Metal insert and connector

Abstract

The utility model provides a metal insert which is applied to a plastic shell of a connector, an inner hole of the metal insert is not provided with threads, and the metal insert is suitable for being embedded in an open hole of the plastic shell of the connector. The utility model also provides a connector, wherein the metal insert is embedded in the opening of the plastic shell of the connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this utility model relate to the field of electrical connector accessories technology, and more particularly to a metal insert suitable for connectors and a connector. Background Technology

[0002] There are currently several existing structural designs and installation methods for insert connectors on the market.

[0003] In the first design, the sealing ring is positioned on the flange face of the plastic housing and between the plastic housing and the board end. A self-tapping screw is used to install the connector directly through openings in both the board end and the plastic housing. The drawback of this design is that, due to the direct installation of the self-tapping screw through the openings in the plastic housing, the screw holes are prone to cracking or stripping, resulting in sealing issues. Furthermore, it cannot be re-tightened after disassembly. To address these shortcomings, the second and third designs described below have emerged in the market.

[0004] In the second design, the sealing ring is positioned on the flange face of the plastic housing and between the plastic housing and the plate end. An insert is injection-molded into the opening in the plastic housing. A standard screw is used to directly pass through the opening in the plate end and the insert in the opening in the plastic housing to install the connector to the plate end. The drawbacks of this design are: a) internal threads need to be machined into the inner hole of the insert, resulting in higher insert costs; b) for inserts with small threaded holes, the positioning accuracy and flatness of the inner hole during the molding process of the insert and the plastic housing must be considered. Excessive hole diameter tolerance can lead to unstable positioning accuracy and flatness.

[0005] In the third design, the sealing ring is located on the back of the plastic housing opposite to the flange face. The insert has only a through hole and no threads. The insert is inserted into the opening at the plate end and the opening in the plastic housing. The drawback of this design is that users need to use ordinary screws to pass through the through hole of the insert and tap the threads at the plate end to connect it to the plate end, resulting in higher installation costs.

[0006] However, each of the above designs has its own shortcomings and / or deficiencies that need to be addressed and overcome. Therefore, the industry urgently needs an improved connector structure design and installation method. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this utility model is to solve at least one aspect of the aforementioned problems and defects existing in the prior art.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a metal insert is provided, the metal insert being applied to a plastic housing of a connector, the inner hole of the metal insert being unthreaded, wherein the metal insert is adapted to be embedded in an opening in the plastic housing of the connector.

[0009] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner hole of the metal insert is a through hole.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner hole of the metal insert is a blind hole.

[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral wall of the metal insert is provided with a knurled structure.

[0012] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the knurling structure includes a first knurling section and a second knurling section, wherein the knurling pattern of the first knurling section is different from the knurling pattern of the second knurling section.

[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the end of the metal insert has a flange formed in the radial direction.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the height of the knurled structure in the radial direction of the metal insert and the height of the flange in the radial direction of the metal insert are flush.

[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner hole of the metal insert is suitable for the installation of self-tapping screws.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided, comprising: a plastic housing and a connecting terminal disposed within the plastic housing, the plastic housing having an opening, characterized in that a metal insert according to any of the foregoing embodiments is embedded in the opening.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the metal insert is molded in the opening by an injection molding process.

[0018] The metal insert and connector provided according to the foregoing exemplary embodiments of the present invention adopt an independent component design and a threadless inner hole design for the insert. Under the premise of ensuring sealing, the production and installation costs are effectively reduced, the processing accuracy and durability are improved, and the problems of non-reusability and easy damage after disassembly are solved, which significantly enhances the market competitiveness of the product.

[0019] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1This is a perspective structural diagram showing a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein a metal insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is assembled into an opening in the connector;

[0021] Figure 2 This is an enlarged three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a metal insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a metal insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention being assembled into an opening in a connector;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a metal insert according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention being assembled into an opening in a connector. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of this utility model with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the overall inventive concept of this utility model and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0025] Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth for ease of explanation to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are illustrated to simplify the figures.

[0026] See Figures 1 to 4 This utility model provides a metal insert 10 suitable for connector 100 and a connector 100.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, according to one aspect of the present invention, a metal insert 10 is provided, which can be made of a metallic material such as copper or a copper alloy. The metal insert 10 is applied to the plastic housing 110 of a connector 100, and the inner hole 11 of the metal insert 10 is not threaded. The metal insert 10 is a separate component, and the metal insert 10 is adapted to be fitted into the opening 111 of the plastic housing 110 of the connector 100 (e.g., ...). Figure 1(As shown). According to the design concept of this utility model, the inner hole 11 of the metal insert 10 is not provided with or has a thread (internal thread). This design reduces the manufacturing and inspection processes of the thread (internal thread), effectively reducing the production cost of the metal insert. Furthermore, the design of the inner hole 11 of the metal insert 10 being unthreaded or unthreaded ensures more stable machining of the diameter of the inner hole, thus effectively guaranteeing the positional accuracy and flatness of the metal insert in the plastic housing during subsequent injection molding with the connector's plastic housing. According to the design concept of this utility model, the metal insert 10 is an independent component, and its unthreaded inner hole can be installed with self-tapping screws, meaning it is suitable for self-tapping screw installation. Therefore, it can be reused after removing the screws installed in the inner hole. According to the design concept of this utility model, the insert is made of metal, eliminating the cracking and stripping problems that occur with inserts made of plastic materials, thus improving the overall durability and reliability of the metal insert.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a knurled structure 12 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the metal insert 10. Specifically, the knurled structure 12 includes a first knurled section 12a and a second knurled section 12b, wherein the knurling pattern of the first knurled section 12a is different from the knurling pattern of the second knurled section 12b. Furthermore, a flange 13 is formed at the end of the metal insert 10 in the radial direction. More specifically, the height of the knurled structure 12 in the radial direction of the metal insert 10 and the height of the flange 13 in the radial direction of the metal insert 10 are substantially flush. Through the above-described design of the knurled structure and / or the flange (i.e., adding a knurled structure with different knurling patterns, and / or adding a flange), the firmness of the metal insert 10 when embedded in the plastic housing of the connector can be increased, improving the overall structural stability and disassembly resistance.

[0029] like Figure 3 As shown, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner hole 11 of the metal insert 10 can be designed as a blind hole. For example... Figure 4 As shown, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner hole 11 of the metal insert 10 can also be a through hole design.

[0030] According to another aspect of this utility model, a connector 100 is also provided. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the connector 100 includes a plastic housing 110 and connecting terminals 120 disposed within the plastic housing 110. The plastic housing 110 has an opening 111, and the metal insert 10 according to any of the above embodiments of the present invention is embedded in the opening 111 of the plastic housing 110. Specifically, as... Figure 1As shown, each of the four corners of the plastic housing 110 is provided with a post, and each post has an opening 111. A metal insert 10 according to any of the above embodiments of the present invention is embedded in each opening 111. Preferably, the metal insert 10 can be molded into the opening 111 by injection molding so that the two can be tightly joined, thereby ensuring the positional accuracy and stability of the metal insert 10 in the plastic housing 110. More specifically, the opening 111 adopts a blind hole design so that good sealing performance can be achieved after the connector 100 and the board end (not shown) are assembled.

[0031] The metal insert and connector provided according to the foregoing exemplary embodiments of the present invention adopt an independent component design and a threadless inner hole design for the insert. Under the premise of ensuring sealing, the production and installation costs are effectively reduced, the processing accuracy and durability are improved, and the problems of non-reusability and easy damage after disassembly are solved, which significantly enhances the market competitiveness of the product.

[0032] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described above are exemplary and can be improved upon. The structures described in the various embodiments can be freely combined without causing any conflict in structure or principle.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0034] While some embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[0035] It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "an" do not exclude multiple elements. Furthermore, any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A metal insert (10) applied to a plastic housing (110) of a connector (100), characterized in that, The inner hole (11) of the metal insert (10) is not threaded, wherein the metal insert (10) is adapted to be embedded in the opening (111) of the plastic housing (110) of the connector (100).

2. The metal insert (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner hole (11) of the metal insert (10) is a through hole.

3. The metal insert (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner hole (11) of the metal insert (10) is a blind hole.

4. The metal insert (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer peripheral wall of the metal insert (10) is provided with a knurled structure (12).

5. The metal insert (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The knurled structure (12) includes a first knurled section (12a) and a second knurled section (12b), wherein the knurling pattern of the first knurled section (12a) is different from the knurling pattern of the second knurled section (12b).

6. The metal insert (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The end of the metal insert (10) has a flange (13) formed in the radial direction.

7. The metal insert (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The height of the knurled structure (12) in the radial direction of the metal insert (10) is the same as the height of the flange (13) in the radial direction of the metal insert (10).

8. The metal insert (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner hole (11) of the metal insert (10) is suitable for the installation of self-tapping screws.

9. A connector (100) comprising a plastic housing (110) and connecting terminals (120) disposed within the plastic housing (110), the plastic housing (110) having an opening (111), characterized in that, The metal insert (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is embedded in the opening (111).

10. The connector (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The metal insert (10) is molded in the opening (111) by injection molding.

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