Plug connector

Abstract

A plug connector comprises a shell, a terminal module contained in the shell and a lock catch mechanism contained in the shell, the terminal module comprises a base part and a tongue part in butt joint with a socket connector, the lock catch mechanism comprises a pressing piece and a lock catch piece which is fixedly held on the pressing piece and is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate, the shell comprises a top wall and a bottom wall, and the top wall and the bottom wall are arranged on the base part. The locking part comprises a holding part held on the pressing part, a locking part with the tail end exposed out of the top wall and an elastic supporting arm supported on the bottom wall, the top wall is provided with an open hole, and the pressing part comprises a base body which is exposed out of the open hole, supported by the locking part and suspended above the base part and a supporting part which extends downwards from the rear end of the base body and serves as a fulcrum to be supported on the base part; a pressing part is formed at the front end of the base body, and when the pressing part is pressed, the base body inclines downwards with the supporting part as a fulcrum and is unlocked along with downward movement of the lock catch part.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to a plug connector, especially a plug connector with small structure. BACKGROUND

[0002] The utility model discloses a plug connector, and the plug connector comprises a shell, a circuit board accommodated in the shell, an insulating inner mode covering the circuit board, a lock catch mechanism accommodated in the shell and a spring supporting the lock catch mechanism. The lock catch mechanism comprises a pressing piece and a lock catch piece integrally formed with the pressing piece. The pressing piece is exposed to the opening of the shell and cooperates with the protruding block and the groove of the dovetail structure. The spring supports the pressing piece to reset the lock catch piece so that the lock catch piece can lock the socket connector. Pressing the pressing piece downward can compress the spring, thereby releasing the lock of the lock catch piece on the socket connector. However, this will result in a large number of components of the plug connector, increasing the manufacturing and assembly cost of the plug connector. If the position of the pressing piece is deviated from the protruding block and the groove of the dovetail structure, the pressing piece may be stuck and cannot be pressed down. Violent pressing may also cause the protruding block to break.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing electrical connector to overcome the above-mentioned defects. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0004] The utility model discloses a plug connector with small structure.

[0005] The utility model discloses a plug connector with small structure.

[0006] Further, the terminal module comprises a circuit board and an insulating inner mold partially covering the circuit board, the insulating inner mold forms the base, the circuit board extends forward out of the insulating inner mold to form the tongue, the plug connector comprises a cable electrically connected with the circuit board, and the connection between the circuit board and the cable is covered by the insulating inner mold.

[0007] Further, the rear end of the top surface of the base is recessed to form a first groove for accommodating the support part, the front end of the support part is limited by the front end surface of the first groove, the rear end of the support part is limited by the top wall of the shell, the lower end of the support part has a semicircular arc surface, and the front end of the first groove is provided with an arc surface matched with the arc surface.

[0008] Further, the front end of the top surface of the base is recessed to form a second groove with a larger transverse width than the first groove, the transverse sides of the lower end of the base extend outward to form a pair of protruding parts accommodated in the second groove and limited by the top wall of the shell, and the locking part is provided with a pair of locking parts.

[0009] Further, the shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell assembled with the upper shell, the upper shell comprises the top wall and a pair of upper side walls extending downward from the transverse sides of the top wall, the lower shell comprises the bottom wall, a pair of lower side walls extending upward from the transverse sides of the bottom wall, and a front wall extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall and connected with the pair of lower side walls, the front wall is provided with an opening for the tongue to extend forward, the top wall has a first extension wall above the tongue and extending forward out of the front wall, the pair of upper side walls has a pair of second extension walls on the transverse sides of the tongue and extending forward out of the front wall, the second groove penetrates the front end surface of the base forwardly, and the protruding part is located between the front wall and the rear end surface of the second groove in the front-rear direction.

[0010] Further, the depth of the recess of the second groove is greater than the depth of the recess of the first groove, and the protruding part is arranged lower than the support part.

[0011] Further, the first vertical portion extends upwardly beyond the extension portion, the top wall is provided with a first limiting slot for positioning and stabilizing the first vertical portion, the base is provided with a second limiting slot for positioning and stabilizing the standing portion and the abutting portion, and the bottom wall is provided with a third limiting slot for positioning and stabilizing the abutting portion.

[0012] Further, the standing portion includes a vertical portion formed downwardly from the extension portion and positioned above the circuit board, and a spanning portion formed rearwardly from the vertical portion and downwardly beyond the circuit board, and the abutting portion is formed forwardly from the spanning portion and positioned below the circuit board.

[0013] Further, the circuit board is concavely formed forwardly at a position corresponding to the spanning portion to form an avoiding groove for positioning the spanning portion.

[0014] Further, the lateral outer side of the holding portion is bent upwardly to form a second vertical portion with a board surface vertically arranged in the second groove, the second vertical portion is bent outwardly and extended forwardly to form the locking portion with a board surface horizontally arranged above the top surface of the base, and the end of the locking portion is provided with a hooking portion with a board surface vertically arranged and exposed from the top wall.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the plug connector has the following beneficial effects: the pressing member of the plug connector includes a base body exposed from the opening and suspended above the base by the support of the locking member, and a support portion formed downwardly from the rear end of the base body and supported on the base as a fulcrum, the front end of the base body constitutes a pressing portion, when the pressing portion is pressed, the pressing portion of the base body tilts downwardly with the support portion as a fulcrum and releases the locking between the plug connector and the socket connector along with the downward movement of the locking portion, the locking member has the functions of supporting the pressing member and locking the socket connector, and the pressing member can be smoothly pressed by the operator to release the locking of the locking member through the support portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the plug connector according to the present application.

[0017] Figure 2 is Figure 1 is another perspective view of the plug connector.

[0018] Figure 3 is Figure 1 is an exploded view of the plug connector.

[0019] Figure 4 is Figure 3 is a further exploded view of the plug connector.

[0020] Figure 5 is Figure 4Another perspective exploded view of the plug connector shown.

[0021] Figure 6 is Figure 4 A further exploded view of the plug connector shown.

[0022] Figure 7 is Figure 6 Another perspective exploded view of the plug connector shown.

[0023] Figure 8 is Figure 6 An exploded view of the lock catch mechanism.

[0024] Figure 9 is Figure 1 A sectional view along line A-A.

[0025] Figure 10 is Figure 1 A sectional view along line B-B.

[0026] Figure 11 is A sectional view showing the presser in 10 being pressed to unlock the lock catch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As Figures 1-11 shown, a plug connector 100 according to the present application is used to lock catch with a socket connector (not shown), the plug connector 100 comprises a housing 1, a terminal module 2 received in the housing 1, a lock catch mechanism 3 received in the housing 1 and a cable 4 electrically connected with the terminal module 2.

[0028] The shell 1 comprises an upper shell 11 and a lower shell 12 assembled with the upper shell 11, the upper shell 11 comprises a top wall 111 and a pair of upper side walls 112 extending downward from the lateral sides of the top wall 111, the lower shell 12 comprises a bottom wall 121, a pair of lower side walls 122 extending upward from the bottom wall 121 and a front wall 123 connecting the pair of lower side walls 122 and extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall 121, the upper side walls 112 and the lower side walls 122 are fixedly assembled with the upper shell 11 and the lower shell 12 through retaining holes 1120 and protrusions 1221, the terminal module 2 comprises a base 21 and a tongue 22 extending forward from the base 21 for connecting with a socket connector (not shown), the top wall 111, the pair of lower side walls 122 and the front wall 123 constitute a receiving space 13 for receiving the base 21, and the front wall 123 of the lower shell 12 is provided with an opening 1231 for the tongue 22 to extend forward. The top wall 111 has a first extension wall 1111 extending forward beyond the front wall 123 above the tongue 22, and the pair of upper side walls 112 has a pair of second extension walls 1121 extending forward beyond the front wall 123 on the lateral sides of the tongue 22.

[0029] In the utility model, the terminal module 2 comprises a circuit board 201 and an insulating inner mold 202 partially covering the circuit board 201, the insulating inner mold 202 constitutes the base 21, and the circuit board 201 extends forward beyond the insulating inner mold 202 to constitute the tongue 22. The cable 4 is electrically connected to the rear end of the circuit board 201, and the connection between the circuit board 201 and the cable 4 is covered by the insulating inner mold 202.

[0030] The locking mechanism 3 comprises a pressing piece 31 and a locking piece 32 fixed with the pressing piece 31, and the locking piece 32 is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate. The locking piece 32 comprises a holding portion 321 fixed with the pressing piece 31, a locking portion 322 with an end exposed from the top wall 111 and an elastic support arm 323 supported on the bottom wall 121. The top wall 111 is provided with an opening 1110, the pressing piece 31 comprises a base body 311 exposed from the opening 1110 and suspended above the base 21 supported by the locking piece 32, and a support portion 312 extending downward from the rear end of the base body 311 as a fulcrum supported on the base 21, and the front end of the base body 311 constitutes a pressing portion 3111 for being pressed by an operator. When the operator presses the pressing portion 3111, the base body 311 will tilt downward with the support portion 312 as a fulcrum and release the locking of the socket connector (not shown) with the downward movement of the locking portion 322.

[0031] The top surface of the base 21 is recessed to form a first groove 211 for accommodating the support portion 312, the front end of the support portion 312 is limited by the front end surface 2110 of the first groove 211, and the rear end of the support portion 312 is limited by the top wall 111. The lower end of the support portion 312 has a semicircular arc surface 3121, and the front end of the first groove 211 is provided with an arc surface 2111 matched with the arc surface 3121. The cooperation of the arc surface 3121 of the support portion 312 and the arc surface 2111 of the first groove 211 facilitates the rotation and pouring of the pressing piece 31, and the pressing piece 31 has a good pressing feel.

[0032] The top surface of the base 21 is recessed to form a first groove 211 for accommodating the support portion 312, the front end of the support portion 312 is limited by the front end surface 2110 of the first groove 211, and the rear end of the support portion 312 is limited by the top wall 111. The lower end of the support portion 312 has a semicircular arc surface 3121, and the front end of the first groove 211 is provided with an arc surface 2111 matched with the arc surface 3121. The cooperation of the arc surface 3121 of the support portion 312 and the arc surface 2111 of the first groove 211 facilitates the rotation and pouring of the pressing piece 31, and the pressing piece 31 has a good pressing feel. The top surface of the base 21 is recessed to form a first groove 211 for accommodating the support portion 312, the front end of the support portion 312 is limited by the front end surface 2110 of the first groove 211, and the rear end of the support portion 312 is limited by the top wall 111. The lower end of the support portion 312 has a semicircular arc surface 3121, and the front end of the first groove 211 is provided with an arc surface 2111 matched with the arc surface 3121. The cooperation of the arc surface 3121 of the support portion 312 and the arc surface 2111 of the first groove 211 facilitates the rotation and pouring of the pressing piece 31, and the pressing piece 31 has a good pressing feel.

[0033] The first vertical portion 324 extends upwardly from the extension portion 313, and the top wall 111 is provided with a first limiting slot 1112 corresponding to the first vertical portion 324, which accommodates the upper end of the first vertical portion 324 to stabilize the first vertical portion 324. The base 21 is provided with a second limiting slot 2112 for positioning and stabilizing the standing portion 3232 and the abutting portion 3233, and the bottom wall 121 is provided with a third limiting slot 1211 for positioning and stabilizing the lower end of the abutting portion 3233. By stabilizing the vertically arranged first vertical portion 324, standing portion 3232, and abutting portion 3233 through the first vertical portion 324, second limiting slot 2112, and third limiting slot 1211, the first vertical portion 324, standing portion 3232, and abutting portion 3233 can be prevented from twisting in the transverse direction when the pressing member 31 is pressed to compress the locking member 32.

[0034] The standing portion 3232 includes a vertical portion 3234 above the circuit board 201 formed downwardly from the extension portion 3231, a spanning portion 3235 extending rearwardly from the vertical portion 3234 and downwardly beyond the circuit board 201, and the abutting portion 3233 formed by bending forwardly from the spanning portion 3235 and located below the circuit board 201. The circuit board 201 is concavely formed forwardly at a position corresponding to the spanning portion 3235 to form an avoidance groove 2011 for positioning the spanning portion 3235, and the avoidance groove 2011 can shorten the occupied space of the elastic contact arm 323 in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The lateral outer side of the holding portion 321 is bent upwardly to form a second vertical portion 325 with a vertically arranged board surface above the second recess 212, and the second vertical portion 325 is bent outwardly and extended forwardly to form a horizontally arranged locking portion 322 above the top surface of the base 21, and the end of the locking portion 322 is provided with a vertically arranged hook 3221 exposed from the top wall 111.

[0036] When the plug connector 100 is connected with the socket connector, the plug connector 100 is inserted into the socket connector (not shown) forwardly, the tongue part 22 is electrically connected with the conductive terminal (not shown) of the socket connector (not shown), meanwhile, the clamping hook 3221 of the locking part 322 of the locking mechanism 3 is supported by the elastic supporting arm 323 and protrudes into the locking hole (not shown) of the socket connector (not shown). When the plug connector 100 is unlocked with the socket connector (not shown), the operator presses the pressing part 3111 at the front end of the pressing piece 31 downwardly, the pressing piece 31 is supported by the supporting part 312 and is tilted downwardly, and the locking mechanism 3 is compressed and moves downwardly, until the clamping hook 3221 is separated from the locking hole (not shown) of the socket connector (not shown), so that the locking between the plug connector 100 and the socket connector (not shown) is released. When the external force of the operator is removed, the locking mechanism 3 moves upwardly under the elastic force of the elastic supporting arm 323 of the locking mechanism 3, and the clamping hook 3221 is exposed to the top wall 111 again.

[0037] The above is only some preferable embodiments of the utility model, any equivalent change adopted by the person skilled in the art through reading the utility model specification to the technical scheme of the utility model is covered by the claims of the utility model.

Claims

1. A plug connector for mating with a socket connector, the plug connector comprising a housing, a terminal module housed within the housing, and a locking mechanism housed within the housing, the terminal module comprising a base and a tongue extending forward from the base for mating with the socket connector, characterized in that: The locking mechanism includes a pressing member and a locking member formed by stamping and bending a metal plate and fixed to the pressing member. The housing includes a top wall and a bottom wall. The locking member includes a holding part fixed to the pressing member, a locking part with its end protruding from the top wall, and an elastic support arm supported on the bottom wall. The top wall has an opening. The pressing member includes a base body that protrudes from the opening and is suspended above the base body by the locking member, and a support part that extends downward from the rear end of the base body and serves as a fulcrum to support the base body. The front end of the base body constitutes the pressing part. When the pressing part is pressed, the base body tilts downward with the support part as the fulcrum and unlocks as the locking part moves downward.

2. The plug connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The terminal module includes a circuit board and an insulating inner mold partially covering the circuit board. The insulating inner mold forms the base. The circuit board extends forward from the insulating inner mold to form the tongue. The plug connector includes a cable electrically connected to the circuit board. The connection between the circuit board and the cable is covered by the insulating inner mold.

3. The plug connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The rear end of the top surface of the base is recessed to form a first groove for accommodating the support portion. The front end of the support portion is stopped and limited by the front end face of the first groove. The rear end of the support portion is stopped and limited by the top wall of the housing. The lower end of the support portion has a semi-circular arc surface. The front end of the first groove is provided with an arc surface that matches the arc surface.

4. The plug connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The front end of the top surface of the base is recessed to form a second groove with a lateral width greater than the first groove. The lower end of the base extends outward on both sides to form a pair of protrusions suspended in the second groove, which are blocked by the top wall of the shell. A pair of locking members are provided. The plate surface of the retaining part of the locking member is horizontally arranged and integrally formed with the protrusions. The lateral inner side of the retaining part is bent upward to form a first vertical part with a vertical plate surface. The first vertical part extends backward to form an extension part with a vertical plate surface. The extension part bends downward to form a standing part with a vertical plate surface. The standing part folds forward to form a abutting part with a vertical plate surface that abuts against the bottom wall. The extension part, the standing part, and the abutting part constitute the elastic support arm.

5. The plug connector as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing assembled with the upper housing. The upper housing includes a top wall and a pair of upper side walls extending downward from the lateral sides of the top wall. The lower housing includes a bottom wall, a pair of lower side walls extending upward from the lateral sides of the bottom wall, and a front wall extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall and connecting the pair of lower side walls. The front wall has an opening for the tongue to extend forward. The top wall has a first extension wall extending forward from the front wall and located above the tongue. The pair of upper side walls have a pair of second extension walls extending forward from the front wall and located on the lateral sides of the tongue. The second groove extends forward through the front end face of the base. The protrusion is located between the rear end face of the front wall and the second groove in the front-rear direction.

6. The plug connector as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The depth of the second groove is greater than the depth of the first groove, and the protrusion is set lower than the support.

7. The plug connector as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The first vertical portion extends upward to form the protruding portion. The top wall is provided with a first limiting slot that accommodates and stabilizes the first vertical portion. The base is provided with a second limiting slot that accommodates and stabilizes the erected portion and the abutting portion. The bottom wall is provided with a third limiting slot that accommodates and stabilizes the abutting portion.

8. The plug connector as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The erected portion includes an upright portion extending downward from the extension portion and located above the circuit board, a spanning portion extending backward from the upright portion and crossing downward over the circuit board, and an abutting portion bending forward from the spanning portion and located below the circuit board.

9. The plug connector as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The circuit board has a recessed groove at the corresponding crossing portion to allow for the crossing portion to pass.

10. The plug connector as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The outer side of the retaining part bends upward to form a second vertical part with the plate surface of the second groove vertically arranged. The second vertical part bends outward and extends forward to form a locking part with the plate surface horizontally arranged above the top surface of the base. The end of the locking part is provided with a hook with the plate surface vertically arranged and exposed on the top wall.

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