Electric connector and connector assembly

Abstract

The utility model discloses an electric connector and a connector assembly, belonging to the electric connector field, the electric connector comprises a signal transmission portion, a first housing, a second housing, a retainer and a positioning member, the signal transmission portion is arranged in the first housing, the first housing is installed in the second housing and is positioned and fixed through the positioning member, and the retainer is installed in the second housing. The first shell is directly fixed through the positioning piece, and the retainer is only connected with the second shell. In the aspect of installation, the complex operation that a traditional retainer needs to be aligned with double installation positions is avoided, installation personnel do not need to repeatedly debug, the installation time is greatly shortened, the installation efficiency is improved, the labor and time cost is reduced, and the assembly process is simpler, more convenient and faster. In the aspect of stability, a fixing mode depending on the retainer is changed, even if the retainer is loosened, the positioning piece can stabilize the first shell, poor contact of the signal transmission part caused by connection loosening is prevented, stable transmission of electric signals is guaranteed, and the overall performance and reliability of the electric connector are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of electrical connectors, and particularly relates to an electrical connector and connector assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In the current technological system of electrical connectors, the conventional structural design is as follows: the retainer and the second housing of the electrical connector are interconnected. During actual assembly, the first housing, which houses the signal transmission unit, needs to be precisely inserted into the second housing. The retainer then performs a fixing and limiting operation on the first housing, thereby achieving a stable installation of the first housing within the second housing. This traditional structural design has indeed, to a certain extent, met the basic functional requirements of electrical connector connections in past applications.

[0003] However, a closer look at this traditional installation method reveals several significant drawbacks. During installation, the retainer needs to be precisely aligned with both the mounting positions on the first and second housings. Since these two mounting positions are often located in different places and require high precision, installers must invest considerable time and effort in adjustments and alignment. Even slight deviations can prevent successful installation, drastically reducing efficiency and increasing both labor and time costs.

[0004] Furthermore, the first housing relies entirely on the retainer for positioning and fixation. If the retainer loosens due to prolonged use, vibration, or other external factors, this loosening will be directly transmitted to the first housing, causing it to loosen as well. This not only severely affects the stability of the connection between the first and second housings but may also lead to poor contact between the signal transmission unit and the mating connector, negatively impacting the stable transmission of electrical signals and causing serious problems such as signal interruption and data loss. This significantly limits the use of electrical connectors in high-end applications where connection stability is paramount. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an electrical connector and connector assembly to overcome at least one of the aforementioned defects in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] The electrical connector provided by this utility model includes a signal transmission part, a first housing, a second housing, a retainer, and a positioning member. The signal transmission part is disposed in the first housing, the first housing is installed in the second housing and is positioned and fixed by the positioning member, and the retainer is installed in the second housing.

[0008] Preferably, each of the opposite side walls of the second housing has at least one insertion hole, and at least one side wall of the first housing has a groove. The positioning member passes through the insertion hole on one side of the second housing, passes through the groove, and is inserted into the insertion hole on the other side of the second housing.

[0009] Preferably, the two opposite side walls of the second housing each have two vertically distributed insertion holes, the upper and lower side walls of the first housing each have grooves, and the positioning member has two vertically distributed insertion ends, which respectively cooperate with the vertically distributed insertion holes and grooves.

[0010] Preferably, the positioning member includes two horizontal arms distributed vertically and a connecting arm connecting the two horizontal arms. The upper horizontal arm mates with the upper insertion hole and groove, and the lower horizontal arm mates with the lower insertion hole and groove.

[0011] Preferably, one side wall of the second housing has a receiving groove, which communicates with the upper and lower insertion holes, and the connecting arm is received in the receiving groove.

[0012] Preferably, the retainer surrounds the positioning element.

[0013] Preferably, at least one side wall of the second housing has a first locking block, and at least one side wall of the retainer has a first locking hole that engages with the first locking block.

[0014] Preferably, at least one side wall of the first housing has a second locking block, and at least one side wall of the retainer has a second locking hole that engages with the second locking block.

[0015] Preferably, the retainer has a first guide groove and a second guide groove, the first guide groove being located in front of the first locking hole and the second guide groove being located in front of the second locking hole.

[0016] Preferably, the retainer has a circumferentially closed enclosure.

[0017] Preferably, the front end of the enclosure extends forward to form a guide portion, and the second housing has a guide channel that mates with the guide portion.

[0018] Preferably, it further includes a locking element and a connector position guaranteeing member. At least one side wall of the second housing has a locking element. The connector position guaranteeing member is slidably connected to the second housing and cooperates with the locking element. The front end face of the guide portion is a stop surface, and the stop surface is located on the rear side of the connector position guaranteeing member.

[0019] Preferably, it also includes a cable, one end of which extends into the first housing and is electrically connected to the signal transmission unit.

[0020] Preferably, the signal transmission unit is a USB interface, which is a USB Type-A interface, a USB Type-B interface, or a USB Type-C interface.

[0021] This invention also provides a connector assembly, including the aforementioned electrical connector and a mating connector that mates with the electrical connector.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0023] 1. The first housing is directly secured by the positioning element, while the retainer only connects to the second housing. This eliminates the complex operation of aligning two mounting positions required by traditional retainers. Installers no longer need to repeatedly adjust the connection, significantly reducing installation time, improving efficiency, and lowering labor and time costs. The assembly process is also simpler and faster. Regarding stability, this change from relying on a retainer ensures that even if the retainer becomes loose, the positioning element can still firmly hold the first housing, preventing poor contact in signal transmission caused by loose connections. This guarantees stable electrical signal transmission, reduces signal interruptions and data loss, and significantly improves the overall performance and reliability of the electrical connector.

[0024] 2. By securing the upper and lower sides, the swaying and displacement of the first housing are reduced, ensuring good contact of the signal transmission unit and stable electrical signal transmission. The positioning components fit tightly to disperse external forces, avoid stress concentration, reduce the probability of failure, improve product reliability, and extend the service life of the electrical connector.

[0025] 3. In the horizontal direction, the cross arms are inserted into the holes and grooves, effectively limiting the front-to-back displacement of the first housing; in the vertical direction, the positions of the upper and lower cross arms are fixed, preventing the first housing from moving up and down.

[0026] 4. The addition of a second locking block and a second locking hole, combined with the cooperation of the first locking block and the first locking hole, enables multi-directional positioning and fixation, greatly improving the connection stability between the retainer, the first housing, and the second housing.

[0027] 5. The first guide groove facilitates the assembly of the first card hole and the first card block, and the second guide groove facilitates the assembly of the second card hole and the second card block.

[0028] 6. The retainer has a circumferentially closed enclosure, which not only protects the internal components in all directions, but also significantly enhances structural stability.

[0029] 7. The assembly of the retainer is guided by the cooperation of the guide section and the guide channel, which improves the ease of assembly.

[0030] 8. The stop surface restricts the position of the connector to ensure the displacement of the component and prevents the component from detaching backward. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional exploded structural diagram of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a top view of the structure of this utility model.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a right-side structural schematic diagram of the first housing of this utility model.

[0035] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram (first perspective) of the second shell of this utility model.

[0036] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram (second perspective) of the second shell of this utility model.

[0037] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the positioning component of this utility model.

[0038] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the retainer of this utility model.

[0039] The labels in the attached drawings are as follows: 1-Signal transmission part, 2-First housing, 3-Second housing, 4-Retainer, 5-Positioning member, 31-Socket, 21-Groove, 51-Horizontal arm, 52-Connecting arm, 32-Accommodation groove, 33-First locking block, 41-First locking hole, 22-Second locking block, 42-Second locking hole, 43-First guide groove, 44-Second guide groove, 45-Enclosing part, 46-Guide part, 34-Guide channel, 6-Locking member, 7-Connector position guarantee member, 47-Stop surface, 8-Cable. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0041] Contents not described in detail in this specification are existing technologies known to those skilled in the art. In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are used only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this utility model. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0042] Example 1:

[0043] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, the electrical connector provided in this embodiment includes a signal transmission unit 1, a first housing 2, a second housing 3, a retainer 4, a positioning element 5, and a cable 8. The signal transmission unit 1 is disposed in the first housing 2, the first housing 2 is mounted on the second housing 3 and fixed in place by the positioning element 5, the retainer 4 is mounted on the second housing 3, and the front end of the cable 8 extends into the first housing 2 and is electrically connected to the signal transmission unit 1. In this embodiment, the signal transmission unit 1 is a USB interface, specifically a USB Type-C interface; in other embodiments, it can also be a USB Type-A interface or a USB Type-B interface. The positioning element 5 directly positions and fixes the first housing 2, on which the signal transmission unit 1 is mounted, within the second housing 3, and the retainer 4 is only mounted on the second housing 3. This avoids the complex operation of aligning the retainer 4 with the mounting positions of both the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 simultaneously, as is required in traditional methods. Installers no longer need to repeatedly adjust and precisely align the two mounting positions, significantly shortening installation time, effectively improving installation efficiency, reducing labor and time costs, and making the entire assembly process simpler and faster. Because the first housing 2 is positioned and fixed by the positioning element 5, the previous mode of relying entirely on the retainer 4 for fixation has been changed. Even if the retainer 4 becomes loose due to various factors, it will not directly affect the stability of the first housing 2 within the second housing 3. The positioning element 5 can continuously and stably maintain the position of the first housing 2, ensuring a stable connection between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3. This effectively avoids poor contact problems in the signal transmission part 1 caused by loose connection, greatly ensuring stable transmission of electrical signals, reducing the probability of signal interruption and data loss, and significantly improving the overall performance and reliability of the electrical connector.

[0044] The second housing 3 has two vertically distributed insertion holes 31 on both its left and right side walls, while the first housing 2 has grooves 21 on both its upper and lower side walls. The positioning member 5 passes through the insertion hole 31 on the right side of the second housing 3, through the groove 21, and is inserted into the insertion hole 31 on the left side of the second housing 3. The positioning member 5 has two vertically distributed insertion ends, which respectively engage with the vertically distributed insertion holes 31 and grooves 21. By providing a stable constraint on the first housing 2 from both the upper and lower sides, the connection between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 is greatly strengthened. Compared with the traditional method of relying solely on the retainer 4 for fixation, this effectively reduces the shaking and displacement that may occur in the first housing 2 during use, ensuring that the signal transmission unit 1 always maintains a good contact state, providing a solid guarantee for stable electrical signal transmission. During assembly, the installer only needs to pass the positioning member 5 through the insertion hole 31 on the right side of the second housing 3, the groove 21 on the first housing 2, and the insertion hole 31 on the left side of the second housing 3 in a specific direction, making the operation steps clear and straightforward. Compared to the complex operation of aligning multiple mounting positions simultaneously with the traditional retainer 4, this positioning element 5 connection method greatly reduces assembly difficulty and debugging time, making the assembly process smoother and more efficient. It enables rapid assembly of the electrical connector, facilitating large-scale production and reducing production costs. The tight fit between the positioning element 5 and the socket 31 and groove 21 not only improves connection stability but also distributes the external forces experienced by the electrical connector during use. When the electrical connector is subjected to external vibration, impact, or pulling, the positioning element 5 can evenly transmit these external forces to various parts of the second housing 3, avoiding stress concentration in a specific area. This effectively reduces the probability of failures such as breakage of the first housing 2 and loosening of the connection, significantly improving product reliability and durability, and extending the service life of the electrical connector.

[0045] The positioning component 5 includes two horizontal arms 51 distributed vertically, and a connecting arm 52 connecting the two horizontal arms 51. The upper horizontal arm 51 engages with the upper insertion hole 31 and groove 21, and the lower horizontal arm 51 engages with the lower insertion hole 31 and groove 21. The positioning component 5 uses two horizontal arms 51 distributed vertically, each engaging with a corresponding upper or lower insertion hole 31 and groove 21, providing a dual connection point. The engagement of the upper horizontal arm 51 with the upper insertion hole 31 and groove 21, and the engagement of the lower horizontal arm 51 with the lower insertion hole 31 and groove 21, act as two safeguards for the connection between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3. In the horizontal direction, the horizontal arm 51 inserts into the insertion hole 31 and groove 21, effectively limiting the forward and backward displacement of the first housing 2; in the vertical direction, the fixed positions of the upper and lower horizontal arms 51 prevent the first housing 2 from moving vertically.

[0046] The second housing 3 has a receiving groove 32 on its right side wall, which communicates with the upper and lower sockets 31. The connecting arm 52 is housed within the receiving groove 32, and the retainer 4 surrounds the positioning member 5. The receiving groove 32 provides additional fixed support for the positioning member 5. During the use of the electrical connector, when subjected to external vibration or impact, the groove wall of the receiving groove 32 and the retainer 4 can provide lateral restraint to the connecting arm 52, preventing the positioning member 5 from swaying or shifting due to force. Compared with a structure without the receiving groove 32, this greatly enhances the stability of the positioning member 5, thereby ensuring that the upper and lower horizontal arms 51 are always tightly fitted with the sockets 31 and the grooves 21, continuously ensuring the stability of the connection between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3, effectively reducing the risk of poor contact in the signal transmission part 1, and ensuring stable transmission of electrical signals. The receiving groove 32 houses the connecting arm 52, preventing it from being directly exposed and protecting it. And ensure that the outer surface of the second housing 3 is flat to ensure a smooth docking of the second housing 3 with the retainer 4.

[0047] The second housing 3 has first locking blocks 33 on its left and right side walls and lower side wall, and the retainer 4 has first locking holes 41 on its left and right side walls and lower side wall that mate with the first locking blocks 33. The locking method using the first locking blocks 33 and the first locking holes 41 makes assembly and disassembly convenient.

[0048] The upper sidewall of the first housing 2 has a second locking block 22, and the upper sidewall of the retainer 4 has a second locking hole 42 that mates with the second locking block 22. The addition of the second locking block 22 and the engagement of the second locking hole 42, combined with the engagement of the first locking block 33 and the first locking hole 41, enables multi-directional positioning and fixation, greatly improving the connection stability between the retainer 4, the first housing 2, and the second housing 3.

[0049] The retainer 4 has a first guide groove 43 and a second guide groove 44. The first guide groove 43 is located in front of the first locking hole 41, and the second guide groove 44 is located in front of the second locking hole 42. The first guide groove 43 facilitates the assembly of the first locking hole 41 and the first locking block 33, and the second guide groove 44 facilitates the assembly of the second locking hole 42 and the second locking block 22.

[0050] The retainer 4 has a circumferentially closed enclosure 45, which not only provides all-around protection for the internal components but also significantly enhances structural stability.

[0051] The front end of the surrounding portion 45 extends forward to form a guide portion 46, and the second housing 3 has a guide channel 34 that cooperates with the guide portion 46. The cooperation between the guide portion 46 and the guide channel 34 guides the assembly of the retainer 4, improving the ease of assembly.

[0052] The system also includes a locking element 6 and a connector position guarantee member 7 (CPA). The upper side wall of the second housing 3 has the locking element 6. The connector position guarantee member 7 is slidably connected to the second housing 3 and cooperates with the locking element 6. The front end face of the guide portion 46 is a stop surface 47, which is located behind the connector position guarantee member 7. A reliable double locking mechanism is established by the connector position guarantee member 7 and the locking element 6. The stop surface 47 restricts the displacement of the connector position guarantee member 7, preventing it from disengaging backward. In this embodiment, the locking element 6 extends upward from the top wall of the second housing 3 and is bent.

[0053] Example 2:

[0054] This embodiment provides a connector assembly, including the electrical connector of Embodiment 1 and a mating connector (not shown) that mates with the electrical connector.

[0055] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, characterized in that: It includes a signal transmission unit (1), a first housing (2), a second housing (3), a retainer (4), and a positioning member (5); The signal transmission unit (1) is disposed on the first housing (2); The first housing (2) is installed on the second housing (3) and is positioned and fixed by the positioning member (5); The retainer (4) is mounted on the second housing (3).

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second housing (3) has at least one insertion hole (31) on each of its opposite side walls; At least one side wall of the first housing (2) has a groove (21); The positioning member (5) passes through the insertion hole (31) on one side of the second housing (3), passes through the groove (21), and is inserted into the insertion hole (31) on the other side of the second housing (3).

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second housing (3) has two vertically distributed insertion holes (31) on each of its two opposite side walls; The first housing (2) has grooves (21) on both its upper and lower side walls; The positioning member (5) has two vertically distributed insertion ends, which respectively cooperate with the vertically distributed insertion holes (31) and grooves (21).

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The positioning component (5) includes two horizontal arms (51) distributed vertically, and a connecting arm (52) connecting the two horizontal arms (51). The upper cross arm (51) engages with the upper socket (31) and groove (21); The lower cross arm (51) engages with the lower socket (31) and groove (21).

5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second housing (3) has a receiving groove (32) on one side wall; The receiving slot (32) is connected to the upper and lower two insertion holes (31); The connecting arm (52) is housed within the receiving groove (32).

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The retainer (4) surrounds the positioning element (5).

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second housing (3) has at least one side wall with a first latch (33), and the retainer (4) has at least one side wall with a first latch hole (41) that engages with the first latch (33).

8. The electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first housing (2) has at least one side wall with a second latch (22), and the retainer (4) has at least one side wall with a second latch hole (42) that engages with the second latch (22).

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The retainer (4) has a first guide groove (43) and a second guide groove (44); The first guide groove (43) is located on the front side of the first card hole (41); The second guide groove (44) is located on the front side of the second card hole (42).

10. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The retainer (4) has a circumferentially closed enclosure (45).

11. The electrical connector according to claim 10, characterized in that: The front end of the enclosing portion (45) extends forward to form a guide portion (46); The second housing (3) has a guide channel (34) that mates with the guide portion (46).

12. The electrical connector according to claim 11, characterized in that: It also includes a locking element (6) and a connector position guarantee component (7); At least one side wall of the second housing (3) has a locking element (6); The connector position guaranteeing member (7) is slidably connected to the second housing (3) and cooperates with the locking member (6); The front end face of the guide portion (46) is a stop surface (47), which is located on the rear side of the connector position guarantee member (7).

13. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes cables (8); One end of the cable (8) extends into the first housing (2) and is electrically connected to the signal transmission unit (1).

14. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The signal transmission unit (1) is a USB interface; The USB interface is a USB Type-A interface, a USB Type-B interface, or a USB Type-C interface.

15. A connector assembly, characterized in that: Includes the electrical connector as described in any one of claims 1-14, and a mating connector that mates with said electrical connector.

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