Shell of electric connector and electric connector

Abstract

The utility model provides a shell of an electric connector and the electric connector. The shell (100) of the electric connector comprises a body (110), a containing cavity (111) is limited in the body (110), the containing cavity (111) penetrates through the body (110), a front side opening (112) and a rear side opening (113) are formed in the two opposite side faces of the body (110) in the plugging direction (Z) of the electric connector (10) respectively, and a latch (120) is arranged on the front side opening (112) and the rear side opening (113) and used for locking the front side opening (112) and the rear side opening (113) in the plugging direction (Z) of the electric connector (10). The latch (120) is arranged at a first end of the body (110) in a length direction (X) intersecting with the plugging direction (Z), and the latch (120) can enable the electric connector (10) to be in a locked state or an unlocked state; the positioning boss (130) is arranged at a second end, opposite to the first end, of the body (110) in the length direction (X).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of electrical connectors, and in particular, to a housing of an electrical connector and an electrical connector. Background Art

[0002] This section provides background information related to the present application but does not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] In related technologies, electrical connectors are primarily used to connect two or more electronic devices to provide a reliable electrical connection. They are widely used in a wide range of fields, including but not limited to electronics, communications, vehicles, and aerospace. As electronic products become thinner and lighter, electrical connectors are also becoming increasingly miniaturized, placing higher demands on mechanical and electrical connection reliability, ease of maintenance, and other aspects of these connectors.

[0004] As electrical connectors become increasingly miniaturized, the requirements for precision docking of electrical connectors are also becoming increasingly higher. Operators need to dock more accurately during the process of plugging and unplugging electrical connectors to avoid misalignment or damage. In addition, due to the small size of the electrical connector, the mechanical connection strength may be reduced, causing the electrical connector to loosen or fall off during use, seriously affecting the normal operation of the equipment. On the one hand, if the mechanical connection strength of the electrical connector is reduced, the electrical connector may produce unstable electrical contact, thereby affecting the reliability of the signal transmission of the electrical connector, and may cause problems such as data transmission termination, speed reduction or communication errors; on the other hand, if the mechanical connection strength of the electrical connector is reduced, it may cause poor contact between the contacts of the electrical connector, and the electrical connector may produce additional losses when transmitting current, thereby increasing the power consumption of the electronic device.

[0005] In some related art examples, the locking / unlocking structure of an electrical connector requires additional connection structures on the connector housing, making the locking / unlocking structure complex and costly. Locking / unlocking the electrical connector is time-consuming, which is not user-friendly for operators who frequently need to lock / unlock the electrical connector.

[0006] In other instances, a simple locking / unlocking structure is provided on the main surface of the electrical connector, and connection is achieved through an interference fit created by elastic deformation of the latch arm, which may result in damage to the elastic arm and unstable connection of the electrical connector when the electrical connector is frequently plugged and unplugged.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an electrical connector that can provide reliable mechanical and electrical connections while being able to be quickly locked and unlocked. Utility Model Content

[0008] This section provides a general summary of the application, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0009] A first aspect of the present application provides a housing for an electrical connector. The housing may include: a body, defining an accommodating cavity within the body, the accommodating cavity extending through the body, and forming a front opening and a rear opening on two opposing side surfaces of the body in a plugging and unplugging direction of the electrical connector; a latch disposed at a first end of the body in a longitudinal direction intersecting the plugging and unplugging direction, the latch being capable of placing the electrical connector in a locked state or an unlocked state; and a positioning boss disposed at a second end of the body in the longitudinal direction opposite to the first end.

[0010] The housing of the electrical connector of the present application can ensure the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connection by providing a latch, while allowing the operator to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector. The housing of the electrical connector includes a latch arranged at a first end of the body in a longitudinal direction that intersects the plug-in and pull-out direction, so as to facilitate the operator to quickly install and release the electrical connector. The latch of the housing of the electrical connector of the present application is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the body, rather than on the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector, saving space in the width direction of the housing of the electrical connector perpendicular to the main surface, allowing the electrical connector to be made thinner in the width direction, thereby enabling multiple electrical connectors to be arranged side by side in the width direction within a limited space. Since the latch is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the body of the electrical connector, the operator can quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector even when multiple electrical connectors of the present application are arranged side by side.

[0011] In addition to the latch located at the first end of the body, the electrical connector housing also includes a positioning boss located at a second end of the body, opposite the first end, in the longitudinal direction of the body. When the electrical connector housing is mounted on a support member, the positioning boss is seated in the support member's boss receptacle, forming a positive and positive fit with the support member. The support member's boss receptacle precisely defines the mating position of the housing, and the positive and positive fit between the positioning boss of the electrical connector housing and the support member's boss receptacle further ensures the mechanical and electrical reliability of the electrical connector.

[0012] In some exemplary embodiments, the latch is capable of generating elastic deformation in the length direction of the body to place the electrical connector in a locked state or an unlocked state.

[0013] The electrical connector housing of the present application utilizes a latch configured to elastically deform along the length of the housing to lock or unlock the electrical connector, thereby allowing the electrical connector to be quickly installed and released by overcoming the elastic force. The latch can lock or unlock the electrical connector with a simple design structure, thereby ensuring reliability and stability in both electrical and mechanical connections while also saving costs.

[0014] In some exemplary embodiments, the latch may have a front side in the plugging and unplugging direction and a rear side opposite to the front side of the latch, and the front side of the latch may be connected to the body via a bent portion.

[0015] The housing of the electrical connector of the present application reliably connects the housing body to the latch through a bent portion provided on the front side of the latch. The bent portion has good flexibility, allowing the latch to generate elastic deformation in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0016] In some exemplary embodiments, the latch has an inner side opposite to the body and an outer side opposite to the inner side, and the outer side of the latch has a recessed portion recessed toward the inner side.

[0017] The housing of the electrical connector of the present application is provided with a recessed portion on the outer side of the latch that is recessed toward the inner side, so that when the electrical connector is installed on the support member, the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member form a shape and position fit, so that the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member are snap-fitted and fixed, thereby firmly fixing the electrical connector to the support member.

[0018] In some exemplary embodiments, the rear side of the latch may include a latch arm portion that extends at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction when the electrical connector is in the unlocked state.

[0019] The housing of the electrical connector of the present application extends the latch arm at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction when the electrical connector is in the unlocked state, thereby allowing the electrical connector to be moved toward the locked state by applying pressure to the latch arm.

[0020] In some exemplary embodiments, a stopper may be formed on the outer side of the latch at a location adjacent to the recess, the stopper being formed to protrude further outward than an opening of the recess.

[0021] The housing of the electrical connector of the present application has a stopper formed on the outer side of the latch and adjacent to the recess, so that when the electrical connector is moved to a locked position, the stopper of the latch abuts against the side surface of the clamping portion of the support member. Furthermore, because the stopper is formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess, the area of contact between the stopper of the latch and the side surface of the clamping portion of the support member is larger, thereby providing a secure connection and ensuring the stability of the electrical and mechanical connection between the electrical connector and the support member even when frequently plugged in and out. In the housing of the electrical connector of the present application, the stopper of the latch precisely positions the latch position. Furthermore, when the latch of the electrical connector housing is moved toward the locked position, the operator applies force to the stopper in the direction of inserting the electrical connector, easily moving the housing of the electrical connector to the locked position, thereby achieving rapid installation of the electrical connector and providing an excellent operator experience.

[0022] In some exemplary embodiments, a protrusion protruding toward the body may be provided on the inner side of the latch at a position corresponding to the recess.

[0023] The housing of the electrical connector of the present application is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the body at the inner side of the latch and at a position corresponding to the recess, so as to enhance the mechanical strength of the recess of the latch, thereby providing a more stable mechanical connection.

[0024] A second aspect of the present application provides an electrical connector. The electrical connector may include: an electrical connector housing having a receiving slot extending along the length of the electrical connector housing; a plurality of electrical connectors disposed in the receiving slots, each of the plurality of electrical connectors including a mating end disposed in the receiving slot of the electrical connector housing and a tail end opposite the mating end; and a housing connected to the electrical connector housing, the housing including a latch disposed at one end of the housing in a lengthwise direction intersecting the insertion and removal direction of the electrical connector, the latch being capable of placing the electrical connector in a locked state or an unlocked state.

[0025] The electrical connector of the present application can ensure the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connection while allowing the operator to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector by providing a latch. The electrical connector includes a latch provided at one end of the housing in the longitudinal direction that intersects the plug-in and unplug direction of the electrical connector, so as to facilitate the operator to quickly install and release the electrical connector. The latch of the electrical connector of the present application is provided at one end of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the electrical connector, rather than being provided on the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector, saving space in the width direction of the housing of the electrical connector perpendicular to the main surface, so as to allow the electrical connector to be made thinner in the width direction, thereby enabling multiple electrical connectors to be arranged side by side in the width direction within a limited space. Since the latch is provided at one end of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the electrical connector, the operator can quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector even when multiple electrical connectors of the present application are arranged side by side.

[0026] In some exemplary embodiments, the housing may further include a body, defining an accommodating cavity inside the body, the accommodating cavity passing through the body, and forming a front opening and a rear opening on two opposite sides of the body in the plugging and unplugging direction, respectively, the front opening being used to insert the electrical connector shell, wherein the latch is arranged at the first end of the body in a length direction intersecting the plugging and unplugging direction.

[0027] In some exemplary embodiments, the housing may further include a positioning boss disposed at a second end of the body opposite to the first end in the length direction.

[0028] In the electrical connector of the present application, in addition to a latch provided at a first end of the body, the housing of the electrical connector also includes a positioning boss provided at a second end of the body, opposite the first end, in the longitudinal direction of the body. When the electrical connector housing is mounted on a support member, the positioning boss is seated in a boss receptacle on the support member, forming a positive and positive fit with the support member. The boss receptacle on the support member precisely defines the mating position of the housing, and the positive and positive fit between the positioning boss on the electrical connector housing and the boss receptacle on the support member further ensures the mechanical and electrical reliability of the electrical connector.

[0029] In some exemplary embodiments, the latch is capable of generating elastic deformation in the length direction of the body to place the electrical connector in a locked state or an unlocked state.

[0030] The electrical connector of the present application is configured to have a latch that is elastically deformable along the length of the body to lock or unlock the electrical connector, thereby allowing the electrical connector to be quickly installed and released by overcoming the elastic force. The latch can lock or unlock the electrical connector with a simple design structure, thereby ensuring the reliability and stability of the electrical and mechanical connections of the electrical connector while saving costs.

[0031] In some exemplary embodiments, the latch may have a front side in the plugging and unplugging direction and a rear side opposite to the front side of the latch, and the front side of the latch may be connected to the body via a bent portion.

[0032] The electrical connector of the present application reliably connects the body of the housing with the latch by means of a bent portion provided on the front side of the latch. The bent portion has good flexibility, allowing the latch to generate elastic deformation in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0033] In some exemplary embodiments, the latch may have an inner side portion opposite to the body and an outer side portion opposite to the inner side portion, and the outer side portion of the latch may have a recessed portion recessed toward the inner side portion.

[0034] The electrical connector of the present application is provided with a recessed portion on the outer side of the latch that is recessed toward the inner side, so that when the electrical connector is installed on the support member, the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member form a shape and position fit, so that the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member are snap-fitted and fixed, thereby firmly fixing the electrical connector to the support member.

[0035] In some exemplary embodiments, the rear side of the latch may include a latch arm portion that extends at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction when the electrical connector is in the unlocked state.

[0036] The electrical connector of the present application extends the latch arm at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction when the electrical connector is in the unlocked state, thereby allowing the electrical connector to be moved toward the locked state by applying pressure to the latch arm.

[0037] In some exemplary embodiments, a stopper may be formed on the outer side of the latch at a location adjacent to the recess, the stopper being formed to protrude further outward than an opening of the recess.

[0038] The electrical connector of the present application has a stopper formed on the outer side of the latch and adjacent to the recess, so that when the electrical connector moves to the locked state, the stopper of the latch abuts against the side surface of the clamping portion of the support member. In addition, because the stopper is formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess, the area of abutment between the stopper of the latch and the side surface of the clamping portion of the support member is larger, thereby providing a stable connection. Even in the case of frequent plugging and unplugging, the stability of the electrical and mechanical connection between the electrical connector and the support member can be ensured. In the electrical connector of the present application, on the one hand, the latch position is accurately positioned by the stopper of the latch. On the other hand, when the latch of the electrical connector is moved toward the locked position, the operator can easily move the electrical connector to the locked position by applying force to the stopper in the direction of inserting the electrical connector, thereby achieving rapid installation of the electrical connector and providing an excellent operator experience.

[0039] In some exemplary embodiments, a protrusion protruding toward the body may be provided on the inner side of the latch at a position corresponding to the recess.

[0040] The electrical connector of the present application is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the body at a position corresponding to the recess on the inner side of the latch, so as to enhance the mechanical strength of the recess of the latch, thereby providing a more stable mechanical connection.

[0041] In some exemplary embodiments, the electrical connector may further include an electrical connector seat, into which the tail ends of the plurality of electrical connectors are inserted.

[0042] In some exemplary embodiments, the electrical connector may further include a shielding cover disposed on a side of the electrical connector seat.

[0043] In some exemplary embodiments, the electrical connector may further include a plurality of supporting portions disposed on the electrical connector seat and configured to support the electrical connector.

[0044] In some exemplary embodiments, the electrical connector seat may further include: an electrical connector seat body; and an electrical connector support member arranged in the electrical connector seat body and extending along the length direction of the electrical connector, wherein the multiple support portions are arranged on both sides of the electrical connector support member.

[0045] The third aspect of the present application provides a method for installing the electrical connector according to the second aspect of the present application. The method may include: tilting the electrical connector so that the positioning boss is placed in the boss receiving portion of the support member; applying pressure along the length direction to the latch arm of the latch of the electrical connector while causing the bent portion of the latch to abut against the engaging portion of the support member; and applying force to the latch arm in the direction of inserting the electrical connector so that the bent portion of the latch moves forward until the recess of the latch is engaged and fixed with the engaging portion of the support member.

[0046] The third aspect of the present application provides a method for releasing an electrical connector according to the second aspect of the present application, the method may include: when the electrical connector is in a locked state, applying pressure along the length direction to the latch arm of the latch of the electrical connector, so that the recess of the latch is separated from the clamping part of the support member; pressing the latch arm of the latch while applying a force to the latch arm of the latch in the direction of pulling out the electrical connector, so that the bent portion of the latch is exposed from the clamping part of the support member; applying an oblique upward pulling force to the latch arm of the latch, so that the positioning boss is disengaged from the boss accommodating portion of the support member, thereby removing the electrical connector from the support member.

[0047] The electrical connector of the present application is provided with a latch that allows the operator to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector when installing and releasing the electrical connector, significantly improving the operating efficiency of the electrical connector while also ensuring the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connections. The electrical connector includes a latch arranged at a first end of the body in a longitudinal direction that intersects the plug-in and unplug direction, so as to facilitate the operator to quickly install and release the electrical connector. The latch of the housing of the electrical connector of the present application is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the body, rather than on the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector, saving space in the width direction of the housing of the electrical connector perpendicular to the main surface, allowing the electrical connector to be made thinner in the width direction, thereby enabling multiple electrical connectors to be arranged side by side in the width direction within a limited space. Since the latch is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the body of the electrical connector, the operator can quickly lock and release the electrical connector even when multiple electrical connectors of the present application are arranged side by side. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The features and advantages of the embodiments of the present application will become more readily understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale and in which some features are exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components.

[0049] Figure 1 A perspective view showing an electrical connector and a supporting member adapted therewith according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0050] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 3 shows an exploded view of an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Figures 4A to 4C A perspective view showing a housing of an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 5 A perspective view showing an electrical connector housing with an electrical connector installed thereon of an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0054] Figure 6A and Figure 6B A perspective view showing an electrical connector housing of an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0055] Figure 7A and Figure 7B A perspective view of an electrical connector seat with an electrical connector installed thereon according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0056] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an electrical connector seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0058] 10A to 10C A flowchart showing a method for installing an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; and

[0059] Figures 11A to 11E A flow chart of a method for releasing an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0060] DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS: 10 electrical connector; 20 supporting member; 21 clamping portion; 211 side surface of the clamping portion; 22 boss accommodating portion; 23 receiving groove; 100 housing; 110 body; 111 accommodating cavity; 112 front opening; 113 rear opening; 120 latch; 13 front side portion; 14 rear side portion; 15 inner side portion; 16 outer side portion; 121 bent portion; 122 recessed portion; 123 stopping portion; 124 raised portion; 125 latch arm portion; 126 protrusion; 130 positioning boss; 200 electrical connector housing; 210 accommodating groove; 220 base; 221 electrical connector seat accommodating cavity; 2 22, 223 guide portion of the base; 224, 225 guide protrusion; 226 recessed portion; 230 first guide tower portion; 231 first tapered portion; 240 second guide tower portion; 241 second tapered portion; 300 electrical connector seat; 301 electrical connector seat body; 302 electrical connector support; 310 shielding cover; 320, 330 guide portion of the electrical connector seat; 321, 331 guide groove; 322, 332 base portion; 340 multiple support portions; 341 accommodating cavity; 342 accommodating groove; 400 electrical connector; 410 adapter end; 420 tail end; 430 limiting portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of exemplary embodiments of the present application. It should be noted that the following detailed description of the present application is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the present application. In addition, the same reference numerals are used throughout the various drawings to represent the same components.

[0062] In the related art, a simple locking / unlocking structure is provided on the main surface of the electrical connector, and the connection is achieved through an interference fit generated by the elastic deformation of the latch arm, which may result in damage to the elastic arm when the electrical connector is frequently plugged and unplugged, and unstable connection of the electrical connector. In other embodiments, some of the locking / unlocking structures of the electrical connector require additional connection structures to be provided on the housing of the electrical connector, and the locking / unlocking structure is relatively complex and costly. Locking / unlocking the electrical connector is time-consuming, which is not user-friendly for operators of the electrical connector who need to frequently lock / unlock the connector. As electrical connectors become increasingly miniaturized, the requirements for the precision docking of electrical connectors are also becoming higher and higher. How to achieve reliable mechanical and electrical connection of the electrical connector while being able to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0063] The inventors have recognized a technology for manufacturing an electrical connector that can solve some of the technical problems in the related art, and that can ensure reliability in mechanical and electrical connection while allowing an operator to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector.

[0064] Considering limited operating space and operator efficiency, the housing of the electrical connector of the present application may include a body and a latch. The latch is located at a first end of the body in a longitudinal direction intersecting the insertion and removal direction, and the latch can lock or unlock the electrical connector. The design of the latch of the electrical connector housing allows the operator to install and release the electrical connector very conveniently and quickly. The latch of the electrical connector housing of the present application is located at one end of the body in the longitudinal direction, rather than being located on the main surface of the electrical connector housing as in the prior art. This structural design of the electrical connector housing of the present application saves space in the width direction perpendicular to the main surface of the electrical connector housing, allowing the electrical connector to be made thinner in the width direction, further realizing a miniaturized electrical connector. This structural design also enables multiple electrical connectors to be arranged side by side in the width direction within a limited space, improving space utilization. In addition, because the latch is located at one end of the electrical connector body in the longitudinal direction, the operator can quickly lock and unlock the electrical connectors even when multiple electrical connectors of the present application are arranged side by side, thereby improving the operator's efficiency in operating the electrical connectors.

[0065] The inventors have recognized and understood that, in order to overcome the unstable connection problem that exists in related art designs that only employ simple locking / unlocking structures on the main surface, the electrical connector housing of the present application includes, in addition to a latch provided at a first end of the body, a positioning boss provided at a second end, opposite the first end, in the longitudinal direction of the body. When the electrical connector housing is mounted on a support member, the positioning boss is positioned within a boss receptacle on the support member, forming a positive and negative fit with the support member. The boss receptacle on the support member precisely defines the mating position of the housing, and the positive and negative fit between the positioning boss on the electrical connector housing and the boss receptacle on the support member further ensures the mechanical and electrical reliability of the electrical connector.

[0066] The inventors realized and understood that in order to overcome the problem of unstable connection in the related art when only a simple locking / unlocking structure is designed on the main surface, the electrical connector of the present application is provided with a recessed portion recessed toward the inner side on the outer side of the latch, so that when the electrical connector is installed to the support member, the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member form a shape and position fit, so that the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member are snap-fitted and fixed, thereby firmly fixing the electrical connector to the support member, further ensuring the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connection.

[0067] The inventors have recognized and understood that, in order to avoid providing an additional connection structure on the housing of the electrical connector, the electrical connector of the present application has a latch disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the housing and capable of elastically deforming in the longitudinal direction of the body to lock or unlock the electrical connector, thereby allowing the electrical connector to be quickly installed and released simply by overcoming the elastic force. The latch can lock or unlock the electrical connector with a simple design structure, thereby ensuring the reliability and stability of the electrical and mechanical connections of the electrical connector while saving costs.

[0068] The inventors realized and understood that in order to avoid damage to the electrical connector in the case of frequent locking / unlocking, a latch body with high mechanical strength can be provided inside the latch of the housing of the electrical connector, so that when the operator applies pressure to the latch, the pressure can be effectively transmitted, and the electrical connector can be reliably locked and unlocked even after a large number of locking and unlocking cycles.

[0069] The inventors have recognized and understood that, in order to prevent damage to the electrical connector during frequent locking and unlocking, the electrical connector housing of the present application includes a stopper formed on the outer side of the latch, adjacent to the recess, so that when the electrical connector is moved to the locked position, the stopper of the latch abuts against the side surface of the clamping portion of the support member. Because the stopper is formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess, the area of contact between the stopper of the latch and the side surface of the clamping portion of the support member is larger, thereby providing a secure connection and ensuring the stability of the electrical and mechanical connection between the electrical connector and the support member even during frequent insertion and removal. In the electrical connector housing of the present application, the stopper of the latch precisely positions the latch. Furthermore, when the latch of the electrical connector housing is moved toward the locked position, the operator applies force to the stopper in the direction of insertion of the electrical connector, easily moving the electrical connector housing to the locked position. This allows for quick installation of the electrical connector and provides an excellent operator experience.

[0070] The inventors realized and understood that in order to avoid damage to the electrical connector in the case of frequent locking / unlocking, the shell of the electrical connector of the present application is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the body on the inner side of the latch and at a position corresponding to the recess, so as to enhance the mechanical strength of the recess of the latch, thereby further providing a more stable mechanical connection.

[0071] The housing of the electrical connector and the electrical connector according to some embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0072] For clarity and conciseness of the description, the figure indicates the plug-in and pull-out direction Z for inserting the electrical connector of the present application into the support member or pulling the electrical connector out from the support member, the direction X perpendicular to the plug-in and pull-out direction Z (i.e., the length direction X of the housing of the electrical connector or the length direction X of the electrical connector), and the direction Y perpendicular to both the plug-in and pull-out direction Z and the length direction X (i.e., the width direction Y of the housing of the electrical connector or the width direction Y of the electrical connector).

[0073] The first aspect of the present application provides a housing 100 of an electrical connector. Figures 4A to 4C The housing 100 of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail.

[0074] like Figures 4A to 4C As shown, the housing 100 of the electrical connector may include: a body 110 and a latch 120. Figure 4C As shown, a receiving cavity 111 may be defined inside the body 110. Figure 4B and Figure 4C As shown, the accommodating cavity 111 can pass through the body 110, and a front opening 112 and a rear opening 113 can be formed on two opposite sides of the body 110 in the plug-in and pull-out direction Z of the electrical connector 10, respectively. The latch 120 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector can be set at the first end of the body 110 in the length direction X that intersects the plug-in and pull-out direction Z, and the latch 120 can put the electrical connector 10 in a locked state or an unlocked state. In an embodiment of the present application, the length direction X of the body is the same as the length direction X of the housing of the electrical connector. The housing of the electrical connector of the present application can ensure the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connection by providing a latch, while allowing the operator to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector.

[0075] The housing 100 of the electrical connector according to the present application can be made of an insulating material. For example, the housing 100 of the electrical connector can be formed by, for example, plastic molding. The plastic material used for the housing 100 of the electrical connector can include at least one selected from the following: liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high-temperature nylon or polyphenylene oxide (PPO) or polypropylene (PP). In some optional embodiments, a latch body (not shown) with high mechanical strength can be provided inside the latch 120 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector, so that when the operator applies pressure to the latch 120, the pressure can be effectively transmitted, and the electrical connector can be reliably locked and unlocked even after a large number of locking and unlocking.

[0076] In an embodiment of the present application, the housing of the electrical connector includes a latch provided at a first end of the body in a length direction intersecting with the plug-in and pull-out direction, so as to facilitate the operator to quickly install and release the electrical connector. The latch of the housing of the electrical connector of the present application is provided at one end in the length direction of the body, rather than on the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector. By adopting this configuration of the housing of the electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present application, space in the width direction perpendicular to the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector is saved, so as to allow the electrical connector to be made thinner in the width direction, thereby enabling a plurality of electrical connectors to be arranged side by side in the width direction within a limited space, such as from Figure 1 As can be seen in the figure, the housing of the electrical connector of the present application has a latch disposed at one end of the body of the electrical connector in the length direction. Therefore, even when multiple electrical connectors of the present application are arranged side by side in the width direction, the operator can quickly lock and unlock the electrical connectors.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present application, the housing 100 of the electrical connector may include a positioning boss 130. Figure 4A As shown, the positioning boss 130 can be provided at a second end opposite to the first end in the length direction X of the body 110 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector. In some embodiments, the positioning boss 130 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector has a rectangular shape in the width direction of the housing, however, the present application is not limited thereto, and the positioning boss 130 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector can also have any other suitable shape in the width direction of the housing. In some embodiments, a transition portion is provided at the position where the positioning boss 130 engages with the body. For example, the rectangular shape of the positioning boss in the width direction of the housing can be rounded, which can avoid stress concentration at the portion where the positioning boss engages with the body, and at the same time increase the contact area between the positioning boss and the body, prevent the positioning boss from breaking, improve the structural reliability of the positioning boss, and enhance the engagement strength of the positioning boss.

[0078] In the electrical connector housing of the present application, in addition to a latch provided at a first end of the body, the housing also includes a positioning boss provided at a second end of the body, opposite the first end, in the longitudinal direction of the body. When the electrical connector housing is mounted on a support member, the positioning boss is positioned within a boss receptacle on the support member, forming a positive and positive fit with the support member. The boss receptacle on the support member precisely defines the mating position of the housing, and the positive and positive fit between the positioning boss on the electrical connector housing and the boss receptacle on the support member further ensures the mechanical and electrical reliability of the electrical connector.

[0079] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector housing according to the present application, the latch 120 of the electrical connector housing is capable of elastically deforming in the longitudinal direction X of the body 110 to place the electrical connector 10 in a locked or unlocked state. The electrical connector housing of the present application, by configuring the latch to elastically deform in the longitudinal direction of the body to place the electrical connector in a locked or unlocked state, allows the electrical connector to be quickly installed and released by overcoming elastic forces. The latch can lock or unlock the electrical connector with a simple design structure, so the electrical connector of the present application can ensure the reliability and stability of the electrical and mechanical connections of the electrical connector while saving costs.

[0080] In some exemplary embodiments of the housing of the electrical connector according to the present application, as Figure 4A As shown, the latch 120 has a front side 13 in the insertion and removal direction Z and a rear side 14 opposite the front side 13 of the latch 120. The front side 13 of the latch 120 is connected to the body 110 via a bent portion 121. The housing of the electrical connector of the present application reliably connects the housing body to the latch via a bent portion provided on the front side of the latch. The bent portion of the latch has good flexibility, thereby allowing the latch to elastically deform along the length direction of the body.

[0081] In some exemplary embodiments of the housing of the electrical connector according to the present application, as Figure 4A As shown, the latch 120 has an inner portion 15 opposite to the body 110 and an outer portion 16 opposite to the inner portion 15. The outer portion 16 of the latch 120 has a recess 122 that is recessed toward the inner portion 15, so as to be used for securing the latch to the engaging portion of the supporting member. In some optional embodiments, the recess 122 of the latch 120 may include: an opening extending along the width direction Y of the housing 100 of the electrical connector; a front side wall in the extension direction of the latch 120, a rear side wall opposite to the front side wall, and an inner wall for connecting the front side wall and the rear side wall. The housing of the electrical connector of the present application is provided with a recess that is recessed toward the inner portion on the outer portion of the latch, so that when the electrical connector is mounted on the supporting member, the recess of the latch forms a positive and negative fit with the engaging portion of the supporting member, so that the latch recess and the engaging portion of the supporting member are secured by securing the electrical connector to the supporting member, thereby firmly securing the electrical connector to the supporting member.

[0082] In some exemplary embodiments of the housing of the electrical connector according to the present application, the rear side 14 of the latch 120 may include a latch arm 125, such as Figure 4AAs shown, the latch arm 125 extends at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction Z when the electrical connector 10 is in the unlocked state. In particular, the latch arm 125 can extend outward at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction Z when the electrical connector 10 is in the unlocked state. The housing of the electrical connector of the present application allows the electrical connector to be moved toward the locked state by applying pressure to the latch arm by extending the latch arm at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction when the electrical connector is in the unlocked state.

[0083] In some exemplary embodiments of the housing of the electrical connector according to the present application, the latch arm 125 may include a protrusion 126 that tilts outward at its distal end, extending outward at an angle relative to the insertion and removal direction Z. In some optional embodiments, the protrusion 126 of the latch arm 125 may have an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces in the direction of extension of the latch arm. In some embodiments, the upper surface of the protrusion 126 at the distal end of the latch arm 125 may have a transition portion (e.g., a curved transition portion), and the side surface of the protrusion 126 may be rounded. In some embodiments, the protrusion 126 at the end of the latch arm 125 can be used to apply pressure along the length direction X to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 of the electrical connector 10 (in particular, the protrusion 126 at the end of the latch arm 125) when the electrical connector is in a locked state, so that the recess 122 of the latch 120 is separated from the clamping portion 21 of the support member 20, and the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 is pressed while applying force to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 (in particular, the protrusion 126 at the end of the latch arm 125) in the direction of unplugging the electrical connector 10, so that the bent portion 121 of the latch 120 is exposed from the clamping portion 21 of the support member 20, thereby achieving quick release of the electrical connector.

[0084] In some exemplary embodiments of the housing of the electrical connector according to the present application, as Figure 4A As shown, a stopper 123 is formed on the outer side 16 of the latch 120 and adjacent to the recess 122. The housing of the electrical connector of the present application forms a stopper on the outer side of the latch and adjacent to the recess, so that when the electrical connector moves to the locked state, the stopper of the latch and the side surface 211 (as shown in FIG. Figure 10B shown) abutment.

[0085] In some embodiments of the present application, the stopper 123 of the latch 120 may be formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess 122, such as Figure 4AAs shown. In some embodiments, the stopper 123 may be formed to extend outward along the direction in which the rear side wall of the recess 122 extends. The stopper 123 may include an upper surface in the extension direction of the latch 120, a lower surface, and an outer side surface connecting the upper surface and the lower surface. The upper surface of the stopper 123 in the extension direction of the latch 120 may be coplanar with the rear side wall of the recess 122. In the housing of the electrical connector of the present application, since the stopper is formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess, the area in which the stopper of the latch abuts against the side surface 211 of the clamping portion 21 of the support member is larger, thereby being able to provide a stable connection and ensure the stability of the electrical and mechanical connection between the electrical connector and the support member even in the case of frequent plugging and unplugging.

[0086] In some embodiments, as Figure 4A As shown, the outer surface of the stopper 123 can be rounded, which can avoid stress concentration at the portion where the stopper engages with the support member, and at the same time increase the contact area between the stopper and the clamping portion of the support member, thereby preventing the stopper from breaking, improving the structural reliability of the stopper, and enhancing the engagement strength of the positioning stopper. In the housing of the electrical connector of the present application, on the one hand, the latch position is accurately positioned by the stopper of the latch, and on the other hand, when the latch of the housing of the electrical connector is moved toward the locked position, the operator can easily move the housing of the electrical connector to the locked position by applying a force to the lower surface of the stopper in the direction of inserting the electrical connector, thereby achieving rapid installation of the electrical connector and providing a very good operator experience.

[0087] In some exemplary embodiments of the housing of the electrical connector according to the present application, a protrusion 124 protruding toward the body 110 may be provided on the inner side 15 of the latch 120 and at a position corresponding to the recess 122, such as Figure 4A In some embodiments, the protrusion 124 may be a protrusion with a curved surface, but the present application is not limited thereto. The housing of the electrical connector of the present application is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the body at a position corresponding to the recess on the inner side of the latch to enhance the mechanical strength of the recess of the latch, thereby providing a more stable mechanical connection.

[0088] The second aspect of the present application provides an electrical connector 10. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the electrical connector 10 may include: an electrical connector housing 200, a plurality of electrical connectors 400 and a housing 100. Figure 6A As shown, the electrical connector housing 200 may have a receiving groove 210 extending along the length direction X of the electrical connector housing 200 . In the embodiment of the present application, the housing 100 may be connected to the electrical connector housing 200 .

[0089] The following combination Figure 6A and Figure 6B The electrical connector housing 200 of the electrical connector 10 is described in detail. In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, as shown in FIG. Figure 6A As shown, the electrical connector housing 200 of the electrical connector 10 may further include a base 220, a first guide tower 230, and a second guide tower 240. In the embodiment of the present application, the first guide tower 230 may be disposed at a first end of the base 220 of the electrical connector housing 200 in the length direction X and extend along the plugging and unplugging direction Z of the electrical connector, and the second guide tower 240 may be disposed at a second end of the base 220 of the electrical connector housing 200 in the length direction X and extend along the plugging and unplugging direction Z of the electrical connector. In the embodiment of the present application, the length direction X of the base 220 of the electrical connector housing 200 is the same as the length direction X of the electrical connector 10.

[0090] like Figure 6A As shown, the base 220 of the electrical connector shell 200 may include a plurality of recessed portions 226 provided on two opposite side surfaces of the base 220 in the width direction Y of the electrical connector. The plurality of recessed portions 226 on the two side surfaces of the base 220 may be configured to form a snap-fit fixation with the protrusions (not shown) on the inner wall of the accommodating cavity 111 when the electrical connector shell 200 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 111 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10, thereby achieving a tight connection between the electrical connector shell 200 and the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10, ensuring the reliability of the mechanical and electrical connection of the electrical connector, and ensuring a reliable electrical and mechanical connection of the electrical connector even in the case of frequent plugging and unplugging.

[0091] For example Figure 6A As shown, the first guide tower portion 230 of the electrical connector housing 200 has a first tapered portion 231 at the end of the electrical connector in the plugging and unplugging direction Z; the second guide tower portion 240 of the electrical connector housing 200 has a second tapered portion 241 at the end of the electrical connector in the plugging and unplugging direction Z. The first tapered portion 231 and the second tapered portion 241 can be configured to fix the electrical connector to the receiving groove 23 (such as Figure 1 After being inserted into the housing 200, the electrical connector housing 200 can be more smoothly connected to an adapter (e.g., an EDSFF U.2 hard drive interface). In some embodiments, the first tapered portion 231 and the second tapered portion 241 can have a prism or frustum shape, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0092] In some embodiments, as Figure 6AAs shown, the base 220 of the electrical connector housing 200 of the electrical connector 10 may include two guide portions 222, 223 disposed at both ends of the base and an electrical connector seat accommodating cavity 221 disposed between the two guide portions 222, 223. In some embodiments, the two guide portions 222, 223 of the base 220 may be configured to be used to place the electrical connector seat 300 (described below in conjunction with Figure 7A and Figure 7B In some optional embodiments, the two guide portions 222, 223 of the base 220 may be provided with inwardly concave grooves, and guide protrusions 224, 225 may be provided on the inner side walls of the grooves of the two guide portions 222, 223. In some optional embodiments, the guide protrusions 224, 225 of the two guide portions 222, 223 may be configured to align with the guide grooves 321, 331 (such as Figure 7A As shown) to cooperate with the electrical connector seat 300 to tightly engage the base 220 of the electrical connector shell 200.

[0093] Continue as Figure 6A and Figure 6B As shown, the electrical connector seat accommodating cavity 221 can be configured to have a through opening in the width direction Y of the base 220 of the electrical connector housing 200 and extend along the length direction X of the base 220 of the electrical connector housing 200. The electrical connector seat accommodating cavity 221 is used to receive the electrical connector seat 300 (as described below in conjunction with Figure 7A and Figure 7B Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although the Figure 6A and Figure 6B While the detailed structure of the electrical connector housing 200 has been described, the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. Depending on the actual product requirements, the electrical connector housing 200 may have any other suitable structure, as long as it meets the mechanical and electrical connection reliability requirements of the electrical connector. In some embodiments, the electrical connector housing 200 may have the structure described in CN117673795A and CN220401011U.

[0094] Combined with Figure 4A The housing 100 of the electrical connector according to one aspect of the present application is the same as that described above. Figure 2As shown, the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10 of the present application may include a latch 120. The latch 120 may be disposed at one end of the housing 100 in a longitudinal direction X that intersects the insertion and removal direction Z of the electrical connector 10. The latch 120 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10 of the present application can place the electrical connector 10 in a locked or unlocked state. By providing the latch, the electrical connector of the present application ensures the reliability of the mechanical and electrical connection of the electrical connector while allowing the operator to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector.

[0095] In an embodiment of the present application, the electrical connector includes a latch provided at one end of the housing in a length direction intersecting with the plug-in and unplugging direction of the electrical connector, so as to facilitate the operator to quickly install and release the electrical connector. In the electrical connector of the present application, the latch is provided at one end of the housing in a length direction of the electrical connector, rather than being provided on the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector. By adopting such a configuration of the housing of the electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present application, space in a width direction perpendicular to the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector can be saved, so as to allow the electrical connector to be made thinner in the width direction, thereby enabling a plurality of electrical connectors to be arranged side by side in the width direction within a limited space, such as from Figure 1 As can be seen in the figure, the electrical connector of the present application has a latch disposed at one end of the housing in the length direction of the electrical connector. Therefore, even when multiple electrical connectors of the present application are arranged side by side in the width direction, the operator can quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector.

[0096] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10 may further include a body 110. Figure 4C As shown, a receiving cavity 111 may be defined inside the body 110 of the electrical connector 10, and the receiving cavity 111 passes through the body 110. In the embodiment of the present application, the receiving cavity 111 of the body 110 of the electrical connector 10 may be used to connect the electrical connector housing 200 and the electrical connector seat 300 (such as Figure 7A as shown) to accommodate.

[0097] Two opposite sides of the body 110 of the housing 100 in the plugging and unplugging direction Z may respectively form front openings 112 (such as Figure 4C As shown) and the rear opening 113 (as Figure 4B (As shown). The front opening 112 can be used to insert the electrical connector housing 200, wherein the electrical connector housing 200 is connected to the electrical connector seat 300, and the rear opening 113 can be used to insert an adapted circuit board. In an alternative embodiment, the latch 120 can be provided at a first end of the body 110 in a longitudinal direction X that intersects the insertion and removal direction Z.

[0098] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10 may further include a positioning boss 130, which may be provided at a second end opposite to the first end in the length direction X of the body 110. The positioning boss 130 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10 of the present application may have the configuration described in the specification. Figure 4A The structure described in detail will not be repeated in this application. In the electrical connector of the present application, in addition to the latch provided at the first end of the body, the housing of the electrical connector also includes a positioning boss provided at the second end opposite to the first end in the length direction of the body. When the electrical connector housing is mounted to the support member, the positioning boss is placed in the boss receiving portion of the support member to form a form-fitting fit with the support member. The boss receiving portion of the support member accurately defines the docking position of the housing, and the form-fitting fit between the positioning boss of the electrical connector housing and the boss receiving portion of the support member further ensures the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connection.

[0099] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, the latch 120 is capable of elastically deforming in the longitudinal direction X of the body 110 to place the electrical connector 10 in a locked or unlocked state. The electrical connector of the present application, by configuring the latch to elastically deform in the longitudinal direction of the body to place the electrical connector in a locked or unlocked state, allows for rapid installation and release of the electrical connector by overcoming elastic forces. The latch can lock or unlock the electrical connector with a simple design structure, thereby ensuring the reliability and stability of the electrical and mechanical connections of the electrical connector while saving costs.

[0100] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, the latch 120 has a front side 13 in the insertion and removal direction Z and a rear side 14 opposite the front side 13 of the latch 120. The front side 13 of the latch 120 is connected to the body 110 via a bent portion 121. The electrical connector of the present application reliably connects the body of the housing to the latch through the bent portion provided on the front side of the latch. The bent portion of the latch has good flexibility, thereby allowing the latch to generate elastic deformation in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0101] Continue to refer Figure 2In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, the latch 120 may have an inner portion 15 opposite the body 110 and an outer portion 16 opposite the inner portion 15. The outer portion 16 of the latch 120 has a recess 122 recessed toward the inner portion 15 for securing the latch to the engaging portion of a matching support member. In some optional embodiments, the recess 122 of the latch 120 may include: an opening extending along the width direction Y of the housing 100 of the electrical connector; a front sidewall extending in the direction of extension of the latch 120; a rear sidewall opposite the front sidewall; and an inner wall connecting the front and rear sidewalls.

[0102] The electrical connector of the present application is provided with a recessed portion on the outer side of the latch that is recessed toward the inner side, so that when the electrical connector is installed on the support member, the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member form a shape and position fit, so that the recessed portion of the latch and the snap-fit portion of the support member are snap-fitted and fixed, thereby firmly fixing the electrical connector to the support member.

[0103] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, the rear side 14 of the latch 120 includes a latch arm 125, which extends at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction Z when the electrical connector 10 is in the unlocked state. In particular, the latch arm 125 can extend outward at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction Z when the electrical connector 10 is in the unlocked state. The electrical connector of the present application allows the electrical connector to be moved toward the locked state by applying pressure to the latch arm by extending the latch arm at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction when the electrical connector is in the unlocked state.

[0104] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector according to the present application, the latch arm 125 may include a protrusion 126 that tilts outward at its distal end, extending outward at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction Z. In some optional embodiments, the protrusion 126 of the latch arm 125 may have an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces in the direction of extension of the latch arm. In some embodiments, the upper surface of the protrusion 126 at the distal end of the latch arm 125 may have a transition portion (e.g., a curved transition portion), and the side surface of the protrusion 126 may be rounded. In some embodiments, the protrusion 126 at the end of the latch arm 125 can be used to apply pressure along the length direction X to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 of the electrical connector 10 (in particular, the protrusion 126 at the end of the latch arm 125) when the electrical connector is in a locked state, so that the recess 122 of the latch 120 is separated from the clamping portion 21 of the support member 20, and the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 is pressed while applying force to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 (in particular, the protrusion 126 at the end of the latch arm 125) in the direction of unplugging the electrical connector 10, so that the bent portion 121 of the latch 120 is exposed from the clamping portion 21 of the support member 20, thereby achieving quick release of the electrical connector.

[0105] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, a stopper 123 may be formed on the outer side 16 of the latch 120 and adjacent to the recess 122. The electrical connector of the present application has a stopper formed on the outer side of the latch and adjacent to the recess, so that when the electrical connector moves to the locked state, the stopper of the latch abuts against the side surface 211 of the clamping portion 21 of the support member.

[0106] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, the stopper 123 of the latch 120 can be formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess 122. In some embodiments, the stopper 123 can be formed to extend outward along the direction in which the rear side wall of the recess 122 extends. The stopper 123 can include an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer surface connecting the upper surface and the lower surface in the extending direction of the latch 120. The upper surface of the stopper 123 in the plugging and unplugging direction can be coplanar with the rear side wall of the recess 122. In the electrical connector of the present application, since the stopper is formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess, the area in which the stopper of the latch abuts against the side surface 211 of the clamping portion 21 of the support member is larger, thereby providing a stable connection. Even in the case of frequent plugging and unplugging, the stability of the electrical and mechanical connection between the electrical connector and the support member can be ensured.

[0107] In some embodiments, as Figure 2As shown, the outer surface of the stopper 123 of the latch 120 of the electrical connector 10 can be rounded, which can avoid stress concentration at the portion where the stopper engages with the support member, and at the same time increase the contact area between the stopper and the clamping portion of the support member, thereby preventing the stopper from breaking, improving the structural reliability of the stopper, and enhancing the engagement strength of the positioning stopper. In the electrical connector of the present application, on the one hand, the latch position is accurately positioned by the stopper of the latch, and on the other hand, when the latch of the electrical connector is moved toward the locked position, the operator can easily move the electrical connector to the locked position by applying a force to the lower surface of the stopper in the direction of inserting the electrical connector, thereby achieving rapid installation of the electrical connector and providing a very good operator experience.

[0108] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, a protrusion 124 that protrudes toward the body 110 can be provided on the inner side 15 of the latch 120 at a position corresponding to the recess 122. In some embodiments, the protrusion 124 can be a protrusion with a curved surface, but the present application is not limited thereto. The electrical connector of the present application provides a protrusion that protrudes toward the body on the inner side of the latch and at a position corresponding to the recess, thereby enhancing the mechanical strength of the recess of the latch, thereby providing a more stable mechanical connection.

[0109] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown, the electrical connector 10 may further include an electrical connector seat 300. Figure 7A 、 Figure 7B and Figure 8 The electrical connector seat 300 of the electrical connector of the present application is described in detail.

[0110] In some optional embodiments, such as Figure 7A As shown, the electrical connector seat 300 may include guide portions 320, 330 provided at two ends of the electrical connector seat 300 in the length direction X of the electrical connector, and the guide portions 320, 330 of the electrical connector seat 300 may be configured to guide the electrical connector seat 300 from the bottom of the electrical connector housing 200 toward the plugging direction Z of the electrical connector, so as to install the electrical connector seat 300 into the electrical connector housing 200. In some optional embodiments, such as Figure 7A As shown, the electrical connector seat 300 may include one or more guide grooves 321, 331 on the guide portions 320, 330 at both ends of the electrical connector seat. Figure 7A and Figure 7BAs shown, the electrical connector seat 300 may include guide grooves 321, 331 provided on opposite sides of the guide portions 320, 330 in the width direction Y of the electrical connector. In some other embodiments, the electrical connector seat 300 may further include guide grooves (not shown) provided on side surfaces of the guide portions 320, 330 in the length direction X of the electrical connector.

[0111] In other embodiments, the electrical connector seat 300 may include base portions 322, 332 disposed at the bottoms of the guide portions 320, 330 at both ends of the electrical connector seat 300. The base portions 322, 332 of the guide portions 320, 330 may have a shape that matches the bottoms of the two guide portions 222, 223 of the base of the electrical connector housing 200. Through the above-described structural design of the electrical connector housing 200 and the electrical connector seat 300 of the present application, when the electrical connector seat 300 is inserted into the electrical connector housing 200 from the bottom of the electrical connector housing 200 toward the plugging and unplugging direction Z of the electrical connector, the base portions 322, 332 of the electrical connector seat 300 are allowed to engage with the bottoms of the two guide portions 222, 223 of the electrical connector housing 200 (particularly, to form a plane, such as Figure 5 ), thereby tightly installing the electrical connector seat 300 into the electrical connector housing 200, further improving the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connection.

[0112] The following combination Figure 9 The electrical connector of the electrical connector of the present application is described in detail. In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, a plurality of electrical connectors 400 may be disposed in the receiving groove 210 of the electrical connector housing 200. Figure 9 As shown, each of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 may include a fitting end 410 disposed in the receiving groove 210 of the electrical connector housing 200 and a tail end 420 opposite to the fitting end 410. Figure 7A As shown, the tail ends 420 of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 can be inserted into the electrical connector seat 300. In the embodiment of the present application, according to the actual needs of the product, the plurality of electrical connectors 400 can be electrical connectors with the same structure and the same function. In some optional embodiments, the plurality of electrical connectors 400 can be electrical connectors with different structures and different functions. When the tail ends 420 of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 are inserted into the electrical connector seat 300, and the electrical connector seat 300 is inserted into the electrical connector shell 200 from the bottom of the electrical connector shell 200, the adapter ends 410 of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 are accommodated in the receiving groove 210 of the electrical connector shell 200 and exposed from the receiving groove 210 of the electrical connector shell 200 to allow electrical connection with an adapter (e.g., an EDSFF U.2 hard disk interface).

[0113] The electrical connector 400 can be made of, for example, metal or any other conductive material. In some embodiments, the material used for the electrical connector 400 can include, but is not limited to, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, and other copper alloys. The electrical connector 400 can be formed of a metal material in any suitable manner, including but not limited to stamping and / or forming the electrical connector 400. In some embodiments, the electrical connector 400 can be formed as an elongated, integral piece. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, although the present invention has been combined with the present invention, the electrical connector 400 can be formed as a single piece. Figure 9 The detailed structure of the electrical connector 400 is described, but the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. Depending on the actual product requirements, the electrical connector 400 may have any other suitable structure, as long as it can meet the reliability requirements of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connection. In some embodiments, the electrical connector 400 may have the structure described in CN117673795A and CN220401011U.

[0114] In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, Figure 7A As shown, the electrical connector 10 may further include a shielding cover 310, which is arranged on the side of the electrical connector seat 300. The shielding cover 310 of the electrical connector 10 of the present application can be used to prevent electromagnetic interference. The shielding member 310 can be made of, for example, metal, such as silver, copper, zinc, or tin. In some optional embodiments, the shielding member 310 can be made of copper. In some optional embodiments, the shielding members can be formed as sheet metal members placed on both sides of the electrical connector seat 300, respectively. The shielding member 310 thus manufactured has high mechanical strength, a simple manufacturing process, and low cost. The shielding member 310 can effectively shield the external electromagnetic interference of the electrical connector 10. In addition, the shielding member 310 is formed on both sides of the electrical connector seat 300 of the electrical connector, thereby preventing external interference signals from entering the electrical connector shell, effectively protecting the stability of data transmission.

[0115] Continue to refer Figure 7B In some exemplary embodiments of the electrical connector of the present application, the electrical connector seat 300 of the electrical connector 10 may further include: an electrical connector seat body 301; and an electrical connector support 302 disposed in the electrical connector seat body 301 and extending along the length direction X of the electrical connector. In some embodiments, such as Figure 7BAs shown, the electrical connector 10 may further include a plurality of support portions 340 disposed on the electrical connector seat 300 and for supporting the electrical connector 400. In particular, the plurality of support portions 340 may be disposed on both sides of the electrical connector support 302. In an embodiment of the present application, the plurality of support portions 340 may be evenly spaced apart at the same intervals. In some optional embodiments, depending on the actual needs of the product, the plurality of support portions 340 may also have different intervals, or some of the plurality of support portions 340 may have the same intervals, and others of the plurality of support portions 340 may have different intervals, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0116] According to the electrical connector of the present application, the plurality of supporting portions 340 of the electrical connector support 302 of the electrical connector seat 300 can be formed as a plurality of protrusions 340 protruding toward the body 301 of the electrical connector seat 300 in two opposite directions in the width direction Y of the electrical connector, so that the plurality of protrusions 340 cooperate with the body 301 to form an accommodating cavity 341 for allowing the tail ends 420 of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 to pass through. In other embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, the plurality of support portions 340 of the electrical connector support 302 can be formed as receiving slots 342 provided with a plurality of elongated holes to allow the tail ends 420 of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 to pass through the receiving slots 342. The spacing between the plurality of support portions 340 of the electrical connector support 302 of the present application can be set to be substantially the same as the width of the tail ends 420 of the corresponding plurality of electrical connectors 400 in the width direction Y of the electrical connector.

[0117] Continue to refer Figure 9 and Figure 7B Each of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 may further include a limiting portion 430 disposed between the adapting end portion 410 and the tail end portion 420. In some embodiments of the present application, such as Figure 7B and Figure 8 As shown, the limiting portion 430 of each of the plurality of electrical connectors 400 can be placed on a corresponding support portion of the plurality of support portions 340 and exposed outside the accommodating cavity 341 or the accommodating groove 342. On the one hand, the plurality of support portions 340 can provide good support for the plurality of electrical connectors 400 inserted into the electrical connector seat 300. On the other hand, the structural design of the plurality of support portions 340 and the limiting portion 430 of the electrical connector 400 allows for precise positioning of the plurality of electrical connectors 400, thereby achieving reliability in terms of mechanical and electrical connection of the electrical connector.

[0118] Reference below Figure 3The assembly process of the electrical connector is described. The tail end 420 of the electrical connector 400 is inserted into the electrical connector seat 300 through the accommodating cavity 341 or the accommodating groove 342 by a manipulator, and the shielding cover 310 is installed on the side of the electrical connector seat 300. The electrical connector seat 300 with the electrical connector 400 installed is inserted into the electrical connector seat accommodating cavity 221 and a force is applied along the plug-in and unplug direction of the electrical connector. Through the guide protrusions 224, 225 of the two guide parts 222, 223 of the substrate 220 of the electrical connector shell 200 and the guide grooves 321, 331 (such as Figure 6A and Figure 7A As shown), the electrical connector seat 300 is tightly joined with the base 220 of the electrical connector shell 200 (as shown). Figure 5 Then, the electrical connector housing 200 with the electrical connector seat 300 installed is inserted into the accommodating cavity 111 of the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10. The multiple recessed portions 226 on both side surfaces of the base 220 of the electrical connector housing 200 are snap-fitted and fixed with the protruding portions of the inner wall of the accommodating cavity 111, thereby achieving a tight connection between the electrical connector housing 200 and the housing 100 of the electrical connector 10, ensuring the reliability of the mechanical and electrical connection of the electrical connector, and ensuring reliable electrical and mechanical connection of the electrical connector even in the case of frequent plugging and unplugging.

[0119] The third aspect of the present application provides a method for installing the electrical connector 10 according to the second aspect of the present application. 10A to 10C A method of installing the electrical connector 10 will be described.

[0120] The method for installing the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present application may include: placing the positioning boss 130 of the electrical connector 10 in an inclined manner into the boss receiving portion 22 of the support member 20, such as Figure 10A The method may further include: applying pressure along the length direction X to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 of the electrical connector 10 while causing the bent portion 121 of the latch 120 to abut against the engaging portion 21 of the support member 20, as shown. Figure 10B In addition, Figure 10C As shown, the method may also include: applying a force to the latch arm 125 in the direction of inserting the electrical connector 10, so that the bent portion 121 of the latch 120 moves forward until the recess 122 of the latch 120 is engaged and fixed with the engaging portion 21 of the support member 20, thereby putting the electrical connector in a locked state.

[0121] The third aspect of the present application provides a method for releasing the electrical connector 10 according to the second aspect of the present application. Figures 11A to 11E A method for releasing the electrical connector 10 will be described below.

[0122] The method for releasing the electrical connector according to the present application may include applying pressure along the length direction X to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 of the electrical connector 10 when the electrical connector 10 is in a locked state, so that the recess 122 of the latch 120 is separated from the clamping portion 21 of the support member 20, as shown in FIG. Figure 11A and Figure 11B As shown, the electrical connector is in an unlocked state. Figure 11C and Figure 11D As shown, the method may further include: while pressing the latch arm 125 of the latch 120, applying a force toward the direction of pulling out the electrical connector 10 to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120, so that the bent portion 121 of the latch 120 is exposed from the engaging portion 21 of the support member 20. Figure 11E As shown, the method may further include applying an oblique upward pulling force to the latch arm 125 of the latch 120 to disengage the positioning boss 130 from the boss receiving portion 22 of the support member 20 , thereby removing the electrical connector 10 from the support member 20 .

[0123] The electrical connector of the present application is provided with a latch that allows the operator to quickly lock and unlock the electrical connector when installing and releasing the electrical connector, significantly improving the operating efficiency of the electrical connector while also ensuring the reliability of the electrical connector in terms of mechanical and electrical connections. The electrical connector includes a latch arranged at a first end of the body in a longitudinal direction that intersects the plug-in and unplug direction, so as to facilitate the operator to quickly install and release the electrical connector. The latch of the housing of the electrical connector of the present application is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the body, rather than on the main surface of the housing of the electrical connector, saving space in the width direction of the housing of the electrical connector perpendicular to the main surface, allowing the electrical connector to be made thinner in the width direction, thereby enabling multiple electrical connectors to be arranged side by side in the width direction within a limited space. Since the latch is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the body of the electrical connector, the operator can quickly lock and release the electrical connector even when multiple electrical connectors of the present application are arranged side by side.

[0124] Those skilled in the art should be aware that, for the sake of clarity, not all features of an actual specific embodiment are described and shown in the specification and drawings. In addition, in order to avoid unnecessary details that obscure the technical solutions that the present application focuses on, only the arrangement structures that are closely related to the technical content of the present application are described and shown in the specification and drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the technical content of the present application and are known to those skilled in the art are omitted.

[0125] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the above embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that in each embodiment of the present application, many technical details are provided to enable the reader to better understand the present application. However, even without these technical details and various changes and modifications based on the above embodiments, the technical solutions claimed in the present application can be implemented. The division of the above embodiments is for convenience of description and should not constitute any limitation on the specific implementation of the present application. The various embodiments can be combined and referenced with each other under the premise of no contradiction.

[0126] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence, and cannot be understood as indicating or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined as "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the application described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0127] It should be understood that the terms "inside", "outside", "upper", "lower", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0128] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described and shown in detail herein. Those skilled in the art may make various changes to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope defined by the claims of the present disclosure.

[0129] The features mentioned and / or illustrated in the above description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be incorporated into one or more other embodiments in the same or similar manner, combined with features in other embodiments, or substituted for corresponding features in other embodiments. The technical solutions obtained by such combination or substitution shall also be deemed to be included within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A housing (100) of an electrical connector, characterized in that: include: A body (110) is provided with an accommodating cavity (111) defined inside the body (110), the accommodating cavity (111) passes through the body (110), and two opposite side surfaces of the body (110) in the plugging and unplugging direction (Z) of the electrical connector (10) are respectively formed with a front opening (112) and a rear opening (113). a latch (120), the latch (120) being arranged at a first end of the body (110) in a length direction (X) intersecting the plugging and unplugging direction (Z), and the latch (120) being capable of placing the electrical connector (10) in a locked state or an unlocked state; A positioning boss (130) is provided at a second end of the body (110) opposite to the first end in the length direction (X).

2. The housing (100) of the electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that The latch (120) is capable of generating elastic deformation in the length direction (X) of the body (110) so as to place the electrical connector (10) in a locked state or an unlocked state.

3. The housing (100) of the electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The latch (120) has a front side portion (13) in the plugging and unplugging direction (Z) and a rear side portion (14) opposite to the front side portion (13) of the latch (120), and the front side portion (13) of the latch (120) is connected to the body (110) through a bent portion (121).

4. The housing (100) of the electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that The latch (120) has an inner portion (15) opposite to the body (110) and an outer portion (16) opposite to the inner portion (15), and the outer portion (16) of the latch (120) has a recess (122) recessed toward the inner portion (15).

5. The housing (100) of the electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rear side (14) of the latch (120) includes a latch arm (125) extending at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction (Z) when the electrical connector (10) is in the unlocked state.

6. The housing (100) of the electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: A stopper (123) is formed on the outer side (16) of the latch (120) at a position adjacent to the recess (122), and the stopper (123) is formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess (122).

7. The housing (100) of the electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that A protrusion (124) protruding toward the body (110) is provided on the inner side (15) of the latch (120) at a position corresponding to the recess (122).

8. An electrical connector (10), characterized in that include: An electrical connector housing (200), the electrical connector housing (200) having a receiving groove (210) extending along a length direction (X) of the electrical connector housing (200), A plurality of electrical connectors (400), the plurality of electrical connectors (400) being arranged in the receiving groove (210), each of the plurality of electrical connectors (400) comprising an adapting end (410) arranged in the receiving groove (210) of the electrical connector housing (200) and a tail end (420) opposite to the adapting end (410), and A housing (100) is connected to the electrical connector shell (200), the housing (100) includes a latch (120), the latch (120) is arranged at one end of the housing (100) in a length direction (X) intersecting with a plug-in / out direction (Z) of the electrical connector (10), and the latch (120) can put the electrical connector (10) in a locked state or an unlocked state.

9. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that The housing (100) further comprises a body (110), wherein an accommodating cavity (111) is defined inside the body (110), wherein the accommodating cavity (111) passes through the body (110), and a front opening (112) and a rear opening (113) are respectively formed on two opposite side surfaces of the body (110) in the plug-in and pull-out direction (Z), wherein the front opening (112) is used for inserting the electrical connector shell (200), wherein the latch (120) is arranged at the first end of the body (110) in the length direction (X) intersecting the plug-in and pull-out direction (Z).

10. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that The housing (100) further includes a positioning boss (130), and the positioning boss (130) is provided at a second end of the body (110) opposite to the first end in the length direction (X).

11. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that The latch (120) is capable of generating elastic deformation in the length direction (X) of the body (110) so as to place the electrical connector (10) in a locked state or an unlocked state.

12. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that The latch (120) has a front side portion (13) in the plugging and unplugging direction (Z) and a rear side portion (14) opposite to the front side portion (13) of the latch (120), and the front side portion (13) of the latch (120) is connected to the body (110) through a bent portion (121).

13. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that The latch (120) has an inner portion (15) opposite to the body (110) and an outer portion (16) opposite to the inner portion (15), and the outer portion (16) of the latch (120) has a recess (122) recessed toward the inner portion (15).

14. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that The rear side (14) of the latch (120) includes a latch arm (125) extending at an angle relative to the plugging and unplugging direction (Z) when the electrical connector (10) is in the unlocked state.

15. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that A stopper (123) is formed on the outer side (16) of the latch (120) at a position adjacent to the recess (122), and the stopper (123) is formed to protrude further outward than the opening of the recess (122).

16. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that A protrusion (124) protruding toward the body (110) is provided on the inner side (15) of the latch (120) at a position corresponding to the recess (122).

17. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that The electrical connector (10) further comprises an electrical connector seat (300), on which the tail ends (420) of the plurality of electrical connectors (400) are inserted.

18. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that The electrical connector (10) further comprises a shielding cover (310), and the shielding cover (310) is arranged on a side surface of the electrical connector seat (300).

19. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that The electrical connector (10) further comprises a plurality of support portions (340) arranged on the electrical connector seat (300) and used for supporting the electrical connector (400).

20. The electrical connector (10) according to claim 19, characterized in that The electrical connector seat (300) further includes: an electrical connector seat body (301); and an electrical connector support (302) arranged in the electrical connector seat body (301) and extending along the length direction (X) of the electrical connector, wherein the plurality of support portions (340) are arranged on both sides of the electrical connector support (302).

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