An additional locking device for a type-c connector

Abstract

This invention discloses an additional locking device for Type-C connectors, belonging to the field of connector technology. It includes a snap-fit ​​housing, which is disposed outside the insertion end of the Type-C female connector body and surrounds the insertion interface of the Type-C female connector body. By setting the snap-fit ​​housing outside the Type-C female connector body, this invention adds an additional locking function without changing the internal electrical connection structure of the insertion interface. By providing a slot on the first or second sidewall, an additional snap-fit ​​limiting position can be provided when the male connector is inserted, improving connection reliability. The snap-fit ​​housing can form a receiving space, which helps provide peripheral guidance during insertion. This invention has a simple structure and low cost, making it suitable for scenarios such as robots where rapid insertion / removal and connection stability are crucial. As an additional external structure, this invention is easy to integrate with existing Type-C female connector solutions and has good compatibility.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of connector technology, and more specifically to an additional locking device for Type-C connectors. Background Technology

[0002] USB interfaces come in three different form factors: Type-A, Type-B, and Type-C. Type-C is significantly smaller than both Type-A and Type-B and is the latest USB form factor standard. Furthermore, Type-C is an interface type that can be used with both host and external devices, supports reversible plugging, and is therefore widely used.

[0003] Type-C connectors are widely used in various electronic devices due to their advantages such as reversible insertion, high transmission speed, small interface size, and strong versatility. However, in scenarios involving vibration, swaying, frequent movement, or frequent plugging and unplugging, such as robots, automated equipment, mobile terminals, and testing equipment, existing Type-C connection structures typically rely mainly on the mating friction of the interface itself to maintain the connection, resulting in relatively limited resistance to loosening and reliability. Under continuous vibration, cable pulling, or external impact, the male connector may loosen, experience unstable contact, or even unexpectedly detach.

[0004] Existing solutions for improving connection reliability include two main approaches: one uses dedicated industrial connectors or threaded locking connectors, which offer high stability but suffer from high cost, large size, poor compatibility, and low replacement efficiency; the other requires specialized modifications to the male connector structure, which is not conducive to compatibility with the existing Type-C ecosystem. Therefore, this paper proposes an additional locking device for Type-C connectors. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an additional locking device for a Type-C connector, which can provide an additional locking position when the male connector is inserted, thereby improving the reliability of connection retention. The present invention is an additional external structure, which is easy to integrate with existing Type-C female connector solutions and has good compatibility.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an additional locking device for a Type-C connector, comprising a snap-fit ​​housing, the snap-fit ​​housing being disposed outside the plug end of the Type-C female connector body and surrounding the plug interface of the Type-C female connector body.

[0008] The snap-fit ​​housing includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed opposite to each other, and at least one of the sidewalls is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove. The snap-fit ​​groove is used to provide a snap-fit ​​limiting position when the male connector is inserted into the connector, so as to improve the reliability of the connection.

[0009] Preferably, the snap-fit ​​housing further includes a top wall, which together with the first side wall and the second side wall forms a receiving space that opens to the front.

[0010] Preferably, a first slot is provided on the first sidewall, and a second slot is provided on the second sidewall.

[0011] Preferably, the slot is located on the corresponding side wall near the front opening.

[0012] Preferably, the slot extends along the insertion / removal direction of the Type-C female connector body and can be configured as any one of a notch, an arc-shaped slot, a strip-shaped slot, or an L-shaped slot.

[0013] Preferably, the size of the receiving space is larger than the size of the connector, so that the male head enters the receiving space first during insertion, and then is inserted into the connector.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention adds an additional locking function without altering the internal electrical connection structure of the Type-C female connector by setting a snap-fit ​​outer shell on the outside of the connector body. By providing a slot on the first or second side wall, an additional snap-fit ​​limiting position can be provided when the male connector is inserted, improving connection reliability. The snap-fit ​​outer shell can enclose and form a receiving space, which helps provide peripheral guidance during insertion. This invention has a simple structure and low cost, making it suitable for scenarios such as robots that require rapid insertion and removal and high connection stability. As an additional external structure, this invention is easy to integrate with existing Type-C female connector solutions and has good compatibility. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the additional locking device for a Type-C connector according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the insertion interface in the additional locking device for a Type-C connector of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first sidewall in the additional locking device for a Type-C connector of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 4 of the additional locking device for Type-C connectors of the present invention.

[0016] In the diagram: 1. Buckle housing; 11. First side wall; 12. Second side wall; 13. Slot; 131. First slot; 132. Second slot; 14. Top wall; 15. Accommodation space; 16. Front opening; 2. Type-C female connector body; 21. Plug interface. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] Example 1 Please see Figures 1-3 An embodiment of the present invention provides an additional locking device for a Type-C connector, including a snap-fit ​​housing 1. The snap-fit ​​housing 1 is disposed outside the insertion end of the Type-C female connector body 2 and surrounds the outer periphery of the insertion interface 21 of the Type-C female connector body 2.

[0019] In this embodiment, the snap-fit ​​housing 1 includes a first sidewall 11 and a second sidewall 12 disposed opposite to each other, and preferably also includes a top wall 14 connected between the first sidewall 11 and the second sidewall 12. The top wall 14, the first sidewall 11 and the second sidewall 12 together enclose a forward-opening receiving space 15, and the front end of the receiving space 15 forms a front opening 16.

[0020] The snap-fit ​​housing 1 is located on the outer area of ​​the Type-C female connector body 2, without entering the interior of the connector 21. Therefore, the original internal electrical connection structure of the Type-C female connector body 2 can remain unchanged, which is beneficial for compatibility with the original high-speed transmission performance of the Type-C connector.

[0021] In this embodiment, at least one side wall is provided with a slot 13. Preferably, a first slot 131 is provided on the first side wall 11, and a second slot 132 is provided on the second side wall 12. By providing slots 13 on the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12 respectively, opposing locking and limiting positions can be formed on both sides of the receiving space 15.

[0022] Example 2 like Figures 1-3 As shown, the slot 13 is located near the front opening 16. In this way, when the male head is inserted from front to back, it can quickly enter the mating area defined by the snap-fit ​​housing 1, and the slot 13 provides an additional snap-fit ​​limiting position in the inserted state.

[0023] In this embodiment, the slot 13 is preferably a strip-shaped slot extending along the insertion / removal direction of the Type-C female connector body 2. It should be understood that the slot 13 can also be a notch, an arc-shaped slot, or an L-shaped slot, as long as it can provide a corresponding locking and limiting position in the insertion state.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the size of the receiving space 15 is larger than the size of the connector 21, so that the male head first enters the receiving space 15 through the front opening 16 during insertion, and then is further inserted into the connector 21.

[0025] When the male connector is inserted into the connector 21, the slot 13 provides a locking position for the mating part located on the outer periphery of the connector end, thereby limiting the tendency of the male connector to accidentally disengage in the pull-out direction. Thus, although the present invention does not specifically protect the male connector structure, it can improve the reliability of the plug-in connection by using the snap-fit ​​housing 1 and its slot 13 structure located outside the Type-C female connector body 2.

[0026] Example 3 like Figures 1-3 As shown, the additional locking device in this embodiment still uses the buckle housing 1 as the core body. The buckle housing 1 is made of insulating hard engineering plastic and is an integral injection molded component. It can be directly installed on the outside of the plug-in end of the existing standard Type-C female connector body 2 without making any changes to the electrical connection structure such as the terminals and insulating core inside the female connector.

[0027] The rear end of the snap-fit ​​housing 1 is provided with an annular fitting stop edge. During assembly, the stop edge abuts against the insertion end face of the Type-C female connector body 2. The inner wall of the snap-fit ​​housing 1 and the outer peripheral side wall of the female connector body are fixed by adhesive backing or micro interference fit, so that the snap-fit ​​housing 1 completely surrounds the outer periphery of the insertion interface 21, and does not intrude into the internal space of the insertion interface 21, thus fully preserving the original electrical performance and universal compatibility of the Type-C female connector.

[0028] The buckle housing 1 includes a first side wall 11 and a second side wall 12 arranged in parallel with each other, and a flat top wall 14 connecting the top of the first side wall 11 and the top of the second side wall 12; the first side wall 11, the second side wall 12 and the top wall 14 together form a U-shaped accommodating space 15 that is completely open in front of the insertion interface 21, and the front end of the accommodating space 15 is the front opening 16 for the male head to enter.

[0029] A first slot 131 is formed in the middle of the first sidewall 11, and a second slot 132 is formed at the corresponding position of the second sidewall 12. The two slots are symmetrically distributed with the central axis of the accommodating space 15 as the axis of symmetry. The double-sided symmetrical slot structure can form a two-way limit after the male head is inserted, avoiding the force deviation caused by single-sided locking, and further improving the stability of the insertion state.

[0030] The slot 13 is integrally formed on the corresponding side wall near the front opening 16. The front end of the slot is continuous with the edge of the front opening 16, and the rear end of the slot extends towards the female connector along the insertion / removal direction. With this configuration, the male connector can enter the slot for engagement during the initial insertion phase without needing to penetrate deeper into the receiving space, thus meeting the requirements for quick insertion and removal.

[0031] In this embodiment, the slot 13 preferably adopts a strip-shaped through slot extending along the insertion and extraction direction. The slot has a uniform width and a rounded transition at the end, which can smoothly cooperate with the columnar protrusion on the side of the male connector shell. After the protrusion slides into place along the slot, the end wall of the slot provides axial blocking to limit the displacement of the male connector in the extraction direction.

[0032] Based on the basic structure of this embodiment, the card slot 13 can be replaced with the following forms according to the usage scenario, all of which fall within the protection scope of this invention: Notch groove: An open notch is formed by recessing directly into the front edge of the side wall. There is no closed groove bottom. It has the simplest structure and the least insertion and extraction resistance. It is suitable for scenarios with extremely high insertion and extraction frequency and only need to assist in anti-shake. Arc-shaped groove: The inner wall of the groove is concave in an arc shape, which fits the spherical elastic protrusion on the side of the male connector. The insertion process has a segmented feel and is compatible with standard modified male connectors with elastic buckles. L-shaped groove: It consists of an axial groove section along the insertion and removal direction and a transverse groove section extending circumferentially. When the male head is inserted, the protrusion first slides into the bottom along the axial groove section, and then the male head is rotated slightly to make the protrusion lock into the transverse groove section, which can achieve complete axial locking. It has the strongest anti-vibration and anti-tension capabilities and is suitable for high vibration scenarios such as industrial equipment and robotic arms.

[0033] The width and height of the receiving space 15 are both larger than the corresponding dimensions of the insertion interface 21, and the front opening 16 of the receiving space is chamfered for guidance. During the insertion process, the male connector first enters the receiving space 15 through the front opening 16. At this time, the first side wall 11, the second side wall 12, and the top wall 14 together form an external constraint on the male connector, automatically correcting the insertion angle of the male connector and avoiding misalignment and insertion damage. Subsequently, the male connector continues to push inward, and its insertion end is then officially aligned and inserted into the insertion interface 21, realizing the matching logic of first guiding and then inserting.

[0034] When the male connector is fully inserted into the connector 21, the mating structure on the side of the male connector housing simultaneously engages into the slot 13, adding an extra layer of mechanical locking and limiting on top of the original interface friction. When the cable is pulled or the equipment is vibrated, the contact force between the slot and the mating structure can offset most of the external force causing the cable to come out, significantly improving the reliability of the connection and preventing problems such as accidental power outages and signal interruptions.

[0035] Example 4 Please see Figure 4 This embodiment is another fixing form implementation of the additional locking device. The difference is that the buckle housing 1 is directly fixed to the Type-C female body 2. While retaining the original additional locking function, it further improves the structural compactness and assembly stability.

[0036] In this embodiment, the front functional body of the snap-fit ​​housing 1 remains consistent with the aforementioned embodiment, still including a first sidewall 11 and a second sidewall 12 arranged opposite to each other, and a top wall 14 connected to the top of the two sidewalls, which together form an accommodating space 15 open towards the front of the insertion interface 21; the first sidewall 11 and the second sidewall 12 are respectively provided with snap-fit ​​grooves 13. Any one of the following can be used: a strip groove, an L-shaped groove, a notch groove, or an arc groove, to provide snap-fit ​​limiting when the male head is inserted. The working principle of guiding insertion and mechanical locking is exactly the same as in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0037] The bottom edge of the snap-on housing 1 is provided with a bottom fixing part that is adapted to the bottom contour of the Type-C female connector body 2. The fixing part and the snap-on housing 1 are an integral structure and do not extend outward with independent support legs. After assembly, the bottom of the snap-on housing 1 is directly attached to the bottom outer surface of the Type-C female connector body 2, realizing the direct connection between the snap-on housing 1 and the Type-C female connector body 2.

[0038] The additional locking device of this invention can be applied to robot bodies, robotic arm control modules, industrial data acquisition equipment, mobile detection equipment, or other devices that require frequent replacement of connection cables and have high requirements for connection reliability. By adding a snap-fit ​​outer shell 1 to the outside of the existing Type-C female connector body 2 and setting a slot 13 on the side wall, the connection stability can be improved without significantly increasing the structural complexity, while also meeting the needs for quick insertion and removal for replacement.

[0039] All parts not described in this invention are the same as or can be implemented using existing technology. Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An additional locking device for a Type-C connector, characterized in that, include: The snap-fit ​​housing (1) is used to be disposed outside the plug end of the Type-C female connector body (2) and surrounds the plug interface (21) of the Type-C female connector body (2); The snap-fit ​​housing (1) includes a first sidewall (11) and a second sidewall (12) disposed opposite to each other. At least one of the sidewalls is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove (13). The snap-fit ​​groove (13) is used to provide a snap-fit ​​limiting position when the male head is inserted into the plug interface (21) to improve the reliability of the plug connection.

2. The additional locking device for a Type-C connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The snap-fit ​​housing (1) also includes a top wall (14) connected between the first side wall (11) and the second side wall (12), and the top wall (14), the first side wall (11) and the second side wall (12) together form an accommodating space (15) that opens toward the front of the insertion interface (21).

3. The additional locking device for a Type-C connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first slot (131) is provided on the first sidewall (11), and a second slot (132) is provided on the second sidewall (12).

4. The additional locking device for a Type-C connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slot (13) is located on the corresponding side wall near the front opening (16).

5. The additional locking device for a Type-C connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slot (13) is a strip-shaped groove extending along the insertion and removal direction of the Type-C female connector body (2).

6. The additional locking device for a Type-C connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slot (13) is any one of a notch, an arc-shaped slot, a strip-shaped slot, or an L-shaped slot.

7. The additional locking device for a Type-C connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The size of the receiving space (15) is larger than the size of the plug interface (21) so that the male head enters the receiving space (15) first during the insertion process, and then is inserted into the plug interface (21).

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