connector

Abstract

To provide a configuration in which there is no need to provide an additional adapter connector, thereby simplifying the structure of a connector product, reducing manufacturing costs, and reducing the size of the connector product. [Solution] The connector includes a housing (3), a plurality of terminal insertion holes, and a pair of vertical slots (302) positioned opposite each other in the horizontal direction of the housing. Each terminal has a pair of elastic portions positioned opposite each other in the horizontal direction. A pair of conductive plates (2) is inserted into each of the pair of vertical slots. The elastic portions of two adjacent terminals are in electrical contact with each other, and one conductive plate of the pair of conductive plates is simultaneously in electrical contact with the elastic portions of multiple terminals in one outermost row, and the other conductive plate of the pair of conductive plates is simultaneously in electrical contact with the elastic portions of multiple terminals in the other outermost row. This electrically connects the multiple terminals of the connector to each other.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN202411170211.X, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on August 23, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of electrical connections, and in particular to connectors. [Background technology]

[0003] In the prior art, to achieve a quick electrical connection between cables, it is generally necessary to provide multiple cable connectors and adapter connectors. Each cable connector includes a housing and a terminal disposed in the housing and crimped to the cable. The adapter connector includes a housing and multiple adapter terminals disposed in the housing. The multiple cable connectors are inserted into the adapter connector, and the terminals of the multiple cable connectors are electrically connected to each other via the multiple adapter terminals. However, the prior art technical solution requires providing two different connectors, which increases costs and increases the size of the product. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention has been made to overcome or mitigate at least one aspect of the above disadvantages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided. The connector includes a housing having a plurality of terminal insertion holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing and a pair of vertical slots positioned opposite each other in the lateral direction of the housing; a plurality of terminals inserted into the plurality of terminal insertion holes, each terminal having a pair of elastic portions positioned opposite each other in the lateral direction; and a pair of conductive plates inserted into the pair of vertical slots, respectively. The plurality of terminals are arranged in rows and columns in the lateral and vertical directions of the housing, and the elastic portions of two adjacent terminals in each row are in electrical contact with each other. One conductive plate of the pair of conductive plates simultaneously electrically contacts the elastic portions of the terminals in one outermost row, and the other conductive plate of the pair of conductive plates simultaneously electrically contacts the elastic portions of the terminals in the other outermost row.

[0006] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal further includes a fixed portion. The fixed portion includes a pair of side plates spaced apart on opposite sides in the laterally opposite direction. The pair of resilient portions are respectively connected at one end to the pair of side plates, and each resilient portion has a contact portion bent into a hook shape located at the other end of the resilient portion. The contact portions of two adjacent terminals in each row are in electrical contact with each other. One of the conductive plates simultaneously electrically contacts the contact portions of multiple terminals in one outermost row, and the other conductive plate simultaneously electrically contacts the contact portions of multiple terminals in the other outermost row.

[0007] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the contact portions have laterally opposed inner and outer sides, and the outer side of the contact portion of one terminal is configured to electrically contact the outer side of the contact portion of another terminal laterally adjacent to the one terminal to establish an electrical connection between the two laterally adjacent terminals.

[0008] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a tongue is formed in each of the terminal insertion holes of the housing, and the tongue is inserted between a pair of elastic portions of the terminals and abuts against the insides of the contact portions of the pair of elastic portions, thereby ensuring electrical contact between the contact portions of two laterally adjacent terminals.

[0009] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spacing between the contact portions of the pair of elastic portions is smaller than the lateral width of the tongue, whereby the contact portions of the pair of elastic portions are elastically deformed and generate a predetermined elastic contact force due to the action of the tongue inserted between the contact portions, ensuring that the contact portion of one terminal is in reliable electrical contact with the contact portion of another terminal laterally adjacent to the one terminal.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the resilient portions are cantilevered, with the ends of the resilient portions bending inward between the pair of resilient portions to form hook-shaped contact portions.

[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fixed part further includes a base. The base includes a bottom wall extending in the longitudinal direction and a pair of side walls located on both lateral sides of the bottom wall. The pair of side panels are respectively connected to upper sides of the pair of side walls of the base and extend upward in the height direction. The pair of elastic parts are respectively connected to front sides of the pair of side panels and suspended above the base.

[0012] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a primary locking spring tab is formed on the bottom wall of the fixing portion and is configured to engage with a primary locking slot in the terminal insertion hole of the housing to lock the terminal in the terminal insertion hole.

[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, secondary locking snap-fit ​​members and secondary locking slots are formed on the top and bottom of the housing, respectively. The secondary locking snap-fit ​​members are movable between a locked position in which the secondary locking snap-fit ​​members engage the secondary locking slots and an unlocked position in which the secondary locking snap-fit ​​members disengage from the secondary locking slots. When the secondary locking snap-fit ​​members are moved to the locked position, they abut against rear sides of the side plates of the terminals, locking the terminals in the terminal insertion holes of the housing.

[0014] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal further includes a crimping portion configured to be crimped onto the cable to establish an electrical connection with the cable, the crimping portion being connected to the rear end of the base and extending longitudinally rearward.

[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the crimp portion of the terminal includes a first crimp portion configured to be crimped onto a conductor of a cable and a second crimp portion configured to be crimped onto an outer sheath layer of the cable, the first crimp portion being connected between the rear end of the base and the second crimp portion.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector further includes a plurality of cables electrically connected to the plurality of terminals respectively and extending from the rear end of the housing.

[0017] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminals are one-piece stamped pieces and the housing is a one-piece overmolded piece.

[0018] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector includes four terminals arranged in two rows and two columns across and up the length of the housing.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, two vertically adjacent terminals are arranged back to back in the housing so that the bottom walls of the two vertically adjacent terminals face each other.

[0020] In the above exemplary embodiment of the present invention, two laterally adjacent terminals of the connector are in direct electrical contact with each other, and the two outermost terminals are in electrical contact with the conductive plates, respectively, so that the multiple terminals of the connector are electrically connected to each other. Therefore, in the present invention, there is no need to provide an additional adapter connector, which simplifies the structure of the connector product, reduces the manufacturing cost, and reduces the size of the connector product.

[0021] These and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an illustrative exploded view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of terminals and a pair of conductive plates of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0024] In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are diagrammatically shown to simplify the drawings.

[0025] According to a general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector. The connector includes a housing having a plurality of terminal insertion holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing and a pair of vertical slots positioned opposite each other in the lateral direction of the housing; a plurality of terminals inserted into the plurality of terminal insertion holes, each terminal having a pair of elastic portions positioned opposite each other in the lateral direction; and a pair of conductive plates inserted into the pair of vertical slots, respectively. The plurality of terminals are arranged in rows and columns in the lateral and vertical directions of the housing, and the elastic portions of two adjacent terminals in each row are in electrical contact with each other. One of the pair of conductive plates simultaneously electrically contacts the elastic portions of the terminals in one outermost row, and the other of the pair of conductive plates simultaneously electrically contacts the elastic portions of the terminals in the other outermost row.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic exploded view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a plurality of terminals and a pair of conductive plates of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 , a connector is disclosed in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connector includes a housing 3, a plurality of terminals 1, and a pair of conductive plates 2. The housing 3 is formed with a plurality of terminal insertion holes 301 extending in the longitudinal direction Y of the housing 3, and a pair of vertical slots 302 located opposite each other in the lateral direction X of the housing 3. The plurality of terminals 1 are inserted into the plurality of terminal insertion holes 301, respectively, and each of the terminals 1 has a pair of elastic portions 13 located opposite each other in the lateral direction. The pair of conductive plates 2 are inserted into the pair of vertical slots 302, respectively. The plurality of terminals 1 are arranged in rows and columns in the lateral direction X and height direction Z of the housing 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the row direction is the lateral direction X of the housing 3, and the column direction is the height direction Z of the housing 3.

[0028] 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic portions 13 of two adjacent terminals 1 of each row of terminals 1 are in electrical contact with each other. One of a pair of conductive plates 2 is in electrical contact with the elastic portions 13 of multiple terminals 1 in one outermost row at the same time, and the other of the pair of conductive plates 2 is in electrical contact with the elastic portions 13 of multiple terminals 1 in the other outermost row at the same time.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 , in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal 1 further includes a fixed portion 10. The fixed portion 10 includes a pair of side plates 12 spaced apart on opposite sides in the horizontal direction X. A pair of elastic portions 13 are connected at one end to the pair of side plates 12, respectively, and each of the elastic portions 13 has a contact portion 130 located at the other end and bent into a hook shape. The contact portions 130 of two adjacent terminals 1 in each row are in electrical contact with each other. One of the conductive plates 2 is in electrical contact with the contact portions 130 of multiple terminals 1 in one outermost row at the same time, and the other conductive plate 2 is in electrical contact with the contact portions 130 of multiple terminals 1 in the other outermost row at the same time.

[0030] 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the contact portion 130 has an inner side 13a and an outer side 13b that are opposite to each other in the lateral direction X. The outer side 13b of the contact portion 130 of one terminal 1 is configured to be in electrical contact with the outer side 13b of the contact portion 130 of another terminal 1 that is laterally adjacent to the one terminal 1, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the two laterally adjacent terminals 1.

[0031] 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, a tongue 30 is formed in each of the terminal insertion holes 301 of the housing 3. The tongue 30 is inserted between the pair of elastic portions 13 of the terminal 1 and abuts against the inner sides 13a of the contact portions 130 of the pair of elastic portions 13, thereby ensuring electrical contact between the contact portions 130 of two laterally adjacent terminals 1.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the distance between the contact portions 130 of a pair of elastic portions 13 is smaller than the width of the tongue 30 in the horizontal direction X, so that the contact portions 130 of the pair of elastic portions 13 elastically deform and generate a predetermined elastic contact force due to the action of the tongue 30 inserted between the contact portions 130, ensuring that the contact portion 130 of one terminal 1 is in reliable electrical contact with the contact portion 130 of another terminal 1 horizontally adjacent to the one terminal 1.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic portion 13 is cantilever-shaped, and the end of the elastic portion 13 bends inward between a pair of elastic portions 13 to form a hook-shaped contact portion 130.

[0034] 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the fixed part 10 further includes a base 11. The base 11 includes a bottom wall 11a extending in the longitudinal direction Y and a pair of side walls 11b located on both sides of the bottom wall 11a in the lateral direction X. The pair of side plates 12 are respectively connected to the upper sides of the pair of side walls 11b of the base 11 and extend upward in the height direction Z. The pair of elastic parts 13 are respectively connected to the front sides of the pair of side plates 12 and are suspended above the base 11.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, a primary locking spring tab 15 is formed on the bottom wall 11a of the fixing portion 10 and is configured to engage with a primary locking slot 33 of the terminal insertion hole 301 of the housing 3 to lock the terminal 1 in the terminal insertion hole 301.

[0036] 1 to 8 , in the illustrated embodiment, secondary locking snap-fit ​​members 31 and secondary locking slots 32 are formed on the top and bottom of housing 3, respectively. Secondary locking snap-fit ​​members 31 are movable between a locked position in which they engage with secondary locking slots 32 and a released position in which they disengage from secondary locking slots 32. When secondary locking snap-fit ​​members 31 are moved to the locked position, secondary locking snap-fit ​​members 31 abut against the rear side of side plate 12 of terminal 1, locking terminal 1 in terminal insertion hole 301 of housing 3.

[0037] 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal 1 further includes a crimping portion 14 configured to be crimped onto a cable (not shown) to establish an electrical connection with the cable. The crimping portion 14 is connected to the rear end of the base 11 and extends rearward in the longitudinal direction Y.

[0038] 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the crimping portion 14 of the terminal 1 includes a first crimping portion 14a and a second crimping portion 14b. The first crimping portion 14a is configured to be crimped onto the conductor of a cable. The second crimping portion 14b is configured to be crimped onto the outer sheath layer of the cable. The first crimping portion 14a is connected between the rear end of the base 11 and the second crimping portion 14b.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further includes a plurality of cables that are electrically connected to the plurality of terminals 1 respectively and that are led out from the rear end of the housing 3.

[0040] As shown in Figures 1-8, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal 1 is a one-piece stamped part and the housing 3 is a one-piece overmolded part.

[0041] 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector has four terminals 1 arranged in two rows and two columns in the lateral direction X and height direction Z of the housing 3. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the connector may have six terminals 1 arranged in two rows and three columns.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, in the illustrated embodiment, two terminals 1 adjacent to each other in the height direction Z are arranged back to back in the housing 3 so that the bottom walls 11a of the two terminals 1 adjacent to each other in the height direction Z face each other.

[0043] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. For example, those skilled in the art can make many modifications to the above embodiments without any contradiction in structure or principle, and can freely combine various features described in different embodiments with each other.

[0044] While several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the following claims and their equivalents.

[0045] As used herein, elements described in the singular and preceded by the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding a plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is expressly stated. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of the invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Furthermore, unless expressly stated otherwise, embodiments "comprising" or "having" an element or elements having a particular characteristic may include additional such elements that do not have that characteristic.

Claims

1. A connector, - a housing (3) having a plurality of terminal insertion holes (301) extending in a longitudinal direction (Y) of the housing (3) and a pair of vertical slots (302) positioned opposite each other in a transverse direction (X) of the housing (3); - a plurality of terminals (1) inserted into the plurality of terminal insertion holes (301), each of the terminals (1) having a pair of elastic portions (13) positioned opposite each other in the lateral direction; - a pair of conductive plates (2) inserted into the pair of vertical slots (302), respectively; Equipped with The plurality of terminals (1) are arranged in rows and columns in the horizontal direction (X) and the height direction (Z) of the housing (3), and elastic portions (13) of two adjacent terminals (1) of the terminals (1) in each row are in electrical contact with each other; one of the pair of conductive plates (2) is in electrical contact with the elastic portions (13) of the plurality of terminals (1) in one outermost row at the same time, and the other of the pair of conductive plates (2) is in electrical contact with the elastic portions (13) of the plurality of terminals (1) in the other outermost row at the same time; The connector further comprises a crimping portion (14) configured to be crimped onto a cable to establish an electrical connection with the cable, wherein each of the terminals (1) further comprises a crimping portion (14) configured to be crimped onto a cable to establish an electrical connection with the cable.

2. The terminal (1) further includes a fixing portion (10) including a pair of side plates (12) spaced apart on opposite sides in the lateral direction (X), The pair of elastic portions (13) are connected at one end to the pair of side plates (12), and each of the elastic portions (13) has a contact portion (130) located at the other end of each of the elastic portions (13) and bent into a hook shape, 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the contact portions (130) of two adjacent terminals (1) of each row of terminals (1) are in electrical contact with each other, one of the conductive plates (2) is in electrical contact with the contact portions (130) of a plurality of terminals (1) in one outermost row at the same time, and the other conductive plate (2) is in electrical contact with the contact portions (130) of a plurality of terminals (1) in the other outermost row at the same time.

3. 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the contact portions (130) have inner and outer sides (13a, 13b) opposite to each other in the lateral direction (X), and the outer side (13b) of the contact portion (130) of one terminal (1) is configured to be in electrical contact with the outer side (13b) of the contact portion (130) of another terminal (1) laterally adjacent to the one terminal (1) to establish an electrical connection between the two laterally adjacent terminals (1).

4. 4. The connector of claim 3, wherein a tongue (30) is formed in each of the terminal insertion holes (301) of the housing (3), is inserted between the pair of elastic portions (13) of the terminal (1), and abuts against the inner sides (13a) of the contact portions (130) of the pair of elastic portions (13), thereby ensuring electrical contact between the contact portions (130) of the two laterally adjacent terminals (1).

5. 5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the spacing between the contact portions (130) of the pair of elastic portions (13) is smaller than the width of the tongue (30) in the lateral direction (X), thereby causing the contact portions (130) of the pair of elastic portions (13) to elastically deform and generate a predetermined elastic contact force by the action of the tongue (30) inserted between the contact portions (130), thereby ensuring reliable electrical contact of the contact portion (130) of one terminal (1) with the contact portion (130) of another terminal (1) laterally adjacent to the one terminal (1).

6. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the elastic portion (13) is cantilever-shaped, and an end of the elastic portion (13) bends inward between the pair of elastic portions (13) to form a hook-shaped contact portion (130).

7. The fixing portion (10) further includes a base (11), and the base (11) includes a bottom wall (11a) extending in the longitudinal direction (Y) and a pair of side walls (11b) located on both sides of the bottom wall (11a) in the lateral direction (X), The connector of claim 2, wherein the pair of side plates (12) are respectively connected to the upper sides of the pair of side walls (11b) of the base (11) and extend upward in the height direction (Z), and the pair of elastic portions (13) are respectively connected to the front sides of the pair of side plates (12) and are suspended above the base (11).

8. 8. The connector of claim 7, wherein a primary locking spring tab (15) is formed on the bottom wall (11a) of the fixing portion (10) and is configured to engage with a primary locking slot (33) of the terminal insertion hole (301) of the housing (3) to lock the terminal (1) in the terminal insertion hole (301).

9. a secondary locking snap-fit ​​member (31) and a secondary locking slot (32) are formed on the top and bottom of the housing (3), respectively, and the secondary locking snap-fit ​​member (31) is movable between a locked position in which the secondary locking snap-fit ​​member engages with the secondary locking slot (32) and a released position in which the secondary locking snap-fit ​​member disengages from the secondary locking slot (32); 8. The connector of claim 7, wherein when the secondary locking snap-fit ​​member (31) is moved to the locked position, the secondary locking snap-fit ​​member (31) abuts against a rear side of the side plate (12) of the terminal (1) to lock the terminal (1) in the terminal insertion hole (301) of the housing (3).

10. The connector according to claim 7, wherein the crimping portion (14) is connected to a rear end of the base (11) and extends rearward in the longitudinal direction (Y).

11. The crimping portion (14) of the terminal (1) is a first crimping portion (14a) configured to be crimped onto a conductor of the cable; a second crimping portion (14b) configured to be crimped onto the outer sheath layer of the cable; Including, 11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the first crimp portion (14a) is connected between the rear end of the base (11) and the second crimp portion (14b).

12. 2. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cables electrically connected to the plurality of terminals (1), respectively, and extending from the rear end of the housing (3).

13. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the terminals (1) are one-piece stamped parts and the housing (3) is one-piece overmolded part.

14. 14. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises four terminals (1) arranged in two rows and two columns in the lateral direction (X) and the height direction (Z) of the housing (3).

15. 15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the two terminals (1) adjacent to each other in the height direction (Z) are arranged back to back in the housing (3) so that the bottom walls (11a) of the two terminals (1) adjacent to each other in the height direction (Z) face each other.

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