Connector assembly

Abstract

To reduce a connection cost and improve a connection efficiency of the lead wires.SOLUTION: A connector assembly includes a first connector including a plurality of first connector modules and a side cover assembled in an opening of the first connector module. The first connector module includes: a first housing and a first terminal disposed within the first housing; a second connector including second housing and a plurality of second terminals disposed within the second housing and corresponding to the first terminals, and the second connector includes elastic hooks fixed to the second housing. The first connector is mounted on the second housing, the two elastic hooks are engaged to both sides of the first connector, the assembled plurality of first connector modules and the side cover are sandwiched, and a plurality of lead wires are electrically connected to the second connector through the plurality first connector module, and electrically connected to a circuit board through the second connector. Thus, a connection cost of each lead wire can be reduced and a connection efficiency is enhanced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector assembly suitable for electrically connecting a lead wire to a circuit board. [Background technology]

[0002] In the prior art, it is usually necessary to provide a wire-to-board connector assembly to achieve quick connection between lead wires and a circuit board. A conventional wire-to-board connector assembly usually includes a first connector and a second connector that mates with the first connector. The first connector is fixed to the circuit board and electrically connected to the circuit board. The second connector is electrically connected to the lead wires and mates with the first connector. In this way, the lead wires are electrically connected to the circuit board.

[0003] In the prior art, each wire-to-board connector assembly is typically suitable for electrically connecting only one lead wire to a circuit board, so multiple connector assemblies must be provided to electrically connect multiple lead wires to a circuit board, which can increase the cost of connecting the lead wires and reduce the efficiency of connecting the lead wires. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure aims to solve at least one of the above problems and deficiencies in the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A connector assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first connector including a plurality of first connector modules assembled in parallel and a side cover assembled to an opening of an outermost first connector module, each of the first connector modules including a first housing and first terminals provided in the first housing; and a second connector including a single overall second housing and a plurality of second terminals provided in the second housing and corresponding to the plurality of first terminals. The second connector further includes two elastic hooks fixed to both side walls of the second housing. When the first connector is attached to the second housing, the two elastic hooks are respectively engaged with both sides of the first connector and clamp the plurality of first connector modules and the side cover that are assembled together.

[0006] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a protrusion is formed on each of the outer wall of the side cover and the outer wall of the first housing of the first connector module, and the two elastic hooks are intended to engage with the protrusions of the side cover on one side of the first connector and the first connector module on the other side, respectively.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first housings has a closed bottom wall and an opening facing the closed bottom wall, and a plurality of positioning holes are formed on either the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the first housing or the end surface of the opening of the first housing, and a plurality of positioning posts to be inserted into each of the plurality of positioning holes are formed on the other, thereby assembling the bottom wall of one first housing to the opening of another adjacent first housing.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an end surface of the opening of the first housing is A plurality of positioning posts are formed, and a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the plurality of positioning posts are formed on the inner wall of the side cover, and the plurality of positioning posts on the end face of the opening portion of the first housing are inserted into the plurality of positioning holes of the side cover, respectively, to assemble the side cover to the opening of the first housing.

[0009] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the first connector is attached to the second housing, the plurality of first terminals are in elastic electrical contact with the plurality of second terminals, respectively.

[0010] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of second terminals are respectively held in a plurality of terminal slots in the bottom wall of the second housing so as to be soldered to a circuit board, and are exposed from the bottom wall of the second housing.

[0011] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first terminals includes a pair of resilient clamping arms for clamping the second terminal.

[0012] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first connector modules further includes an elastic clip mounted within the first housing, the elastic clip including a first elastic arm, which elastically presses a first lead wire inserted through a first lead wire insertion hole of the first housing against the first terminal, thereby electrically contacting the first lead wire with the first terminal.

[0013] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic clip includes a second elastic arm, which elastically presses a second lead wire inserted through a second lead wire insertion hole of the first housing against the first terminal, thereby electrically contacting the second lead wire with the first terminal.

[0014] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic clip further includes a U-shaped fixing portion, the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm are respectively connected to both ends of the U-shaped fixing portion, a U-shaped retaining groove is formed on the inner wall of the first housing, and the U-shaped fixing portion is retained in the U-shaped retaining groove.

[0015] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an insertion hole corresponding to the first elastic arm is formed in the side wall of the first housing, so that the first elastic arm can be pressed to a released position in which it is not connected to the first lead wire by a tool inserted into the insertion hole.

[0016] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first connector modules further includes a force arm having one end connected to the second elastic arm and the other end extending from the first housing, and by operating the force arm, the second elastic arm can be moved to a released position in which it does not contact the second lead wire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] In each of the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, multiple separate first connector modules are clamped and locked to the second connector by elastic hooks, allowing multiple lead wires to be simultaneously electrically connected to individual second connectors through the multiple first connector modules, and then electrically connected to a circuit board via the individual second connectors, thereby reducing the cost of connecting the lead wires and improving the efficiency of connecting the lead wires.

[0018] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, which will aid in a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic perspective view showing a connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are assembled together according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are not assembled together, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded schematic view illustrating a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing one first connector module in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The technical solution of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings through examples. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar parts. The following description of the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings is intended to explain the overall inventive concept of the present disclosure, and should not be construed as a limitation on the present disclosure.

[0021] Also, in the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, for simplicity's sake, well-known structures and devices are shown in the drawings.

[0022] A connector assembly according to one overall technical concept of the present disclosure comprises: a first connector including a plurality of first connector modules assembled in parallel and a side cover assembled to an opening of an outermost first connector module, each of the first connector modules including a first housing and first terminals provided in the first housing; and a second connector including a single overall second housing and a plurality of second terminals provided in the second housing and corresponding to the plurality of first terminals. The second connector further includes two elastic hooks fixed to both side walls of the second housing. When the first connector is attached to the second housing, the two elastic hooks are respectively engaged with both sides of the first connector and clamp the plurality of first connector modules and the side cover that are assembled together.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a connector assembly in which a first connector 100 and a second connector 200 are assembled together according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a connector assembly in which the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are not assembled together according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector assembly mainly comprises a first connector 100 and a second connector 200 for mating with the first connector 100.

[0025] 3 is an exploded schematic view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one first connector module 110 in FIG.

[0026] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the first connector 100 includes a plurality of first connector modules 110 assembled in parallel and a side cover 120 assembled to an opening of the outermost first connector module. Each first connector module 110 includes a first housing 111 and first terminals 112 provided within the first housing 111.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the second connector 200 includes one overall second housing 210 and a plurality of second terminals 220 provided within the second housing 210 and corresponding to the plurality of first terminals 112, respectively.

[0028] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the second connector 200 further includes two elastic hooks 201 fixed to both side walls of the second housing 210. When the first connector 100 is attached to the second housing 210, the two elastic hooks 201 are respectively engaged with both sides of the first connector 100 and clamp the plurality of first connector modules 110 and the side cover 120 that are assembled together.

[0029] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, one protrusion 101 is formed on each of the outer wall of the side cover 120 and the outer wall of the first housing 111 of the first connector module 110. Two elastic hooks 201 are intended to engage with the protrusions 101 of the side cover 120 on one side of the first connector 100 and the first connector module 110 on the other side, respectively. This allows the multiple first connector modules 110 and side covers 120 assembled together to be held together and engaged within the second housing 210 of the second connector 200.

[0030] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, each first housing 111 has a closed bottom wall and an opening facing the closed bottom wall, and a plurality of positioning holes (not shown) are formed in either the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the first housing 111 or the end surface of the opening of the first housing 111, and a plurality of positioning posts 111d to be inserted into the plurality of positioning holes are formed in the other, so that the bottom wall of one first housing 111 is assembled to the opening of another adjacent first housing 111. In this way, the bottom wall of one first housing 111 closes the opening of the other adjacent first housing 111.

[0031] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of positioning posts 111d are formed on the end surface of the opening of first housing 111, and a plurality of positioning holes (not shown) corresponding to the plurality of positioning posts 111d are formed on the inner wall of side cover 120. The plurality of positioning posts 111d on the end surface of the opening of first housing 111 are inserted into the plurality of positioning holes of side cover 120, respectively, to assemble side cover 120 to the opening of first housing 111.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, when the first connector 100 is attached to the second housing 210, the multiple first terminals 112 are in elastic electrical contact with the multiple second terminals 220, respectively.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the multiple second terminals 220 are respectively held in multiple terminal slots in the bottom wall of the second housing 210 so as to be soldered to the circuit board 300, and are exposed from the bottom wall of the second housing 210.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, each first terminal 112 includes a pair of elastic clamping arms 1121 for clamping a corresponding one of the second terminals 220 therebetween.

[0035] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, each first connector module 110 further includes a resilient clip 113 mounted within the first housing 111. The resilient clip 113 includes a first resilient arm 113a. The first resilient arm 113 a is for electrically contacting the first lead wire inserted from the first lead wire insertion hole 111a of the first housing 111 with the first terminal 112 by elastically pressing the first lead wire against the first terminal 112.

[0036] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic clip 113 includes a second elastic arm 113b. The second elastic arm 113b elastically presses the second lead wire inserted from the second lead wire insertion hole 111b of the first housing 111 against the first terminal 112, thereby electrically contacting the second lead wire with the first terminal 112.

[0037] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic clip 113 further includes one U-shaped fixing portion 113c. The first elastic arm 113a and the second elastic arm 113b are respectively connected to both ends of the U-shaped fixing portion 113c. A U-shaped holding groove 111e is formed on the inner wall of the first housing 111, and the U-shaped fixing portion 113c of the elastic clip 113 is held in the U-shaped holding groove 111e.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, an insertion hole 111c corresponding to the first elastic arm 113a is formed in the side wall of the first housing 111, so that the first elastic arm 113a can be pressed to a release position where it is not connected to the first lead wire by using a tool (e.g., a screwdriver) inserted into the insertion hole 111c.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, each first connector module 110 further includes a force arm 114 having one end connected to the second elastic arm 113b and the other end extending from the first housing 112, and by operating the force arm 114, the second elastic arm 113b can be moved to a released position where it is not connected to the second lead wire.

[0040] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art can improve them and freely combine the structures described in each embodiment as long as there is no contradiction in structure or principle.

[0041] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limitations on the present disclosure.

[0042] While some embodiments according to the general concept of the present disclosure have been shown and described above, those skilled in the art will understand that changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general concept of the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the claims and their equivalents.

[0043] It should be noted that the word "comprises" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "one" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, the reference numerals of any elements in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. a first connector (100) including a plurality of first connector modules (110) assembled in parallel and a side cover (120) assembled to an opening of one of the outermost first connector modules, each of the first connector modules (110) including a first housing (111) and a first terminal (112) provided in the first housing (111); A connector assembly comprising: a second connector (200) including one overall second housing (210); and a plurality of second terminals (220) provided within the second housing (210) and corresponding to the plurality of first terminals (112), respectively; The second connector (200) further includes two elastic hooks (201) fixed to both side walls of the second housing (210), respectively; A tip, which is a free end of at least one of the two elastic hooks (201), is exposed to the outside of the second housing (210); A connector assembly characterized in that, when the first connector (100) is attached to the second housing (210), the two elastic hooks (201) are respectively engaged on both sides of the first connector (100) and clamp the multiple first connector modules (110) and side cover (120) assembled together.

2. 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein one protrusion (101) is formed on each of the outer wall of the side cover (120) and the outer wall of the first housing (111) of the first connector module (110), and the two elastic hooks (201) are intended to engage with the protrusions (101) of the side cover (120) on one side of the first connector (100) and the first connector module (110) on the other side, respectively.

3. 2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the first housings (111) has a closed bottom wall and an opening facing the closed bottom wall, and a plurality of positioning holes are formed in either the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the first housing (111) or the end surface of the opening of the first housing (111), and a plurality of positioning posts (111d) to be inserted into each of the plurality of positioning holes are formed in the other, thereby assembling the bottom wall of one first housing (111) with the opening of another first housing (111) adjacent to it.

4. A plurality of positioning posts (111d) are formed on the end surface of the opening of the first housing (111), and a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the plurality of positioning posts (111d) are formed on the inner wall of the side cover (120), 4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein a plurality of positioning posts (111d) on the end surface of the opening portion of the first housing (111) are inserted into a plurality of positioning holes in the side cover (120), respectively, to assemble the side cover (120) to the opening of the first housing (111).

5. 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein when the first connector (100) is mounted in the second housing (210), the plurality of first terminals (112) are in elastic electrical contact with the plurality of second terminals (220), respectively.

6. 6. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein the second terminals are respectively held in terminal slots in the bottom wall of the second housing so as to be soldered to the circuit board and are exposed from the bottom wall of the second housing.

7. Each of the first terminals (112) has a clamping member for clamping the second terminal (220).

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, further comprising a pair of resilient clamping arms (1121).

8. Each of the first connector modules (110) further includes a resilient clip (113) mounted within the first housing (111); 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic clip (113) includes a first elastic arm (113a), which elastically presses a first lead wire inserted through a first lead wire insertion hole (111a) of the first housing (111) against the first terminal (112), thereby electrically contacting the first lead wire with the first terminal (112).

9. 9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the elastic clip (113) includes a second elastic arm (113b), which elastically presses a second lead wire inserted from a second lead wire insertion hole (111b) of the first housing (111) against the first terminal (112), thereby electrically contacting the second lead wire with the first terminal (112).

10. The elastic clip (113) further includes one U-shaped fixing portion (113c), and the first elastic arm (113a) and the second elastic arm (113b) are respectively connected to both ends of the U-shaped fixing portion (113c); 10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein a U-shaped retaining groove (111e) is formed on the inner wall of the first housing (111), and the U-shaped fixing portion (113c) is retained within the U-shaped retaining groove (111e).

11. 11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein an insertion hole (111c) corresponding to the first resilient arm (113a) is formed in the side wall of the first housing (111), so that the first resilient arm (113a) can be pressed to a released position in which it does not contact the first lead wire by a tool inserted into the insertion hole (111c).

12. 11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the first connector modules (110) further includes a force arm (114) having one end connected to the second resilient arm (113b) and the other end extending from the first housing (112), and wherein the second resilient arm (113b) can be moved to a released position in which it does not contact the second lead wire by operating the force arm (114).

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