adjusted based on the test results. The interference amount can be adjusted according to the simulation results or the pull-out force of the actual sample.

[0077] The preset interference amount should also take into account the metal stamping and bending tolerances, the insulation body forming tolerances, and the assembly tolerances, so that products within the allowable manufacturing tolerance range can still form an effective lock, while avoiding the bending buckle 22 from being difficult to unlock due to excessive interference.

[0078] Working principle: After the male connector 1 and female connector 2 are mated in place, the bent latch 22 and the locking protrusion 12 overlap in the pull-out direction. When the two connectors tend to separate, the locking protrusion 12 must push the bent latch 22 to make sufficient displacement to cross the overlap area. Therefore, the bent latch 22 forms a mechanical block against the locking protrusion 12. The preset interference amount ensures that the bent latch 22 and the locking protrusion 12 form a stable and repeatable mechanical lock, and the locking force can be controlled by adjusting the size, achieving a reasonable match between preventing accidental separation and controlling the unlocking stroke.

[0079] In one embodiment, the surfaces of the locking protrusion 12 and the bent buckle 22 that abut against each other along the pull-out direction are inclined relative to the pull-out direction, forming a preset pull-out angle. The preset pull-out angle and the preset interference amount together limit the pull-out force after the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated.

[0080] The locking protrusion 12 has an abutting surface facing the pull-out direction, and the bent latch 22 has an abutting surface corresponding to the abutting surface. At least one of the two abutting surfaces is inclined relative to the pull-out direction, so that when the locking protrusion 12 is subjected to a force in the pull-out direction, the abutting position generates a component force that causes the bent latch 22 to elastically deform.

[0081] The preset pull-out angle is a predetermined angle formed between the abutting surface and the pull-out direction or a reference plane perpendicular to the pull-out direction. The reference direction of this angle should be consistent in the accompanying drawings and descriptions to avoid ambiguity. In this embodiment, the preset pull-out angle can be defined as the angle between the abutting surface and a reference plane perpendicular to the pull-out direction. The closer the abutting surface is to the reference plane, the more pronounced the mechanical stopping effect; as the inclination of the abutting surface increases, the component of the pull-out force that causes the bending buckle 22 to elastically avoid the pull-out changes accordingly. The actual variation should be determined by considering the shape of the locking protrusion 12, the stiffness of the bending buckle 22, and the preset interference amount.

[0082] The preset pull-out angle can be formed by changing the working surface angle of the bending die of the male end fitting 11 or the forming die of the locking part 222. When the parameters are determined, multiple combinations of preset pull-out angles and preset interference amounts can be set. The contact force, displacement of the elastic arm 221, and maximum stress are analyzed through finite element simulation. Then, the pull-out force, unlocking force, and repeated insertion and removal tests are performed on the actual sample to select the parameter combination that meets the product's holding force and disassembly requirements. The pull-out angle can be adjusted according to the pull-out force of the actual sample.

[0083] Working principle: When the male connector 1 is subjected to an external force in the pull-out direction, the locking protrusion 12 interacts with the inclined abutment surface of the bent latch 22. The force in the pull-out direction is decomposed into a normal force on the abutment surface and a component force that causes the bent latch 22 to elastically displace. The bent latch 22 needs to overcome its own elastic force and move beyond the preset interference amount before the locking protrusion 12 can pass over the bent latch 22. Therefore, the preset pull-out angle and the preset interference amount together determine the actual pull-out force. By jointly adjusting the preset pull-out angle and the preset interference amount, the pull-out force after the female connector 2 and the male connector 1 are mated can be adjusted without simply increasing structural interference. This achieves a reasonable balance between the mechanical locking force, the structural stress of the bent latch 22, and the pressing unlocking force, improving the adaptability and reliability of the self-locking structure.

[0084] In summary, the BTB electrical connector structure provided by this invention features male fittings with locking protrusions at both ends of the male connector and elastically deformable bent latches at both ends of the female connector. After the female and male connectors are properly mated, the bent latches elastically return to their original position along the movement path of the locking protrusions in the pull-out direction, forming a mechanical stop in the connector's pull-out direction. Therefore, in addition to the insertion and extraction holding force provided by the conductive terminals, the male and female connectors can obtain an additional mechanical self-locking force through the locking fit between the fittings at both ends. This reduces the connector holding force's reliance solely on the elastic contact pressure of the conductive terminals, improving the connection stability and pull-out resistance after mating. By utilizing the existing end fittings of the male and female connectors to form a locking fit structure, the end fittings, in addition to their original conductive, welded fixing, or structural reinforcement functions, also take on a mechanical locking function. This facilitates full utilization of the limited structural space at both ends of the BTB electrical connector and reduces the need for independent locking components, thereby helping to control the overall size of the connector, the number of parts, and the complexity of assembly. During the mating process between the female and male connectors, the bending latch can elastically avoid pressure from the locking protrusion, allowing the two connectors to mat smoothly. After mating, the bending latch can automatically reset and lock due to its own elasticity, eliminating the need for additional locking operations. This balances the convenience of connector mating operations with the reliability of locking after mating. The opposite ends of the male and female connectors form a locking fit relationship, which can limit the male and female connectors from both ends. This distributes the locking effect on both sides of the connector, reducing the possibility of misalignment or unilateral tilting when the connector is subjected to pull-out force, thereby improving the stability of the mating state between the male and female connectors. When the connector needs to be disassembled, press the bending clips at both ends of the female connector simultaneously. This causes the bending clips to elastically deform and disengage from the locking protrusion along the pull-out direction, thus releasing the mechanical lock between the male and female connectors. This avoids forcibly separating the connector by increasing the external force of pull-out, which helps reduce the mechanical load on the conductive terminals and connector body during disassembly, while also ensuring high self-locking retention force and connector disassembly.

[0085] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modifications made based on the content of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A BTB electrical connector structure, characterized in that, include The male connector has male fittings at both opposite ends, and the male fittings have locking protrusions that bend outwards. The female connector has female fittings at both opposite ends, and the female fittings have bending buckles that bend inward and can be elastically deformed. The bent buckle abuts against the locking protrusion and provides elastic clearance. After the female connector and the male connector are mated in place, the bent buckle elastically resets and is located on the moving path of the locking protrusion along the pull-out direction, so as to restrict the separation of the female connector and the male connector along the pull-out direction. When the bending latches at both ends of the female connector are pressed simultaneously, the bending latches undergo elastic deformation and disengage from the locking protrusion along the movement path of the pull-out direction, thereby releasing the lock between the female connector and the male connector.

2. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two male fittings located at both ends of the male connector are respectively provided with the two female fittings located at both ends of the female connector. The locking protrusion on each male fitting and the bent buckle on the corresponding female fitting form a locking engagement structure.

3. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking protrusion is integrally formed by bending a portion of the male fitting toward the outside of the male connector, and the bent latch is integrally formed by bending a portion of the female fitting toward the inside of the female connector.

4. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bending buckle includes an elastic arm connected to the female end fitting and a locking part disposed at the free end of the elastic arm. The elastic arm can drive the locking part to move elastically in a direction close to or away from the locking protrusion.

5. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The locking protrusion has a guide surface and a stop surface. During the mating process of the female connector and the male connector, the locking part slides along the guide surface and drives the elastic arm to produce elastic deformation. After the female connector and the male connector are mated in place, the locking part crosses the guide surface and is positioned opposite to the stop surface along the pull-out direction.

6. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The female end fitting is also provided with a pressing part connected to the elastic arm. The pressing part is located on the outside of the female end connector and is at least partially exposed. When the pressing part is pressed, it causes the elastic arm to undergo elastic deformation, so that the locking part exits the moving path of the locking protrusion along the pull-out direction.

7. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The pressing parts on the two female end fittings are respectively located at opposite ends of the female end connector. When the two pressing parts are pressed down simultaneously, they respectively drive the corresponding bent buckles to move elastically away from the corresponding locking protrusions.

8. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, At least one blanking notch is provided at the connection position between the bending buckle and the female end fitting. The blanking notch is used to reduce the local cross-sectional stiffness of the bending buckle in order to improve the elastic deformation capacity of the bending buckle.

9. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the female connector and the male connector are mated in place, the bending buckle and the locking protrusion at least partially overlap in the projection of the plug in the pull-out direction, forming a preset interference amount to limit the separation of the female connector and the male connector.

10. The BTB electrical connector structure according to claim 9, characterized in that, The locking protrusion and the bending buckle abut against each other along the pull-out direction are inclined relative to the pull-out direction and form a preset pull-out angle. The preset pull-out angle and the preset interference amount together limit the pull-out force after the female connector and the male connector are mated.

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