Connector assembly

Abstract

The connector assembly comprises a shell, a front cover, a terminal assembly and a plate-shaped locking part, the locking part is arranged in the shell, the end face, facing the front cover, of the locking part is provided with a driving arm, the driving arm is provided with a contraction hole in a penetrating mode on the inner side of a rib, and when the locking part is switched between an initial position and an end position, the contraction hole is formed in the inner side of the rib in a penetrating mode. The ribs are shrunk towards the inner side in the direction of the shrinkage holes; or / and avoiding holes are formed in the outer sides of the initial groove and the terminating groove of the front cover in a penetrating mode, when the locking component is switched between the initial position and the terminating position, the initial groove and the terminating groove expand outwards in the direction of the avoiding holes, and therefore when the locking component is switched between the initial position and the terminating position, the initial groove and the terminating groove expand outwards in the direction of the avoiding holes. Therefore, the force required for shifting the driving arm can be reduced, the user experience can be improved, the abrasion to the rib can be reduced, and the service life of the locking part and the connector assembly can be prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of connectors, in particular to a connector assembly. Background Art

[0002] Connectors usually achieve conductive connection with mating connectors through conductive terminals. Before connecting with mating connectors, terminals need to be fixed in connectors. In order to firmly fix terminals in connectors, locking components are usually required to lock terminals. The setting of locking components directly affects the accuracy and effectiveness of terminal locking operation.

[0003] An existing connector includes a plate-shaped locking component, a housing, a front cover detachably mounted on the front end of the housing, and a terminal assembly. The housing, the front cover, and the locking component are correspondingly provided with terminal mounting holes for mounting the terminal assembly. The locking component is arranged in the housing and has an initial position that does not interfere with the insertion of the terminal assembly and a terminal position that interferes with the terminal assembly after the terminal assembly is inserted. Therefore, the terminal assembly can be smoothly loaded into the housing and the front cover when the locking component is in the initial position. When the locking component is in the terminal position, the clamping groove arranged on the terminal assembly interferes with the locking component to prevent the terminal assembly from being withdrawn from the housing and the front cover. In order to facilitate the switching of the locking component between the initial position and the final position, some manufacturers will set a driving arm extending into the front cover on the front end surface of the plate-shaped locking component, and the driving arm is provided with a rib. The front cover is correspondingly provided with an initial groove and a final groove matching the rib. The initial position and the final position of the locking component are positioned by the initial groove and the final groove. However, with the miniaturization of the connector, the size of the driving arm and the ribs are smaller. The ribs will inevitably wear and even be damaged after the locking component switches positions many times, which will cause the locking effect of the locking component on the terminal assembly to deteriorate or completely fail. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background technology.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution adopted by the utility model is: a connector assembly, including a shell, a front cover detachably mounted on the front end of the shell, a terminal assembly and a plate-shaped locking component, the locking component is arranged in the shell, and the shell, the front cover and the locking component are correspondingly provided with terminal mounting holes for mounting the terminal assembly, the locking component has an initial position that does not interfere with the insertion of the terminal assembly and a terminal position that interferes with the terminal assembly after the terminal assembly is inserted; a driving arm is arranged on the end surface of the locking component facing the front cover, ribs are arranged on the side walls of the driving arm, and a corresponding hole for accommodating the driving arm is arranged on the front cover The invention relates to a through hole, and an initial groove and a terminal groove which are engaged with the rib are arranged at intervals on the inner wall of the through hole, and the rib is switched between the initial groove and the terminal groove by toggling the driving arm so as to adjust the position of the locking component; the driving arm is provided with a contraction hole on the inner side of the rib, and when the locking component switches between the initial position and the terminal position, the rib contracts inwardly in the direction of the contraction hole; or / and the front cover is provided with an avoidance hole on the outer side of the initial groove and the terminal groove, and when the locking component switches between the initial position and the terminal position, the initial groove and the terminal groove expand outwardly in the direction of the avoidance hole.

[0006] In some embodiments, the driving arm is perpendicular to the locking component, and the rib is extended along the generatrix direction of the driving arm.

[0007] In some embodiments, a guide groove connected to the initial groove is further provided on the inner wall of the through hole to guide the rib to enter the initial groove through the guide groove.

[0008] In some embodiments, the extension directions of the shrinkage hole and the rib are consistent, one end of the shrinkage hole is arranged on the inner side of the end of the rib that cooperates with the initial groove, and the other end of the shrinkage hole extends in the direction where the locking component is located, and the ratio of the length of the shrinkage hole to the length of the driving arm is 1 / 3-1 / 2.

[0009] In some embodiments, the through hole is a square hole, the avoidance hole is located directly above the square hole and the avoidance hole is extended along the length direction of the square hole.

[0010] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the rib is any one or more of a triangle, a semicircle, a semi-ellipse, and a trapezoid.

[0011] In some embodiments, the terminal assembly has a snap-fit ​​groove recessed inward, and a snap-fit ​​portion is protruding from the inner wall of the terminal mounting hole provided on the locking component. When the locking component is in the terminal position, the snap-fit ​​portion at least partially overhangs into the snap-fit ​​groove to prevent the terminal assembly from withdrawing from the connector assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments, a sliding groove for assisting the locking component in switching between an initial position and a terminal position is disposed inside the housing, and the locking component is provided with at least one sliding block that can slide freely in the sliding groove.

[0013] In some embodiments, at least one fool-proofing groove is further provided inside the shell, and at least one fool-proofing block cooperating with the fool-proofing groove is provided on the locking component.

[0014] In some embodiments, two ribs are provided, and the two ribs are arranged opposite to each other on the driving arm, and two groups of the initial grooves and the terminal grooves are correspondingly provided.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the utility model are as follows: the driving arm of the connector assembly of the utility model is provided with a shrinkage hole on the inner side of the rib, and when the locking component switches between the initial position and the terminal position, the rib shrinks inwardly in the direction of the shrinkage hole, and after the locking component is switched, the rib returns to its original state; or / and the front cover is provided with an avoidance hole on the outer side of the initial groove and the terminal groove, and when the locking component switches between the initial position and the terminal position, the initial groove and the terminal groove expand outwardly in the direction of the avoidance hole, and after the locking component is switched, the rib returns to its original state, so that when the locking component switches between the initial position and the terminal position, not only can the force required to move the driving arm be reduced, thereby improving the user experience, but also the wear on the ribs can be reduced, thereby improving the service life of the locking component and the connector assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the connector assembly provided by the utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 an exploded schematic diagram of the connector assembly shown;

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the locking component in the connector assembly shown;

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of the front cover in the connector assembly shown;

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 1 a side view of the connector assembly shown;

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Cross-sectional view along CC direction;

[0023] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly when the locking component is in an initial position;

[0024] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly when the locking component is in the end position.

[0025] The following are marked in the figure:

[0026] 10. housing; 101. sliding groove; 102. anti-fool groove;

[0027] 20, front cover; 201, through hole; 202, initial slot; 203, end slot; 204, avoidance hole; 205, guide slot; 206, one-time lock slot;

[0028] 30. Terminal assembly; 301. Snap-in slot; 302. One-time lock cantilever;

[0029] 40, locking component; 401, driving arm; 402, rib; 403, shrink hole; 404, clamping part; 405, slider; 406, anti-fool block;

[0030] 50. Terminal mounting hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangements of components and steps, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0032] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present invention, its application, or uses.

[0033] Technologies, methods, and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the technologies, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0034] In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not limiting. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0035] A connector assembly, such as Figure 1-Figure 6As shown, it includes a shell 10, a front cover 20 that can be detachably installed on the front end of the shell 10, a terminal assembly 30 and a plate-shaped locking component 40, the locking component 40 is arranged in the shell 10, and the shell 10, the front cover 20 and the locking component 40 are correspondingly provided with terminal mounting holes 50 for mounting the terminal assembly 30, the locking component 40 has an initial position that does not interfere with the insertion of the terminal assembly 30 and a terminal position that interferes with the terminal assembly 30 after the terminal assembly 30 is inserted, specifically: the terminal assembly 30 has a snap-in groove 301 recessed inwardly, and a snap-in portion 404 is protruding on the inner wall of the terminal mounting hole 50 provided on the locking component 40, when the locking component 40 is in the terminal position, the snap-in portion 404 at least partially overhangs into the snap-in groove 301 to prevent the terminal assembly 30 from withdrawing from the connector assembly, please refer to the specific Figure 7 and Figure 8 It should be noted that the locking member 40 is mainly used to realize the secondary lock of the terminal assembly 30, and the primary lock of the terminal assembly 30 needs to rely on the primary lock cantilever 302 set on the terminal assembly 30 and the primary lock slot 206 set on the inner wall of the front cover 20. For details, please refer to Figure 6 .

[0036] like Figure 1-Figure 6 As shown, a driving arm 401 is provided on the end surface of the locking component 40 facing the front cover 20, and a rib 402 is provided on the side wall of the driving arm 401. The cross-sectional shape of the rib 402 is any one or more combinations of a triangle, a semicircle, a semi-ellipse, and a trapezoid. The driving arm 401 is vertically arranged between the locking component 40, and the rib 402 is extended along the generatrix direction of the driving arm 40; a through hole 201 for accommodating the driving arm 401 is correspondingly provided on the front cover 20, and an initial groove 202 and a terminal groove 203 that are engaged with the rib are arranged at intervals on the inner wall of the through hole 201. The driving arm 401 is moved to switch the rib 402 between the initial groove 202 and the terminal groove 203 to adjust the position of the locking component 40; in this embodiment, two ribs 402 are provided, and the two ribs 402 are arranged opposite to each other on the driving arm 401, and two groups of initial grooves 202 and terminal grooves 203 are correspondingly provided. Further, as Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the driving arm 401 is provided with a shrinkage hole 403 on the inner side of the rib 402, and a plurality of shrinkage holes 403 are provided, and the plurality of shrinkage holes 403 are arranged in parallel and at intervals. When the locking component 40 switches between the initial position and the terminal position, the rib 402 shrinks inwardly in the direction of the shrinkage hole 403, and after the locking component is switched, the rib returns to its original state; or / and the front cover 20 is provided with an avoidance hole 204 on the outer side of the initial groove 202 and the terminal groove 203, please refer to the details. Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5When the locking component 40 switches between the initial position and the final position, the initial groove 202 and the final groove 203 expand outward in the direction of the avoidance hole 204, and after the locking component is switched, the rib returns to its original state. Therefore, when the locking component 40 switches between the initial position and the final position, due to the existence of the shrinkage hole 403 and the avoidance hole 204, not only can the force required to move the drive arm 401 be reduced, thereby improving the user experience, but also the wear on the rib 402 can be reduced, thereby improving the service life of the locking component 40 and the connector assembly. In this embodiment, the shrinkage hole 403 and the avoidance hole 204 are provided at the same time to achieve the best use effect.

[0037] In one embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown, a guide groove 205 connected to the initial groove 202 is also provided on the inner wall of the through hole 201. The guide groove 205 and the initial groove 202 are arranged in a colinear manner to guide the rib 402 to enter the initial groove 202 through the guide groove 205. Specifically, when assembling the connector assembly of the utility model, first align the guide groove 205 opened on the front cover 20 with the rib 402 arranged on the driving arm 401. The rib 402 smoothly enters the initial groove 202 after being guided by the guide groove 205, and then the shell 10 is snap-connected with the front cover 20. At this time, the locking component 40 is in the initial position in the shell 10. Finally, the terminal assembly 30 is installed in the terminal mounting hole 50 of the front cover 20, the shell 10 and the locking component 40. The assembly of the connector assembly of the utility model can be completed. The rib 402 is switched between the initial groove 202 and the terminal groove 203 by toggling the driving arm 401 to adjust the position of the locking component 40.

[0038] In one embodiment, if Figure 3 As shown, the extension direction of the shrinkage hole 403 and the rib 402 are consistent, one end of the shrinkage hole 403 is set on the inner side of the end of the rib 402 that cooperates with the initial groove 202, and the other end of the shrinkage hole 403 is extended in the direction of the locking component 40, and the ratio of the length of the shrinkage hole 403 to the length of the driving arm 401 is 1 / 3-1 / 2. It should be noted here that if the length of the shrinkage hole 403 is set too short, then when the locking component 40 switches between the initial position and the terminal position, the effect of the rib 402 shrinking inwardly in the direction of the shrinkage hole 403 is not ideal. If the length of the shrinkage hole 403 is set too long, the strength of the driving arm 401 and the recovery ability of the shrinkage hole 403 after compression and shrinkage cannot meet the requirements; at the same time, the rib 402 is preferably set completely along the busbar direction of the driving arm 401, so as to facilitate the integral injection molding of the rib 402, the locking component 40 and the driving arm 401, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the connector assembly. Further, as Figure 5As shown, the through hole 201 is a square hole, the avoidance hole 204 is located directly above the square hole 201 and the avoidance hole 204 is extended along the length direction of the square hole 201 .

[0039] In one embodiment, if Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the housing 10 is provided with a sliding groove 101 for assisting the locking component 40 in switching between the initial position and the final position. The locking component 40 is provided with at least one slider 405 that can slide freely in the sliding groove 101. When the locking component 40 switches between the initial position and the final position, the driving arm 401 can be moved to conveniently realize the free movement of the locking component 40. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in order to achieve better error prevention and positioning effects, at least one fool-proofing groove 102 is further provided inside the housing 10 , and at least one fool-proofing block 406 cooperating with the fool-proofing groove 102 is provided on the locking component 40 .

[0040] Although some specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail by way of examples, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above examples are for illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments may be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising a housing, a front cover detachably mounted on the front end of the housing, a terminal assembly and a plate-shaped locking component, the locking component being arranged in the housing, and the housing, the front cover and the locking component are correspondingly provided with terminal mounting holes for mounting the terminal assembly, the locking component having an initial position that does not interfere with the insertion of the terminal assembly and a terminal position that interferes with the terminal assembly after the terminal assembly is inserted; a driving arm is arranged on the end surface of the locking component facing the front cover, a rib is arranged on the side wall of the driving arm, a through hole for accommodating the driving arm is correspondingly arranged on the front cover, and an initial groove and a terminal groove that are engaged with the rib are arranged at intervals on the inner wall of the through hole, and the driving arm is toggled to switch the rib between the initial groove and the terminal groove to adjust the position of the locking component; Features: The driving arm is provided with a shrinkage hole on the inner side of the rib, and when the locking component switches between the initial position and the final position, the rib shrinks inwardly in the direction of the shrinkage hole; Or / and the front cover is provided with an avoidance hole on the outer side of the initial groove and the terminal groove, and when the locking component switches between the initial position and the terminal position, the initial groove and the terminal groove expand outward in the direction where the avoidance hole is located.

2. A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving arm is vertically arranged to the locking component, and the rib is extended along the generatrix direction of the driving arm.

3. A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: A guide groove connected to the initial groove is also arranged on the inner wall of the through hole to guide the rib to enter the initial groove through the guide groove.

4. A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extension directions of the shrinkage hole and the rib are consistent, one end of the shrinkage hole is arranged on the inner side of the end of the rib that cooperates with the initial groove, and the other end of the shrinkage hole extends in the direction where the locking component is located, and the ratio of the length of the shrinkage hole to the length of the driving arm is 1 / 3-1 / 2.

5. A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The through hole is a square hole, the avoidance hole is located directly above the square hole and the avoidance hole is extended along the length direction of the square hole.

6. A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-sectional shape of the rib is any one or more combinations of a triangle, a semicircle, a semi-ellipse, and a trapezoid.

7. A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The terminal assembly has a snap-fit ​​groove recessed inwardly, and a snap-fit ​​portion protrudes from the inner wall of the terminal mounting hole arranged on the locking component. When the locking component is in the terminal position, the snap-fit ​​portion at least partially overhangs into the snap-fit ​​groove to prevent the terminal assembly from withdrawing from the connector assembly.

8. A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing is provided with a sliding groove for assisting the locking component in switching between an initial position and a terminal position, and the locking component is provided with at least one sliding block which can slide freely in the sliding groove.

9. The connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one fool-proof groove is also arranged inside the shell, and at least one fool-proof block matching with the fool-proof groove is arranged on the locking component.

10. The connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ribs are provided with two and are arranged opposite to each other on the driving arm, and the initial grooves and the terminal grooves are provided with two groups correspondingly.

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