Electrical connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of electric connectors, including shell, elastic lock catch and retaining member;Shell includes front stop and rear stop portion;Retaining member moves between a pre-lock position and a final lock position;Retaining member includes base, top stop and elastic beam;Elastic beam is equipped with stop surface, stop surface and unlocking surface;Wherein, when retaining member is in pre-lock position, front stop portion is stopped in the front side of stop surface, rear stop portion is stopped in the back side of stop surface, and elastic lock catch can be flexible;Unlocking surface is pushed to make elastic beam flex, stop surface moves to stagger with front stop portion, retaining member moves from pre-lock position to final lock position, and top stop is stopped in the below of elastic lock catch to prevent elastic lock catch from flexing.Set elastic beam and set stop surface and stop surface on elastic beam, the effect of two components of traditional CPA tongue and buckle arm is realized by elastic beam one component, the structure of retaining member is simplified, the occupied space of retaining member is reduced to make electric connector satisfy miniaturization design requirement.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and in particular to an electrical connector with a simple CPA retainer structure that meets the requirements of miniaturization. [Background Technology]

[0002] Existing automotive electrical connectors typically feature a spring-loaded locking arm that engages with the snap-fit ​​part of the mating connector. When the electrical connector is subjected to prolonged vibration, in order to prevent the spring-loaded locking arm from disengaging from the snap-fit ​​part due to vibration, the electrical connector will additionally feature a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) to limit and stop the spring-loaded locking arm, thereby ensuring the stability of the mating between the electrical connector and the mating connector.

[0003] Existing CPA retainers are used to mount electrical connector housings. A typical CPA retainer includes a base, a top stop above the base, a tongue extending forward from the base, and a locking arm. The CPA retainer moves relative to the housing between a pre-locked position and a final-locked position. In the pre-locked position, the top stop avoids the resilient locking arm, which can flex and deform to achieve locking or unlocking operations between the electrical connector and the mating connector. In the final-locked position, the top stop prevents the resilient locking arm from flexing, thus preventing the electrical connector from disengaging from the mating connector. Whether the CPA retainer can move from the pre-locked position to the final-locked position is controlled by the tongue. The stop surface on the tongue is blocked by the housing in the pre-locked position. After the electrical connector and the mating connector are mated, the mating connector presses against the tongue, causing the stop surface to avoid the housing's blockage, allowing the CPA retainer to continue moving from the pre-locked position to the final-locked position. The main function of the retainer arm is to prevent the CPA retainer from retracting into the connector housing after the CPA retainer is inserted. The locking surface of the retainer arm is stopped by the connector housing in the pre-locked position. However, these structures make existing CPA retainers complex, occupy more space, and are not conducive to the miniaturization requirements of electrical connectors.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design an improved electrical connector to overcome the above problems. [Utility Model Content]

[0005] To address the problems faced by the prior art, the present invention aims to provide an electrical connector that, by setting an elastic beam and simultaneously setting a stop surface and a backstop surface on the elastic beam, achieves the functions of the tongue and latching arm in a traditional CPA retainer through a single elastic beam component. This simplifies the retainer structure, reduces the space occupied by the retainer, and enables the electrical connector to meet the design requirements of miniaturization.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical means:

[0007] An electrical connector for mating with a pair of mating connectors in a front-to-back direction, wherein the mating connectors are provided with unlocking blocks, the electrical connector comprising:

[0008] The housing includes a main body, a protective frame spanning the main body, two front baffles connected to the main body, and two rear baffles connected to the protective frame; the two rear baffles are respectively located behind the two front baffles, the protective frame and the main body form a channel, the two rear baffles are located on the left and right sides of the channel, and the bottom end of each rear baffle is spaced apart from the main body;

[0009] An elastic buckle is flexibly connected to the body in the vertical direction, and the rear end of the elastic buckle passes through the channel rearward.

[0010] A retainer is mounted on the housing from rear to front, and the retainer is movable relative to the main body in the front-rear direction between a pre-locked position and a final locked position; the retainer includes a base, a top stop portion connected to the base, and two elastic beams arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the base and extending forward in the left-right direction; the two elastic beams are elastically flexible relative to the base in the left-right direction, each elastic beam is provided with a stop surface corresponding to the front stop portion and a backstop surface corresponding to the rear stop portion, and the two elastic beams are provided with an unlocking surface on the side of each other that is close to each other;

[0011] When the retainer is in the pre-lock position, the two front stops are respectively stopped on the front side of the two stop surfaces, and the two rear stops are respectively stopped on the rear side of the two anti-reverse surfaces. The top stop is located behind the elastic latch, and the elastic latch can flex relative to the main body. When the electrical connector is inserted into the mating connector, the unlocking surface is pushed by the unlocking block, causing the elastic beams on both sides to flex in the left-right direction away from each other. The stop surfaces move to be offset from the front stops, and the retainer can move forward from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. The top stop stops below the elastic latch to prevent the elastic latch from flexing.

[0012] In one embodiment, when the retainer is in the pre-locked position, a portion of the anti-reverse surface abuts against the rear stop, and another portion of the anti-reverse surface is exposed in the channel to be offset from the rear stop. The portion of the anti-reverse surface offset from the rear stop shifts to stop against the rear stop as the elastic beam flexes in the left-right direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the elastic beam has a protruding anti-reverse fitting part and a slot, the anti-reverse surface is formed on the rear side of the anti-reverse fitting part, the slot is located below the position where the elastic beam has the protruding anti-reverse fitting part, and the slot penetrates the elastic beam in the left-right direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, a final locking block protrudes from the elastic beam. The final locking block is spaced apart behind the anti-reverse engagement part. When the retainer is in the final locking position, the rear stop is blocked on the rear side of the final locking block. The slot is elongated and extends in the front-rear direction. Both the anti-reverse engagement part and the final locking block protrude above the area where the slot is located on the elastic beam. The rear end of the slot penetrates the rear side of the base.

[0015] In one embodiment, the two elastic beams are located on the left and right sides of the elastic latch, respectively, and when viewed from the left and right direction, the elastic beams on both sides at least partially overlap with the elastic latch.

[0016] In one embodiment, both the unlocking surface and the stopping surface are located at the end of the elastic beam away from the base, and the distance between the unlocking surfaces of the two elastic beams gradually decreases in the direction from front to back.

[0017] In one embodiment, the elastic latch includes a fixed end fixedly connected to the main body and a free end extending rearward from the fixed end; two front stops are disposed at the joint position between the fixed end and the main body, and the two front stops are respectively connected to the two sides of the fixed end in the left-right direction, and the rear sides of the two front stops respectively block the stop surfaces on the two elastic beams.

[0018] In this context, the distance between the stop surfaces of the two elastic beams gradually increases from front to back along the front-to-back direction.

[0019] In one embodiment, the top stop is located between the two elastic beams, and the top stop includes a support leg, a support plate connecting the support leg, and a top block protruding above the support plate; the support leg is provided with two and respectively connected to the elastic beams on both sides, the support plate is connected between the support legs on both sides, and the top block abuts against the elastic lock when the retainer is in the final locking position;

[0020] The elastic beam is provided with a rib at the connection point with the support leg, and the rib has a triangular cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0021] In one embodiment, the bottom end of the rear stop is provided with a first rounded corner on the front side near the stop surface and a second rounded corner on the rear side away from the stop surface, wherein the radius of the first rounded corner is smaller than the radius of the second rounded corner.

[0022] An electrical connector for mating with a pair of mating connectors in a front-to-back direction, wherein the mating connectors are provided with unlocking blocks, the electrical connector comprising:

[0023] The housing includes a main body, a protective frame spanning the main body, a front baffle connected to the main body, and a rear baffle connected to the protective frame; the rear baffle is located behind the front baffle.

[0024] An elastic buckle is flexibly connected to the main body in the vertical direction, and the rear end of the elastic buckle passes through the protective frame.

[0025] A retainer is installed on the housing from back to front, and the retainer moves relative to the main body in the front-rear direction between a pre-locked position and a final locked position; the retainer includes a base, a top stop portion connected to the base, and an elastic beam connected to the base; the elastic beam is provided with a stop surface corresponding to the front stop portion, a backstop surface corresponding to the rear stop portion, and an unlocking surface corresponding to the unlocking block;

[0026] When the retainer is in the pre-lock position, the front stop is stopped in front of the stop surface, a portion of the anti-reverse surface abuts against the rear stop, and another portion of the anti-reverse surface is offset from the rear stop. The top stop is located behind the elastic latch, and the elastic latch can flex relative to the main body. When the electrical connector is inserted into the mating connector, the unlocking surface is pushed by the unlocking block, causing the elastic beam to flex. The portion of the anti-reverse surface offset from the rear stop shifts to stop the rear stop as the elastic beam flexes in the left-right direction. The stop surface shifts to offset the front stop. The retainer can move forward from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. The top stop stops below the elastic latch to prevent the elastic latch from flexing.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] 1. The elastic beam is equipped with both a stop surface and a backstop surface. When the retainer is in the pre-locked position, the stop surface blocks the front stop of the housing to prevent the retainer from moving from the pre-locked position to the final locked position. The backstop surface blocks the rear stop of the housing to prevent the retainer from coming out of the housing. Thus, the retainer is fixed in the pre-locked position. The elastic beam can achieve the functions of the tongue and the latch arm in the traditional structure with one component, simplifying the structure of the retainer, reducing the space occupied by the retainer, and meeting the design requirements of miniaturization of electrical connectors. Furthermore, the elastic latch between the electrical connector and the mating connector is elastically flexed in the vertical direction. After the electrical connector and the mating connector are inserted, the unlocking surface is pushed by the unlocking block in the mating connector, causing the elastic beams on both sides to flex in the left and right directions away from each other. This allows the stop surface and the front stop to avoid each other, thus releasing the blocking relationship between them. That is, the release of the pre-locked position of the retainer is achieved by the elastic flexing deformation of the elastic beam in the left and right directions. This eliminates the need for space for the elastic beam to flex in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the height of the elastic latch in the vertical direction and further meeting the design requirements of miniaturization of electrical connectors.

[0029] 2. When the retainer is in the pre-locked position, part of the anti-reverse surface abuts against the rear stop, and another part of the anti-reverse surface is offset from the rear stop. The offset part of the anti-reverse surface and the rear stop shifts to stop the rear stop as the elastic beam flexes in the left and right direction. That is, when the elastic beam is pushed and flexed by the unlocking block, the blocking area between the anti-reverse surface and the rear stop increases. The area of ​​the anti-reverse surface that originally avoided the rear stop will gradually stop the rear stop under the action of the elastic beam flexing. This makes the flexing deformation of the elastic beam during the unlocking process increase the blocking area between the anti-reverse surface and the rear stop. Thus, the retainer will not come out from the rear of the housing because the elastic beam is pushed and flexed by the unlocking block. On the contrary, the greater the deformation of the elastic beam during the unlocking flexing process, the larger the blocking area of ​​the housing on the retainer, which improves the retaining force of the housing to prevent the retainer from coming out.

[0030] 3. A final locking block is protruding on the elastic beam. When the retainer is in the final locking position, the rear stop stops behind the final locking block to improve the holding force that keeps the retainer in the final locking position. Furthermore, the elastic beam has a slot, and the anti-reverse fitting and the final locking block are located above the slotted area of ​​the elastic beam. This allows the area of ​​the elastic beam with the anti-reverse fitting and the final locking block to have space for elastic deformation in the vertical direction, which can obtain a certain amount of elastic displacement. This makes it convenient for the user to push the retainer from the pre-locked position to the final locking position. At the final locking position, the area of ​​the elastic beam with the final locking block will regain its elasticity and move upward, so that the final locking block and the rear stop are stably stopped, improving the stability of the retainer in the final locking position.

[0031] 4. Two elastic beams are arranged on the left and right sides of the elastic lock respectively. When viewed from the left and right, the elastic beams on both sides overlap with the elastic lock, so that the elastic beams do not occupy the space between the elastic lock and the main body, further reducing the height of the elastic lock in the vertical direction and meeting the design requirements of miniaturization of electrical connectors.

[0032] 5. Both the unlocking surface and the stop surface are located at the end of the elastic beam away from the base. This ensures that when the unlocking block of the mating connector pushes against the unlocking surface, causing the elastic beam to deform and flex, the stop surface and the unlocking surface are located at the position where the elastic beam is most offset. This allows the stop surface to avoid the front stop with a smaller angle of elastic beam flex, reducing the flexural amplitude of the elastic beam during unlocking and extending the bending fatigue life of the elastic beam.

[0033] 6. Two front stops are located at the joint between the fixed end and the main body, and the two front stops are respectively connected to the two sides of the fixed end in the left-right direction, thereby improving the structural strength at the joint between the elastic lock and the main body; and, along the front-to-back direction, the distance between the rear sides of the front stops on the left and right sides gradually increases, and the distance between the stop surfaces of the two elastic beams gradually increases along the front-to-back direction. The rear sides of the inclined front stops on both sides respectively block the inclined stop surfaces on both sides, making the resistance of the elastic beam deflection during the unlocking process greater, which is equivalent to improving the stability of the stop between the front stops and the stop surfaces, and preventing the retaining member from being disengaged by vibration or small load.

[0034] 7. The top stop is located between the elastic beams on both sides. The top stop includes two support legs connecting the elastic beams on both sides and a support plate connecting the support legs on both sides. Two support legs are provided, each connecting to one of the elastic beams on both sides. The support plate connects between the support legs on both sides, forming an elastic structure. When the elastic beams on both sides are compressed and deflected during unlocking, the top stop can absorb the load at the connection point between the elastic beam and the base through its own elastic deformation, thereby increasing the load-bearing strength at the connection point and extending the service life of the retainer. Furthermore, triangular ribs are provided at the connection point between the elastic beam and the support legs, further increasing the load-bearing strength at the connection point and extending the service life of the retainer.

[0035] 8. The rear stop has a first rounded corner on the front side near the stop surface and a second rounded corner on the rear side away from the stop surface. The radius of the first rounded corner is smaller than the radius of the second rounded corner. Since the retainer needs to pass over the rear stop during the movement between the pre-lock position and the final lock position, the radius of the second rounded corner on the side of the rear stop away from the stop surface is larger. The larger the radius, the smoother the surface, which makes it easier for the retainer to pass over the rear stop. As a result, the resistance encountered by the retainer when moving from the pre-lock position to the final lock position is less than the resistance encountered when moving from the final lock position to the pre-lock position, thereby improving the stability of holding the retainer in the final lock position. [Attached Image Description]

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the CEC connector at position AA;

[0038] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part C of the middle rectangle;

[0039] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the CEC connector at the BB position;

[0040] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the retainer in the pre-locking position of the rectangular D section;

[0041] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the middle rectangular section D in the state where the electrical connector and the mating connector are engaged;

[0042] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the retainer moving to the final locking position when the connector and the mating connector are in the mating state.

[0043] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure behind the concealed retainer of the CEC connector;

[0044] Figure 9 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the retainer;

[0045] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a mating connector adapted to an electrical connector.

[0046] Explanation of reference numerals in the accompanying drawings for specific embodiments:

[0047]

[0048] [Specific Implementation Examples]

[0049] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0050] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to 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 a limitation of this utility model.

[0051] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0052] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0054] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only embodiments.

[0055] It should be noted that, according to Figures 1 to 10 As shown, in this embodiment of the invention, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis intersect each other in pairs. For ease of explanation, the front-back direction is defined as the X-axis direction, the positive X-axis direction is defined as "front," the left-right direction is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the up-down direction is defined as the Z-axis direction, the positive Z-axis direction is defined as "up." In this embodiment, the X-axis and Y-axis directions are coplanar and relatively perpendicular, and the Z-axis direction is relatively perpendicular to the common plane of the X-axis and Y-axis. These front-back, left-right, and up-down directions are mutually perpendicular. Further explanation: the term "parallel" in this application includes not only absolute parallelism but also approximately parallelism as commonly understood in engineering, such as "parallel" referring to an angle of -1° to 1° between lines, lines and surfaces, or surfaces. Similarly, "perpendicular" also includes not only absolute perpendicularity but also approximately perpendicularity as commonly understood in engineering, such as "perpendicular" referring to an angle of 89° to 91° between lines, lines and surfaces, or surfaces. Equal distances or equal angles include not only absolute equality, but also approximate equality as commonly understood in engineering, which means there can be a certain degree of error, such as a tolerance range of -1% to 1%.

[0056] Please see Figures 1 to 10 The electrical connector 1, which is the first embodiment of the present utility model, includes a housing 10, an elastic latch 20 connected to the housing 10, and a retainer 30 installed on the housing 10. The electrical connector 1 is used to be inserted into a pair of mating connectors 90 in the front-to-back direction to ensure the transmission of signals or current between the electrical connector 1 and the mating connectors 90.

[0057] Please see Figures 1 to 8 The housing 10 is the main supporting component of the electrical connector 1, supporting the assembly of other components. The housing 10 includes a main body 11, a protective frame 12 spanning the main body 11, two front stops 13 connected to the main body 11, and two rear stops 14 connected to the protective frame 12. The main body 11 is generally rectangular, and a terminal slot for terminal insertion is provided through the main body 11 in the front-to-back direction. When the main body 11 is inserted into the mating connector 90, the terminals are electrically connected to the mating terminals within the mating connector 90, thereby enabling signal or current transmission between the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90. The front stops 13 are used to stop the retainer 30. In this embodiment, the main body 11 is provided with a first channel 111 and a second channel 112. The first channel 111 extends in the front-rear direction and is located on one side of the elastic latch 20 in the left-right direction. The first channel 111 is used for inserting the retainer 30. The front stop 13 is exposed at the front end of the first channel 111. The retainer 30 is inserted into the first channel 111 from back to front until it abuts against the front stop 13 to stop the retainer 30 on the housing 10. The second channel 112 is located on the side of the first channel 111 away from the elastic latch 20. The second channel 112 extends in the front-back direction and extends in the same direction as the first channel 111 and is interconnected. When the electrical connector 1 is inserted into the mating connector 90, an unlocking block 91 is provided on the mating connector 90. The unlocking block 91 presses against the retaining member 30, causing part of the retaining member 30 to enter the second channel 112. That is, the unlocking block 91 presses against the retaining member 30 and causes a certain deformation, causing the retaining member 30 to disengage from the front stop 13. At this time, the retaining member 30 can continue to move forward.

[0058] The protective frame 12 is generally n-shaped and spans above the main body 11. Both ends of the protective frame 12 are connected to the main body 11 in the left-right direction, thus separating the middle portion of the protective frame 12 from the main body 11. A gap exists between the middle portion of the protective frame 12 and the main body 11 for the elastic latch 20 to pass through, so that the protective frame 12 is positioned outside the elastic latch 20, thereby protecting the elastic latch 20. The rear stop 14 is used to stop the retainer 30 to prevent it from detaching rearward from the housing 10. In this embodiment, the protective frame 12 and the main body 11 form a channel 15. Two rear baffles 14 are located on the left and right sides of the channel 15, and the two rear baffles 14 are respectively located behind the two front baffles 13. Each rear baffle 14 protrudes downward from the inner wall of the protective frame 12. The bottom end of the rear baffle 14 is spaced apart from the main body 11 to allow the retainer 30 to pass through. The first channel 111 is correspondingly disposed between the bottom end of the rear baffle 14 and the main body 11. Furthermore, the bottom end of the rear stop 14 is provided with a first rounded corner 141 on the front side near the stop surface 3310 and a second rounded corner 142 on the rear side away from the stop surface 3310. The radius of the first rounded corner 141 is smaller than the radius of the second rounded corner 142. The larger the radius of the rounded corner, the smoother the surface. This makes the resistance of the retainer 30 moving forward over the rear stop 14 less than the resistance of the retainer 30 moving backward over the rear stop 14. This ensures that the retainer 30 is easier to push forward and more difficult to disengage backward.

[0059] Please see Figures 1 to 8The elastic latch 20 is flexibly connected to the main body 11 in the vertical direction. The rear end of the elastic latch 20 passes through the channel 15. The elastic latch 20 is used to engage with the mating connector 90 when the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are mated, thereby fixing the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90 relative to each other. In this embodiment, the elastic latch 20 includes a fixed end 21 fixedly connected to the main body 11 and a free end 22 extending rearward from the fixed end 21. The fixed end 21 is the front end of the elastic latch 20 and is connected above the main body 11. The free end 22 is the rear end of the elastic latch 20 and is suspended above the main body 11. By pressing the free end 22, the elastic latch 20 can be elastically bent, thereby controlling the engagement relationship between the elastic latch 20 and the mating connector 90. Two front stops 13 are provided at the joint position between the fixed end 21 and the main body 11, and the two front stops 13 are respectively connected to the two sides of the fixed end 21 in the left-right direction. Since the front stops 13 connect the fixed end 21 and the main body 11 at the same time, the load-bearing strength at the joint position between the elastic latch 20 and the main body 11 can be improved. The front stops 13 protrude from the front part of the first channel 111, thereby blocking the retainer 30 inserted into the first channel 111 through the rear side of the front stops 13. Further, the two front stops 13 and the two rear stops 14 are arranged opposite to each other on the left and right sides of the elastic latch 20. The number of the first channels 111 is two, and the two first channels 111 are respectively located between the two rear stops 14 and the main body 11. The number of the second channels 112 is two, and the two second channels 112 are respectively located on the side of the two first channels 111 away from the elastic latch 20.

[0060] Please see Figures 1 to 10The retaining member 30 is mounted on the housing 10 from rear to front. The retaining member 30 moves relative to the main body 11 in a pre-locked position and a final locked position in the front-rear direction. When the retaining member 30 is in the pre-locked position, the elastic latch 20 can flex vertically relative to the main body 11. When the retaining member 30 is in the final locked position, it stops below the elastic latch 20 to prevent it from flexing relative to the main body 11. Whether the retaining member 30 can move from the pre-locked position to the final locked position depends on the unlocking block 91 of the mating connector 90 being pushed into place. Whether the retaining member 30 can move from the pre-locked position to the final locked position can be used to detect whether the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are properly mated. The retaining member 30 includes a base 31, a top stop 32 connecting the base 31, and two elastic beams 33 arranged opposite each other on both sides of the base 31 and extending forward in the left-right direction. The base 31 is square-shaped and disposed at the rear end of the retainer 30. The base 31 extends along the common plane of the left-right and up-down directions, and is used to facilitate the push and pull of the retainer 30 by the human hand in the front-back direction. The top stop 32 is located on the front side of the base 31. The top stop 32 is used to stop the retainer 30 below the elastic latch 20 when it moves to the final locking position, thereby preventing the elastic latch 20 from deflecting. The elastic beams 33 on both sides are elongated and extend forward from the base 31. The two elastic beams 33 can be elastically flexed in the left and right directions relative to the base 31. Each elastic beam 33 is provided with a stop surface 35 corresponding to the front stop 13 and a stop surface 3310 corresponding to the rear stop 14. The elastic beams 33 on both sides pass through the gap between the bottom end of the rear stop 14 and the main body 11. That is, the elastic beams 33 on both sides are inserted into the first grooves 111 on both sides from back to front. The side of the elastic beams 33 on both sides that are close to each other is provided with an unlocking surface 36. The unlocking surface 36 is correspondingly provided with the unlocking block 91 of the mating connector 90. Specifically, when the retainer 30 is in the pre-lock position, the two elastic beams 33 pass forward past the two rear stops 14 respectively, and the rear sides of the two front stops 13 respectively block the stop surfaces 35 on the two elastic beams 33. The two rear stops 14 block the rear sides of the two anti-reverse surfaces 3310. At this time, the retainer 30 is blocked in the pre-lock position by the front and rear stops, and the top stop 32 is located behind the elastic latch 20. The elastic latch 20 can flex relative to the main body 11. When the electrical connector 1 is inserted into the mating connector 90, the unlocking surface 36 is pushed by the unlocking block 91, causing the elastic beams 33 on both sides to flex away from each other in the left and right direction. The stop surfaces 35 move to avoid the front stops 13, and the retainer 30 can move forward from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. When the retainer 30 is in the final lock position, the top stop 32 blocks the bottom of the elastic latch 20 to prevent the elastic latch 20 from flexing.Understandably, when the retainer 30 is in the pre-lock position, the front stop 13 can directly abut against the front side of the stop surface 35, and there can also be a certain gap between the front stop 13 and the stop surface 35. Here, there is no restriction on whether the front stop 13 will directly abut against the stop surface 35 when the retainer 30 is in the pre-lock position, as long as the front stop 13 can prevent the retainer 30 from moving from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. Similarly, when the retainer 30 is in the pre-lock position, the rear stop 14 can directly abut against the rear side of the anti-reverse surface 3310, and there can also be a certain gap between the rear stop 14 and the anti-reverse surface 3310. Here, there is no restriction on whether the rear stop 14 will directly abut against the anti-reverse surface 3310 when the retainer 30 is in the pre-lock position, as long as the rear stop 14 can prevent the retainer 30 from moving backward in the front-back direction and exiting the housing 10. Understandably, the retainer 30 has a small range of free travel in the pre-locked position to ensure that the retainer 30 can be inserted into the housing 10 from back to front. When the retainer 30 is in the pre-locked position, there is a gap between the rear stop 14 and the anti-reverse surface 3310 when the front stop 13 is in contact with the stop surface 35, and there is a gap between the front stop 13 and the stop surface 35 when the rear stop 14 is in contact with the anti-reverse surface 3310. The retainer 30 is in the pre-locked position from the position where the front stop 13 is in contact with the stop surface 35 to the position where the rear stop 14 is in contact with the anti-reverse surface 3310. In this embodiment, the unlocking block 91 is set as two independent blocks, and the two unlocking blocks 91 correspond to the unlocking surfaces 36 of the two elastic beams 33 respectively. In other embodiments, it can also be set as a single integrated unlocking block 91 to cooperate with the two unlocking surfaces 36, as long as it is ensured that the unlocking block 91 can push against the elastic beams 33 on both sides to flex after the plug-in connector 90 is plugged into the electrical connector 1.

[0061] Both elastic beams 33 are connected to the base 31 at their rear ends, and their front ends can be offset in the left and right directions, thereby achieving elastic flexing of the elastic beams 33 in the left and right directions. The two elastic beams 33 are located on the left and right sides of the elastic latch 20, respectively. From the left and right direction, the elastic beams 33 on both sides overlap with the elastic latch 20 at least partially, so that the elastic beams 33 do not occupy the space below the elastic latch 20, thereby reducing the vertical setting height of the elastic latch 20 and meeting the miniaturization design requirements. The unlocking surface 36 and the stop surface 35 are both located at the end of the elastic beam 33 away from the base 31. The front end of the elastic beam 33 with the unlocking surface 36 and the stop surface 35 is inserted into the first channel 111 from back to front until the retainer 30 moves forward to the pre-lock position. The stop surface 35 abuts against the front stop 13, the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are inserted, the unlocking block 91 pushes against the unlocking surface 36, and the elastic beam 33 flexes, causing the front end of the elastic beam 33 to enter the second channel 112, so that the retainer 30 can continue to move forward. Move to the final lock position; since both the unlocking surface 36 and the stop surface 35 are located at the front end of the elastic beam 33, when the unlocking block 91 of the mating connector 90 presses against the unlocking surface 36, causing the elastic beam 33 to deform and flex, the stop surface 35 and the unlocking surface 36 are located at the position where the elastic beam 33 is most offset. This allows the stop surface 35 to avoid the front stop 13 with a smaller angle of deflection of the elastic beam 33, reducing the deflection amplitude of the elastic beam 33 during unlocking and extending the bending fatigue life of the elastic beam 33. In this embodiment, the distance between the unlocking surfaces 36 of the two elastic beams 33 gradually decreases from front to back to ensure that during the mating process of the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90, the unlocking block 91 pushes against the unlocking surfaces 36 on both sides, causing the elastic beams 33 on both sides to flex elastically in a direction away from each other. The distance between the rear sides of the front stops 13 on both sides gradually increases from front to back, and the distance between the stop surfaces 35 of the two elastic beams 33 gradually increases from front to back. When the retainer 30 is in the pre-locked position, the front stops 13 on both sides, which are in an inclined posture, stop in front of the stop surfaces 35 on both sides, which makes the resistance that the elastic beams 33 need to overcome during the unlocking process greater. This is equivalent to improving the stability of the stop between the front stops 13 and the stop surfaces 35, and preventing the retainer 30 from disengaging due to vibration or small load.

[0062] Each elastic beam 33 is provided with an anti-reverse engagement part 331. The anti-reverse engagement part 331 is located above the elastic beam 33, and the anti-reverse surface 3310 is located on the rear side of the anti-reverse engagement part 331. When the retainer 30 is in the pre-locked position, the anti-reverse engagement part 331 is located on the front side of the rear stop 14 to prevent the retainer 30 from falling out of the housing 10. Specifically, when the retainer 30 is in the pre-locked position, a portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 abuts against the rear stop 14, and another portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 is offset from the rear stop 14. When the elastic beam 33 is pushed and bent by the unlocking block 91, the portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 that is offset from the rear stop 14 shifts to stop the rear stop 14 as the elastic beam 33 bends in the left and right direction, thereby increasing the contact area between the anti-reverse surface 3310 and the rear stop 14. That is, the bending of the elastic beam 33 will increase the contact area between the anti-reverse surface 3310 and the rear stop 14, thus preventing the unlocking block 91 from pushing the retainer 30 out of the housing 10 during the mating process of the mating connector 90 and the electrical connector 1. In this embodiment, the anti-retraction mating part 331 has a triangular cross-section along the common plane of the front-back direction and the up-down direction. That is, the height of the anti-retraction mating part 331 in the up-down direction gradually increases from front to back, making it easier for the anti-retraction mating part 331 to pass over the rear stop 14 when the elastic beam 33 is inserted into the first groove 111.

[0063] Each elastic beam 33 is provided with a final locking block 332. The final locking blocks 332 are spaced apart behind the anti-retraction mating part 331. When the retainer 30 is in the final locking position, the rear stop 14 stops at the rear side of the final locking block 332 to secure the retainer 30 in the final locking position. In this embodiment, the elastic beam 33 is provided with a slot 34. The slot 34 is elongated and extends in the front-rear direction. The slot 34 is located below the position where the anti-retraction mating part 331 and the final locking block 332 are provided on the elastic beam 33. The rear end of the slot 34 penetrates the rear side of the base 31. By providing the slot 34 on the elastic beam 33, the elasticity of the elastic beam 33 in the vertical direction is improved, ensuring that during the insertion and removal of the retainer 30, the elastic beam 33 provides the space required for the final locking block 332 to pass over the rear stop 14 through its own deformation. When the retainer 30 moves from the pre-locking position to the final locking position, the final locking block 332 moves from back to front. When the retainer 30 moves from the final locked position to the pre-locked position after passing the rear stop 14, the final locking block 332 passes the rear stop 14 from front to back. Since the front side of the rear stop 14 has a first rounded corner 141 and the rear side has a second rounded corner 142, the radius of curvature of the first rounded corner 141 is smaller than that of the second rounded corner 142. This makes the pushing force required for the retainer 30 to move from the pre-locked position to the final locked position less than the pushing force required to move from the final locked position to the pre-locked position, thus improving the stability of locking the retainer 30 in the final locked position. At the same time, it is easier and more convenient for the user to push the retainer 30 from the pre-locked position to the final locked position, improving the user experience.

[0064] The top stop 32 is located between the elastic beams 33 on both sides. The top stop 32 includes a support leg 321, a support plate 322 connecting the support leg 321, and a top block 323 protruding above the support plate 322. Two support legs 321 are provided, each connected to an elastic beam 33 on both sides. The bottom surface of the support leg 321 is flush with the bottom surface of the elastic beam 33, and the top surface of the support leg 321 is flush with the top surface of the support plate 322. The height of the support leg 321 in the vertical direction is greater than that of the support plate 322 in the vertical direction. The support plate 322 is connected between the two support legs 321. The two support legs 321 and the support plate 322 are connected to form an n-shaped structure, which allows the top stop 32 to generate a certain elastic deformation in the left and right direction. When the elastic beams 33 on both sides of the top stop 32 flex in the left and right direction, the top stop 32 can absorb a certain amount of load through its own elastic deformation, avoiding the deformation load of the elastic beam 33 from being concentrated at the joint position between the elastic beam 33 and the base 31. Thus, the absorption of load by the top stop 32 prevents tearing at the joint position between the elastic beam 33 and the base 31, extending the service life of the retainer 30. The top block 323 is a rectangular block protruding above the support plate 322. The position of the top block 323 corresponds to the free end 22 of the elastic latch 20. When the retainer 30 is in the final locked position, the top block 323 abuts against the elastic latch 20 to prevent the elastic latch 20 from bending in the vertical direction. It is understood that there can be one or more top blocks 323. When multiple top blocks 323 are provided, they are arranged at intervals on the support plate 322. The specific number of top blocks 323 is not limited here, as long as the top blocks 323 can abut against the elastic latch 20 when the retainer 30 is in the final locked position. In this embodiment, a rib 324 is provided at the connection position between the elastic beam 33 and the support leg 321. The rib 324 has a triangular cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction. The rib 324 connects the elastic beam 33 and the support leg 321 respectively. The rib 324 is used to improve the load-bearing strength at the joint position of the support leg 321 and the elastic beam 33, and further improve the service life of the retainer 30.

[0065] This utility model relates to an electrical connector 1, which is used to be inserted into a pair of plug connectors 90 in the front-to-back direction, and the plug connectors 90 are provided with an unlocking block 91. The electrical connector 1 includes a housing 10, a resilient latch 20, and a retainer 30. The housing 10 includes a main body 11, a protective frame 12 spanning the main body 11, a front stop 13 connected to the main body 11, and a rear stop 14 connected to the protective frame 12. The rear stop 14 is located behind the front stop 13. The resilient latch 20 is flexibly connected to the main body 11 in the vertical direction, and the rear end of the resilient latch 20 passes through the protective frame 12. The retainer 30 is installed on the housing 10 from back to front, and the retainer 30 moves relative to the main body 11 in the front-rear direction between a pre-locked position and a final locked position. The retainer 30 includes a base 31, a top stop 32 connecting the base 31, and a resilient beam 33 connecting the base 31. The resilient beam 33 is provided with a stop surface 35 corresponding to the front stop 13, a backstop surface 3310 corresponding to the rear stop 14, and an unlocking surface 36 corresponding to the unlocking block 91. When the retainer 30 is in the pre-lock position, the front stop 13 stops at the front of the stop surface 35, a portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 abuts against the rear stop 14, and another portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 is offset from the rear stop 14. The top stop 32 is located behind the elastic latch 20, and the elastic latch 20 can flex relative to the main body 11. When the electrical connector 1 is inserted into the mating connector 90, the unlocking surface 36 is pushed by the unlocking block 91, causing the elastic beam 33 to flex. The portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 that is offset from the rear stop 14 shifts to stop with the rear stop 14 as the elastic beam 33 flexes in the left and right direction. The stop surface 35 shifts to be offset from the front stop 13. The retainer 30 can move forward from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. The top stop 32 stops below the elastic latch 20 to prevent the elastic latch 20 from flexing.

[0066] In summary, this utility model provides an electrical connector 1, which has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0067] 1. The elastic beam 33 is provided with a stop surface 35 and a backstop surface 3310. When the retainer 30 is in the pre-lock position, the stop surface 35 blocks the front stop 13 of the housing 10 to prevent the retainer 30 from moving from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. The backstop surface 3310 blocks the rear stop 14 of the housing 10 to prevent the retainer 30 from coming out of the housing 10. Thus, the retainer 30 is fixed at the pre-lock position. The elastic beam 33 can realize the functions of the tongue and the latch arm in the traditional structure with one component, simplifying the structure of the retainer 30, reducing the space occupied by the retainer 30, and meeting the miniaturization design requirements of the electrical connector 1. Furthermore, the elastic latch 20 between the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90 is elastically flexed in the vertical direction. After the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 90 are inserted, the unlocking surface 36 is pushed by the unlocking block 91 in the mating connector 90, causing the elastic beams 33 on both sides to flex in the left and right directions away from each other. This allows the stop surface 35 and the front stop 13 to avoid each other, thus releasing the blocking relationship between them. That is, the release of the pre-locked position of the retaining member 30 is achieved by the elastic flexing deformation of the elastic beam 33 in the left and right directions. This means that the retaining member 30 does not need to provide space for the elastic beam 33 to flex in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the height of the elastic latch 20 in the vertical direction and further meeting the design requirements of miniaturization of the electrical connector 1.

[0068] 2. When the retainer 30 is in the pre-locked position, a portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 abuts against the rear stop 14, and another portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 is offset from the rear stop 14. The offset portion of the anti-reverse surface 3310 shifts to stop the rear stop 14 as the elastic beam 33 flexes laterally. That is, when the elastic beam 33 flexes under the pressure of the unlocking block 91, the stopping area between the anti-reverse surface 3310 and the rear stop 14 increases, and the area of ​​the anti-reverse surface 3310 that originally avoided the rear stop 14... Under the action of the elastic beam 33 bending, it will gradually block the rear stop 14. The bending deformation of the elastic beam 33 during the unlocking process will increase the blocking area between the anti-retraction surface 3310 and the rear stop 14. Thus, the retainer 30 will not be dislodged from the rear of the housing 10 due to the elastic beam 33 being pushed and bent by the unlocking block 91. On the contrary, the greater the bending deformation of the elastic beam 33 during the unlocking process, the larger the blocking area of ​​the housing 10 on the retainer 30, which improves the retaining force of the housing 10 to prevent the retainer 30 from dislodging.

[0069] 3. A final locking block 332 is protruding on the elastic beam 33. When the retainer 30 is in the final locking position, the rear stop 14 stops at the rear side of the final locking block 332 to improve the holding force that keeps the retainer 30 in the final locking position. Furthermore, the elastic beam 33 is provided with a slot 34. The anti-retraction mating part 331 and the final locking block 332 are located above the area of ​​the elastic beam 33 with the slot 34, so that the area of ​​the elastic beam 33 with the anti-retraction mating part 331 and the final locking block 332 has space for elastic deformation in the vertical direction, which can obtain a certain amount of elastic displacement. This makes it convenient for the user to push the retainer 30 from the pre-locking position to the final locking position. At the final locking position, the area of ​​the elastic beam 33 with the final locking block 332 will recover its elasticity and move upward, so that the final locking block 332 and the rear stop 14 are stably stopped, improving the stability of the retainer 30 in the final locking position.

[0070] 4. Two elastic beams 33 are arranged on the left and right sides of the elastic latch 20 respectively. When viewed from the left and right direction, the elastic beams 33 on both sides partially overlap with the elastic latch 20, so that the elastic beams 33 do not occupy the space between the elastic latch 20 and the main body 11, further reducing the setting height of the elastic latch 20 in the vertical direction, and meeting the design requirements of miniaturization of the electrical connector 1.

[0071] 5. Both the unlocking surface 36 and the stop surface 35 are located at the end of the elastic beam 33 away from the base 31, so that when the unlocking block 91 of the mating connector 90 pushes against the unlocking surface 36 to deform and flex the elastic beam 33, the stop surface 35 and the unlocking surface 36 are located at the position where the elastic beam 33 is most offset. This allows the stop surface 35 to avoid the front stop 13 with a small angle of deflection of the elastic beam 33, reducing the deflection amplitude of the elastic beam 33 during the unlocking process and extending the bending fatigue life of the elastic beam 33.

[0072] 6. Two front stops 13 are provided at the joint position between the fixed end 21 and the main body 11, and the two front stops 13 are respectively connected to the two sides of the fixed end 21 in the left-right direction, thereby improving the structural strength at the joint position between the elastic latch 20 and the main body 11; and, along the front-to-back direction, the distance between the rear sides of the front stops 13 on the left and right sides gradually increases, and the distance between the stop surfaces 35 of the two elastic beams 33 gradually increases along the front-to-back direction. The rear sides of the inclined front stops 13 on both sides respectively block the inclined stop surfaces 35 on both sides, so that the resistance of the elastic beams 33 bending during the unlocking process is greater, which is equivalent to improving the stability of the stop between the front stops 13 and the stop surfaces 35, and preventing the retainer 30 from being disengaged by vibration or small load.

[0073] 7. The top stop 32 is located between the two elastic beams 33. The top stop 32 includes two support legs 321 connecting the two elastic beams 33 and two support plates 322 connecting the two support legs 321. Two support legs 321 are provided and are respectively connected to the two elastic beams 33. The support plates 322 are connected between the two support legs 321, so that the top stop 32 forms an elastic structure. When the elastic beams 33 on both sides are pressed and bent during the unlocking process, the top stop 32 can absorb the load at the connection position between the elastic beam 33 and the base 31 through its own elastic deformation, thereby improving the load-bearing strength at the joint position between the elastic beam 33 and the base 31 and extending the service life of the retainer 30. Furthermore, triangular ribs 324 are provided at the connection position between the elastic beam 33 and the support legs 321, thereby improving the load-bearing strength at the connection position between the elastic beam 33 and the top stop 32 and further extending the service life of the retainer 30.

[0074] 8. The rear stop 14 has a first rounded corner 141 on the front side near the stop surface 3310 and a second rounded corner 142 on the rear side away from the stop surface 3310. The radius of the first rounded corner 141 is smaller than the radius of the second rounded corner 142. Since the retainer 30 needs to pass over the rear stop 14 during the movement between the pre-lock position and the final lock position, the radius of the second rounded corner 142 on the side of the rear stop 14 away from the stop surface 3310 is larger. The larger the radius of the rounded corner, the smoother it is, which makes it easier for the retainer 30 to pass over the rear stop 14. As a result, the resistance encountered by the retainer 30 when moving from the pre-lock position to the final lock position is less than the resistance encountered when moving from the final lock position to the pre-lock position, thereby improving the stability of keeping the retainer 30 in the final lock position.

[0075] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0076] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for mating with a pair of mating connectors in a front-to-back direction, wherein the mating connectors are provided with an unlocking block, characterized in that, The electrical connector includes: The housing includes a main body, a protective frame spanning the main body, two front baffles connected to the main body, and two rear baffles connected to the protective frame; the two rear baffles are respectively located behind the two front baffles, the protective frame and the main body form a channel, the two rear baffles are located on the left and right sides of the channel, and the bottom end of each rear baffle is spaced apart from the main body; An elastic buckle is flexibly connected to the body in the vertical direction, and the rear end of the elastic buckle passes through the channel rearward. A retainer is mounted on the housing from rear to front, and the retainer is movable relative to the main body in the front-rear direction between a pre-locked position and a final locked position; the retainer includes a base, a top stop portion connected to the base, and two elastic beams arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the base and extending forward in the left-right direction; the two elastic beams are elastically flexible relative to the base in the left-right direction, each elastic beam is provided with a stop surface corresponding to the front stop portion and a backstop surface corresponding to the rear stop portion, and the two elastic beams are provided with an unlocking surface on the side of each other that is close to each other; When the retainer is in the pre-lock position, the two front stops are respectively stopped on the front side of the two stop surfaces, and the two rear stops are respectively stopped on the rear side of the two anti-reverse surfaces. The top stop is located behind the elastic latch, and the elastic latch can flex relative to the main body. When the electrical connector is inserted into the mating connector, the unlocking surface is pushed by the unlocking block, causing the elastic beams on both sides to flex in the left-right direction away from each other. The stop surfaces move to be offset from the front stops, and the retainer can move forward from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. The top stop stops below the elastic latch to prevent the elastic latch from flexing.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the retainer is in the pre-locked position, a portion of the anti-reverse surface abuts against the rear stop, and another portion of the anti-reverse surface is exposed in the channel to be offset from the rear stop. The portion of the anti-reverse surface that is offset from the rear stop shifts to stop against the rear stop as the elastic beam flexes in the left-right direction.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic beam has a protruding anti-reverse fitting part and a slot. The anti-reverse surface is formed on the rear side of the anti-reverse fitting part. The slot is located below the position where the elastic beam has the protruding anti-reverse fitting part and penetrates the elastic beam in the left-right direction.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The elastic beam is provided with a final locking block, which is arranged at intervals behind the anti-reverse engagement part. When the retainer is in the final locking position, the rear stop is blocked on the rear side of the final locking block. The slot is long and extends in the front-back direction. Both the anti-reverse engagement part and the final locking block are provided above the area where the slot is provided on the elastic beam. The rear end of the slot penetrates the rear side of the base.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two elastic beams are located on the left and right sides of the elastic buckle, respectively. When viewed from the left and right direction, the elastic beams on both sides overlap with the elastic buckle at least partially.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the unlocking surface and the stopping surface are located at the end of the elastic beam away from the base, and the distance between the unlocking surfaces of the two elastic beams gradually decreases from front to back.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic buckle includes a fixed end fixedly connected to the main body and a free end extending rearward from the fixed end; two front stops are provided at the joint position between the fixed end and the main body, and the two front stops are respectively connected to the two sides of the fixed end in the left-right direction, and the rear sides of the two front stops respectively block the stop surfaces on the two elastic beams. In this context, the distance between the stop surfaces of the two elastic beams gradually increases from front to back along the front-to-back direction.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top stop is located between the two elastic beams. The top stop includes a support leg, a support plate connecting the support leg, and a top block protruding above the support plate. The support leg is provided with two parts and is respectively connected to the elastic beams on both sides. The support plate is connected between the support legs on both sides. The top block abuts against the elastic lock when the retainer is in the final locking position. The elastic beam is provided with a rib at the connection point with the support leg, and the rib has a triangular cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom end of the rear stop is provided with a first rounded corner on the front side near the stop surface and a second rounded corner on the rear side away from the stop surface. The radius of the first rounded corner is smaller than the radius of the second rounded corner.

10. An electrical connector for mating with a pair of mating connectors in a front-to-back direction, wherein the mating connectors are provided with an unlocking block, characterized in that, The electrical connector includes: The housing includes a main body, a protective frame spanning the main body, a front baffle connected to the main body, and a rear baffle connected to the protective frame; the rear baffle is located behind the front baffle. An elastic buckle is flexibly connected to the main body in the vertical direction, and the rear end of the elastic buckle passes through the protective frame. A retainer is installed on the housing from back to front, and the retainer moves relative to the main body in the front-rear direction between a pre-locked position and a final locked position; the retainer includes a base, a top stop portion connected to the base, and an elastic beam connected to the base; the elastic beam is provided with a stop surface corresponding to the front stop portion, a backstop surface corresponding to the rear stop portion, and an unlocking surface corresponding to the unlocking block; When the retainer is in the pre-lock position, the front stop is stopped in front of the stop surface, a portion of the anti-reverse surface abuts against the rear stop, and another portion of the anti-reverse surface is offset from the rear stop. The top stop is located behind the elastic latch, and the elastic latch can flex relative to the main body. When the electrical connector is inserted into the mating connector, the unlocking surface is pushed by the unlocking block, causing the elastic beam to flex. The portion of the anti-reverse surface offset from the rear stop shifts to stop the rear stop as the elastic beam flexes in the left-right direction. The stop surface shifts to offset the front stop. The retainer can move forward from the pre-lock position to the final lock position. The top stop stops below the elastic latch to prevent the elastic latch from flexing.

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