Joint connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a joint connector, which comprises a plug and a cap sleeved at the front end of the plug, a joint terminal is arranged in the cap, a plug terminal matched with the joint terminal in a plugging manner is arranged in the plug, the side surface of the plug terminal is provided with a locking groove recessed towards the inner side, and the plug is provided with a through groove for exposing the locking groove. The cap is provided with a through groove, the plug is provided with a first clamping groove at the through groove, one end, facing the plug, of the outer side face of the cap is provided with a buckling wing capable of swinging relative to the cap in an extending mode, and the buckling wing is provided with a clamping hook portion in a protruding mode in the direction facing the plug, and the clamping hook portion is matched with the first clamping groove in a clamping mode. According to the connector provided by the utility model, the secondary locking of the plug terminal in the plug can be realized through the buckling wing arranged on the cap, so that the secondary locking of the plug terminal in the plug can be realized without independently arranging a TPA assembly, the size of the connector can be obviously reduced, and the miniaturization of a connector product can be realized.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] The wiring harness bundles together the wires used for vehicle ignition, lighting, and charging operations. The wiring harness is installed throughout the vehicle, from the headlights at the front of the vehicle to the taillights at the rear of the vehicle, with the battery as the center. The vehicle wiring harness has circuit components such as power / signal input and ground / signal output, and it is necessary to connect the same circuit components to each other.

[0003] The connector is used to interconnect the same circuit components of the wiring harness (for example, power / ground, indicator lights, communication signals, etc.). The connector can reduce the number of circuits and simplify the configuration of circuits and circuit paths. The connector usually includes a cap with connector terminals inside and a plug inserted into the cap. A number of plug terminals are provided in the plug. After the plug is inserted into the cap, the several plug terminals are electrically connected through the connector terminals. In order to ensure the stability of the several plug terminals in the connector, a secondary lock assembly (TPA assembly) is required to achieve secondary locking of the several plug terminals. However, under the trend of miniaturization of connectors, the connector has a relatively compact structure and a small wall thickness of the sheath, resulting in the existing TPA assembly inserted into the connector sheath being unable to achieve both pre-installed and locked installation states, which in turn results in the existing TPA assembly being unable to be applied to the secondary locking of the connector. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a joint connector 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 joint connector, including a plug and a cap sleeved on the front end of the plug, a joint terminal is arranged inside the cap, and a plug terminal that is plugged and matched with the joint terminal is arranged inside the plug, the side surface of the plug terminal has a locking groove recessed inward, a through groove is provided on the plug to expose the locking groove, and the plug is provided with a first clamping groove at the through groove, and a snap-fit ​​wing that can swing relative to the cap is extended toward one end of the plug on the outer side surface of the cap, and a hook portion that is snap-fitted and matched with the first clamping groove is protruded on the snap-fit ​​wing toward the direction of the plug and is snap-fitted with the first clamping groove. When the plug and the cap are plugged into place and the hook portion is snap-fitted to the first clamping groove, the free end of the hook portion at least partially overhangs in the locking groove to achieve secondary locking of the plug terminal.

[0006] In some embodiments, the free end of the hook portion has a fitting surface, and when the hook portion is engaged with the first engaging groove, the fitting surface is engaged with the bottom wall of the through groove.

[0007] In some embodiments, the plug terminals are arranged in two rows, the locking grooves of the plug terminals in different rows are arranged opposite to each other, and one snap-fit ​​wing is correspondingly arranged on the outer side of each row of the plug terminals.

[0008] In some embodiments, the through slot is disposed through the plug along an arrangement direction of the plug terminals in the same row.

[0009] In some embodiments, one end of the snap-fit ​​wing away from the cap extends outward to form a snap-fit ​​portion, and the plug is formed with a second snap-fit ​​groove snap-fitted with the snap-fit ​​portion in an area matching with the snap-fit ​​wing.

[0010] In some embodiments, the plug is integrally provided with a retaining ring in the area cooperating with the snap-fit ​​wing, and the second snap-fit ​​groove is formed at one end of the retaining ring facing the snap-fit ​​wing. When the hook portion is snapped into the first snap-fit ​​groove, the snap-fit ​​portion is snapped into the second snap-fit ​​groove, and the outer surfaces of the snap-fit ​​wing, the cap and the retaining ring are flush.

[0011] In some embodiments, an elastic arm is further formed on the plug terminal, and a third snap-in groove that snaps into engagement with the elastic arm is provided in the plug. When the plug terminal is installed inside the plug, the free end of the elastic arm snaps into the third snap-in groove.

[0012] In some embodiments, a hanging ear is extended from one end of the cap facing the plug, and a fourth snap-in groove is provided on the hanging ear. A protrusion is protruding from the outer wall of the plug and is snap-fitted with the fourth snap-in groove. When the protrusion is snapped into the fourth snap-in groove, the snap-fit ​​wing can swing relative to the cap so that the hook portion is snapped into the first snap-in groove.

[0013] In some embodiments, a hinge portion is provided at the connection between the buckling wing and the cap, and the thickness of the hinge portion is smaller than the thickness of the buckling wing and the cap.

[0014] In some embodiments, the ear, the buckle wing, the hinge portion and the cap are integrally injection molded.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the present invention is that after the cap and the plug of the joint connector of the present invention are adapted and connected, the plug terminals in the plug can be secondary locked by the snap-fit ​​wings arranged on the cap, so that there is no need to separately arrange a TPA component to achieve secondary locking of the plug terminals in the plug, thereby significantly reducing the size of the joint connector of the present invention to achieve miniaturization of the connector product. 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 joint connector provided by the utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of

[0019] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the joint connector provided by the utility model after the buckling wings are buckled into place;

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the matching of the joint terminal and the plug terminal in the joint connector provided by the utility model.

[0022] The following are marked in the figure:

[0023] 10. Hat;

[0024] 20, plug; 201, through slot; 202, first clamping slot; 203, second clamping slot; 204, retaining ring; 205, third clamping slot; 206, raised portion;

[0025] 30, connector terminal; 301, base; 302, pin;

[0026] 40. plug terminal; 401. locking groove; 402. elastic arm;

[0027] 50, buckle wing; 501, hook portion; 502, fitting surface; 503, snap-fit ​​portion; 504, hinge portion;

[0028] 60. Hanging ear; 601. Fourth card slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] 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 arrangement of components and steps, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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 as part of the specification.

[0032] 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.

[0033] A joint connector, such as Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the plug 20 includes a cap 10 sleeved on the front end of the plug 20, a connector terminal 30 is arranged inside the cap 10, and the connector terminal 30 includes a C-shaped base 301 and a plurality of pins 302 arranged at intervals along the direction of the base 301. The plug 20 is provided with a plurality of plug terminals 40 corresponding to and plug-matching the plurality of pins 302 of the connector terminal 30. The matching diagram of the connector terminal 30 and the plug terminal 40 is shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the same circuit components (e.g., power supply / grounding, indicator light, communication signal, etc.) of the wiring harness are connected to each other. The plug terminal 40 is also formed with an elastic arm 402, and the plug 20 is provided with a third clamping groove 205 that is clamped with the elastic arm 402. When the plug terminal 40 is installed inside the plug 20, the free end of the elastic arm 402 is clamped to the third clamping groove 205, thereby fixing the plug terminal 40, that is, locking it once.

[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the side of the plug terminal 40 has a locking groove 401 recessed inward, and the plug 20 is provided with a through groove 201 to expose the locking groove 401 of the plug terminal 40. The through groove 201 is arranged to penetrate the plug 20 along the arrangement direction of the same row of plug terminals 40, and the plug 20 is provided with a first engaging groove 202 at the through groove 201. The outer side of the cap 10 is extended toward one end of the plug 20 to be provided with a snap-fit ​​wing 50 that can swing relative to the cap. In this embodiment, the plug terminals 40 are provided with two rows, and a snap-fit ​​wing 50 is correspondingly provided on the outer side of each row of plug terminals 40. The snap-fit ​​wing 50 protrudes toward the plug direction and is provided with a hook portion 501 that is snap-fitted with the first engaging groove 201. When the plug 20 and the cap 10 are plugged into place and the hook portion 501 is snap-fitted to the first engaging groove 202, the free end of the hook portion 501 at least partially overhangs in the locking groove 401 to achieve secondary locking of the plug terminal 40. After the cap 10 and the plug 20 of the joint connector of the present invention are adapted and connected, the plug terminals 40 in the plug 20 can be secondary locked by the snap-fit ​​wings 50 provided on the cap 10, so that the plug terminals in the plug can be secondary locked without the need to separately provide a TPA component, thereby significantly reducing the size of the joint connector of the present invention to achieve miniaturization of the connector product.

[0035] In one embodiment, if Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the free end of the hook portion 501 has a fitting surface 502. When the hook portion 501 is snapped into the first snapping groove 202, the fitting surface 502 fits against the bottom wall of the through groove 201, thereby improving the stability of the snap-fit ​​wing 50 after being snapped into the plug 20. At the same time, the two can have a better sealing after being snapped into connection, thereby improving the overall sealing performance of the connector.

[0036] In one embodiment, if Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the end of the snap-fit ​​wing 50 away from the cap 10 extends outward to form a snap-fit ​​portion 503, and the plug 20 is formed with a second snap-fit ​​groove 203 snap-fit ​​with the snap-fit ​​portion 503 in the area that cooperates with the snap-fit ​​wing 50. Furthermore, the plug 20 is integrally provided with a retaining ring 204 in the area that cooperates with the snap-fit ​​wing 50, and the retaining ring 204 is formed with a second snap-fit ​​groove 203 at one end facing the snap-fit ​​wing 50. When the hook portion 501 is snapped into the first snap-fit ​​groove 202, the snap-fit ​​portion 503 is snapped into the second snap-fit ​​groove 203. The provision of the retaining portion 503 and the second snap-fit ​​groove 203 can prevent the snap-fit ​​wing 50 from separating from the plug 20, further improving the stability of the two after they are snapped together. At the same time, the outer surfaces of the snap-fit ​​wing 50, the cap 10 and the retaining ring 204 are flush, so as to prevent the snap-fit ​​wing 50 from detaching from the plug 20 due to external force collision after being snapped into the plug 20. For details, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0037] In one embodiment, if Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, a hanging ear 60 is also extended from the end of the cap 10 facing the plug 20, and a fourth engaging groove 601 is provided on the hanging ear 60. A protrusion 206 engaging with the fourth engaging groove is protruded on the outer peripheral wall of the plug 20. When the protrusion 206 is engaged with the fourth engaging groove 601, the snap-fit ​​wing 50 can swing relative to the cap 10 to allow the hook portion 501 to engage with the first engaging groove 202. In traditional connector design, the TPA component is designed as a separate part, and generally a TPA pre-installation position needs to be set, resulting in a corresponding increase in the overall size of the product. The present application realizes an integrated design of the cap 10 and the TPA component, which can realize the miniaturization of the connector product, eliminate the risk of missing TPA, reduce the production process requirements and costs, and improve production efficiency.

[0038] In some embodiments, Figure 1-Figure 4As shown, a hinge portion 504 is provided at the connection between the snap-fit ​​wing 50 and the cap 10, and the thickness of the hinge portion 504 is smaller than the thickness of the snap-fit ​​wing 50 and the cap 10, so as to facilitate the snap-fit ​​wing 50 to swing relative to the cap 10. Furthermore, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the cap 10 and the joint connector, the ear 60, the snap-fit ​​wing 50, the hinge portion 504 and the cap 10 are integrally injection molded.

[0039] 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 joint connector, comprising a plug and a cap sleeved on the front end of the plug, a joint terminal is arranged inside the cap, a plug terminal is arranged inside the plug to be plugged with the joint terminal, and a locking groove is recessed inward on the side of the plug terminal, characterized in that: The plug is provided with a through slot for exposing the locking slot, and the plug is provided with a first engaging slot at the through slot, and a snap-fit ​​wing that can swing relative to the cap is extended from the outer side surface of the cap toward one end of the plug, and a hook portion that is snap-fitted with the first engaging slot is provided on the snap-fit ​​wing and protrudes toward the plug. When the plug and the cap are plugged into place and the hook portion is snap-fitted with the first engaging slot, the free end of the hook portion at least partially overhangs in the locking slot to achieve secondary locking of the plug terminal.

2. A joint connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The free end of the hook portion has a fitting surface, and when the hook portion is engaged with the first engaging groove, the fitting surface is engaged with the bottom wall of the through groove.

3. A joint connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug terminals are arranged in two rows, the locking grooves of the plug terminals in different rows are arranged opposite to each other, and one buckling wing is correspondingly arranged on the outer side of each row of the plug terminals.

4. A joint connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The through slot is arranged through the plug along the arrangement direction of the plug terminals in the same row.

5. A joint connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the buckling wing away from the cap extends outward to form a clamping portion, and the plug is formed with a second clamping groove in a region matching with the buckling wing to be clamped with the clamping portion.

6. A joint connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The plug is integrally provided with a retaining ring in the area cooperating with the snap-fit ​​wing, and the second snap-fit ​​groove is formed on one end of the retaining ring facing the snap-fit ​​wing. When the hook portion is snapped into the first snap-fit ​​groove, the snap-fit ​​portion is snapped into the second snap-fit ​​groove, and the outer surfaces of the snap-fit ​​wing, the cap and the retaining ring are flush.

7. The joint connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug terminal is also formed with an elastic arm, and a third engaging groove engaged with the elastic arm is provided in the plug. When the plug terminal is installed in the plug, the free end of the elastic arm is engaged with the third engaging groove.

8. The joint connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cap is also provided with a hanging ear extending from one end facing the plug, and a fourth snap-in groove is provided on the hanging ear. A protrusion that is snap-fitted with the fourth snap-in groove is protruded from the outer peripheral wall of the plug. When the protrusion is snap-fitted to the fourth snap-in groove, the buckling wing can swing relative to the cap to enable the hook portion to snap-fit ​​to the first snap-in groove.

9. A joint connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: A hinge portion is provided at the connection between the buckling wing and the cap, and the thickness of the hinge portion is smaller than the thickness of the buckling wing and the cap.

10. A joint connector according to claim 9, characterized in that: The hanging ears, buckling wings, hinge parts and cap are integrally injection-molded.

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