Connector housings, connectors, and connector assemblies

Abstract

Disclosed are a connector and connector assembly that make the unlocking operation of the elastic buckle extremely easy. [Solution] The connector housing comprises an outer peripheral wall (10) and a release part connected to an elastic buckle (11). When the connector housing (1) is not fitted into the mating housing, the elastic buckle (11) is in a locked position that engages with the mounting panel (3) to lock the connector housing (1) to the mounting panel (3). When the connector housing (1) is fitted into the mating housing, the release part engages with the mating release part of the mating housing, and the elastic buckle (11) moves from the locked position to the released position that detaches from the mounting panel (3) by the drive of the mating release part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN202411614219.0, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on November 12, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a connector housing, a connector including the connector housing, and a connector assembly including the connector.

Background Art

[0003] In the prior art, a door connector is usually mounted on a door sheet metal. The door connector includes a housing and terminals arranged in the housing. An elastic buckle for locking the housing to the door sheet metal is formed on the housing. When it is necessary to remove the door connector from the door sheet metal, a dedicated unlocking tool must be used to drive the elastic buckle of the door connector to an unlocking position where it disengages from the door sheet metal. Due to the formation of a plurality of elastic buckles on the housing of the door connector, it is very difficult and time - consuming to unlock the plurality of elastic buckles simultaneously.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention is made to overcome or alleviate at least one aspect of the above - mentioned drawbacks.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, a connector housing is provided. The connector housing comprises an outer peripheral wall on which an elastic buckle is formed, and a release portion connected to the elastic buckle. When the connector housing is not fitted to the mating housing, the elastic buckle is in a locked position that engages with the mounting panel to lock the connector housing to the mounting panel. When the connector housing is fitted to the mating housing, the release portion engages with the mating release portion of the mating housing, and the elastic buckle moves from the locked position to an unlocked position that detaches from the mounting panel by the drive of the mating release portion.

[0006] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector housing is configured to fit into a mating housing along the height direction of the connector housing, the elastic buckle is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position along the lateral direction of the connector housing, an inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction is formed on the unlocked portion, and the inclined surface of the unlocked portion is used to cooperate with the mating inclined surface of the mating unlocked portion to convert the movement of the mating unlocked portion along the height direction into movement of the elastic buckle along the lateral direction.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the elastic buckle includes a frame which is shaped like a door frame having an opening, a cantilever which is connected to and suspended from the frame, and a projection formed on the cantilever. The connector housing is configured to be fitted into a mounting opening of a mounting panel, and the projection is configured to abut against the edge of the mounting opening of the mounting panel along the height direction to lock the connector housing to the mounting panel.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the frame includes a pair of side supports, the lower ends of which are connected to an outer perimeter wall, and an upper beam connected between the upper ends of the pair of side supports. The cantilever extends along the height direction, the upper end of which is connected to the upper beam, a projection is formed on the outside of the lower end of the cantilever, and an unlocking portion is connected on the inside of the lower end of the cantilever.

[0009] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the unlocking portion has two lugs, each located on either side in the width direction of the cantilever, which are used to engage with two tongues of the mating housing, and inclined surfaces are formed on each of the two lugs, which are used to cooperate with the mating inclined surfaces of the two tongues, respectively.

[0010] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector housing further comprises a flange portion formed on the outside of the outer peripheral wall. When the connector housing is fitted into the mounting opening of the mounting panel, the edge of the mounting opening of the mounting panel is clamped between the flange portion and the projection of the elastic buckle, and thus the connector housing is locked to the mounting panel.

[0011] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the connector housing mounted on the mounting panel is engaged with the mating housing, the projection of the elastic buckle moves to an unlocked position that is detached from the edge of the mounting opening of the mounting panel, allowing the connector housing to be withdrawn from the mounting opening of the mounting panel.

[0012] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of elastic buckles and a plurality of unlocking parts connected to each of the plurality of elastic buckles are formed on the outer circumferential wall of the connector housing, and the plurality of elastic buckles are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the connector housing.

[0013] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the outer circumferential wall of the connector housing includes a pair of opposing side walls in the lateral direction of the connector housing, an elastic buckle is formed on the side wall of the connector housing, a protruding column is formed on the inside of the side wall of the connector housing along the lateral direction, the protruding column is used to slidably fit into a sliding slot of a drive component inserted into the mating housing, so that the mating housing can be moved from a pre-mounted position to a final mounted position by the drive of the drive component.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided. The connector comprises the above-described connector housing and terminals mounted on the connector housing. The terminals are used to mate with mating terminals mounted on the mating housing of a mating connector.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly comprises the above-described connector and a mating connector. The mating connector includes a mating housing inserted into the connector housing along the height direction of the connector housing, and mating terminals installed in the mating housing and mating to terminals of the connector housing. A mating release portion is formed in the peripheral wall of the mating housing, and the mating release portion engages with a release portion of the connector housing to push an elastic buckle of the connector housing from a locked position to an unlocked position.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a mating inclined surface is formed on the mating unlocking portion, and the mating inclined surface cooperates with the inclined surface of the unlocking portion to convert the movement of the mating unlocking portion in the height direction into the movement of the elastic buckle in the lateral direction of the connector housing.

[0017] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a receiving slot corresponding to an elastic buckle is formed in the peripheral wall of the mating housing, and the elastic buckle is accommodated in the receiving slot in the peripheral wall of the mating housing.

[0018] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mating release portion includes two tongues, each located on either side in the width direction of the receiving slot, the two tongues engaging with two lugs of the release portion, each having a mating inclined surface, the mating inclined surfaces of the two tongues contacting the inclined surfaces of the two lugs, respectively.

[0019] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of receiving slots and a plurality of mating release portions are formed in the peripheral wall of the mating housing, a plurality of elastic buckles of the connector housing are respectively received in the plurality of receiving slots, and the plurality of mating release portions engage with the plurality of release portions of the connector housing, respectively.

[0020] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral wall of the mating housing includes a pair of side walls that face each other laterally, and the receiving slot and mating unlock portion are formed in the side walls of the mating housing.

[0021] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly further comprises a drive component. The drive component includes a pair of push rod portions, each having a sliding slot formed therein, and an end plate portion connected between the outer ends of the pair of push rod portions. A pair of slots extending along the longitudinal direction of the mating housing are formed in a pair of side walls of the mating housing, and the pair of push rod portions of the drive component are inserted into the slots in the pair of side walls of the mating housing, respectively. Slot holes connected to the slots are formed in the side walls of the mating housing, and a protruding column is inserted through the slot hole into the sliding slot and slidably fitted into the sliding slot, so that the mating connector can be moved along the height direction from a pre-mounted position to a final mounted position by the drive of the drive component.

[0022] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a drive component is movably inserted into a slot in a mating housing and can move longitudinally with respect to the mating housing between a pre-locked position and a final locked position, and when the drive component moves from the pre-locked position to the final locked position, the mating connector moves from the pre-mounted position to the final mounted position by the drive of the drive component.

[0023] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the mating connector is in the pre-mounting position, the mating terminals do not contact the terminals of the connector, and the mating release portion is separated from the release portion. When the mating connector is in the final mounting position, the mating terminals mate with the terminals of the connector, and the mating release portion engages with the release portion.

[0024] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sliding slot extends for a predetermined length in a direction inclined with respect to the height and longitudinal direction of the mating housing, so that the movement of the drive component along the longitudinal direction can be converted into the movement of the mating connector along the height direction.

[0025] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an elastic lock buckle is formed on the push rod portion of the drive component, and a pre-lock slot and a final lock slot are formed in the mating housing, the pre-lock slot and the final lock slot are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the mating housing, and when the drive component is in the pre-lock position, the elastic lock buckle engages with the pre-lock slot to hold the drive component in the pre-lock position, and when the drive component is in the final lock position, the elastic lock buckle engages with the final lock slot to hold the drive component in the final lock position.

[0026] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sliding slot of the push rod portion has an inlet located at one end, allowing the protruding column of the connector housing to enter the sliding slot through the inlet. When the driving component is in the pre-lock position and the mating housing is in the pre-mounting position, the protruding column of the connector housing is located at the inlet of the sliding slot of the push rod portion. When the driving component is in the final lock position and the mating housing is in the final mounting position, the protruding column of the connector housing is located at the other end of the sliding slot of the push rod portion.

[0027] In the above exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, by fitting the connector housing into the mating housing of the mating connector, the elastic buckle of the connector housing can be pushed to the unlocking position where it disengages from the mounting panel without the need for a dedicated unlocking tool, and the unlocking operation of the elastic buckle becomes very simple.

[0028] By describing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail while referring to the accompanying drawings, the above and other features of the present invention will become clearer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1] It is an exploded view of the connector and the mounting panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an assembled view of the connector and the mounting panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view of the connector and the mounting panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view of the mating housing and the driving component of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where the driving component is in the pre-lock position. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view of the driving component of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of the mating housing of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a top-down cross-sectional view of the mating housing of a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view from below of the mating housing of a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which the connector and the mating connector are in the pre-mounting position and the drive component is in the pre-locking position. [Figure 10] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which the connector and the mating connector are in the pre-mounting position and the drive unit is in the pre-locking position. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which the connector and the mating connector are in the pre-mounting position and the drive unit is in the pre-locking position. [Figure 11A] Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the connector and mating connector shown in the diagram. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where the connector and mating connector are in their final mounting position and the drive component is in its final locked position. [Figure 13] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where the connector and mating connector are in their final mounting positions and the drive components are in their final locked positions. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where the connector and the mating connector are in their final mounting position and the drive component is in its final locked position. [Figure 14A] Figure 14 is a magnified view of the connector and mating connector shown in the diagram. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. However, the present disclosure can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so as to make the present disclosure thorough and complete and so as to fully convey the concepts of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0031] The following detailed description includes numerous specific details for illustrative purposes to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments can be carried out without these specific details. In other examples, well-known structures and apparatus are shown schematically for the sake of simplifying the drawings.

[0032] According to the general concept of the present invention, a connector housing is provided. The connector housing comprises an outer circumferential wall on which an elastic buckle is formed, and a release portion connected to the elastic buckle. When the connector housing is not fitted into the mating housing, the elastic buckle is in a locked position that engages with the mounting panel to lock the connector housing to the mounting panel. When the connector housing is fitted into the mating housing, the release portion engages with the mating release portion of the mating housing, and the elastic buckle moves from the locked position to an unlocked position that disengages from the mounting panel, driven by the mating release portion.

[0033] According to another general concept of the present invention, a connector is provided. The connector comprises the above-described connector housing and terminals mounted on the connector housing. The terminals are used to mate with mating terminals mounted on the mating housing of a mating connector.

[0034] According to another general concept of the present invention, a connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly comprises the above-described connector and a mating connector. The mating connector includes a mating housing inserted into the connector housing along the height direction of the connector housing, and mating terminals mounted on the mating housing and mating to terminals of the connector housing. A mating release portion is formed in the peripheral wall of the mating housing, and the mating release portion engages with a release portion of the connector housing to push an elastic buckle of the connector housing from a locked position to an unlocked position.

[0035] Figure 1 shows an exploded view illustrating a connector and mounting panel 3 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows an assembled view illustrating a connector and mounting panel 3 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector and mounting panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows an explanatory perspective view of the mating housing 2 and drive component 4 of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the drive component 4 in the pre-lock position. Figure 5 shows an explanatory perspective view of the drive component 4 of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 shows an explanatory perspective view of the mating housing 2 of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 shows a top-down cross-sectional view of the mating housing 2 of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view from below of the mating housing 2 of the mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 shows an explanatory perspective view of the connector and mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the connector and mating connector in the pre-mounting position and the drive component 4 in the pre-locking position. Figure 10 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector and mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the connector and mating connector in the pre-mounting position and the drive component 4 in the pre-locking position. Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector and mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the connector and mating connector in the pre-mounting position and the drive component 4 in the pre-locking position. Figure 11A shows an explanatory enlarged section of the connector and mating connector shown in Figure 11. Figure 12 shows an explanatory perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the connector and mating connector in their final mounting positions and the drive component 4 in its final locked position. Figure 13 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the connector and mating connector in their final mounting positions and the drive component 4 in its final locked position. Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of a connector and a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the connector and mating connector in their final mounting positions and the drive component 4 in its final locked position. Figure 14A shows an explanatory close-up of the connector and mating connector shown in Figure 14.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, a connector housing 1 is disclosed in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connector housing 1 comprises an outer peripheral wall 10 and a release portion 14. An elastic buckle 11 is formed on the outer peripheral wall 10. The release portion 14 is connected to the elastic buckle 11. When the connector housing 1 is not fitted into the mating housing 2, the elastic buckle 11 is in a locked position, engaging with the mounting panel 3 to lock the connector housing 1 to the mounting panel 3. When the connector housing 1 is fitted into the mating housing 2, the release portion 14 engages with the mating release portion 24 of the mating housing 2, and the elastic buckle 11 moves from the locked position to an unlocked position, disengaged from the mounting panel 3, driven by the mating release portion 24.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector housing 1 is configured to fit into the mating housing 2 along its height direction Z, and the elastic buckle 11 is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position along the lateral direction X of the connector housing 1. An inclined surface 14a, tilted with respect to the height direction Z, is formed on the unlocking portion 14. The inclined surface 14a of the unlocking portion 14 is used to cooperate with the mating inclined surface 24a of the mating unlocking portion 24 to convert the movement of the mating unlocking portion 24 in the height direction Z into the movement of the elastic buckle 11 in the lateral direction X.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic buckle 11 includes a frame 111, a cantilever 112, and a projection 113. The frame 111 is shaped like a door frame with an opening. The cantilever 112 is connected to and suspended from the frame 111. The projection 113 is formed on the cantilever 112. The connector housing 1 is configured to be fitted into the mounting opening 30 of the mounting panel 3, and the projection 113 is configured to be pressed against the edge of the mounting opening 30 of the mounting panel 3 along the height direction Z, thereby locking the connector housing 1 to the mounting panel 3.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the frame 111 includes a pair of side supports 11a and an upper beam 11b. The lower ends of the pair of side supports 11a are connected to the outer perimeter wall 10. The upper beam 11b is connected between the upper ends of the pair of side supports 11a. The cantilever 112 extends along the height direction Z, and its upper end is connected to the upper beam 11b. The projection 113 is formed on the outside of the lower end of the cantilever 112, and the unlocking portion 14 is connected to the inside of the lower end of the cantilever 112.

[0040] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the unlocking portion 14 has two lugs 140 located on either side of the cantilever arm 112 in the width direction. The two lugs 140 are used to engage with the two tongues 240 of the mating housing 2, respectively. An inclined surface 14a is formed on each of the two lugs 140, and the inclined surfaces 14a of the two lugs 140 are used to cooperate with the mating inclined surfaces 24a of the two tongues 240, respectively.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector housing 1 further includes a flange portion 12 formed on the outside of the outer peripheral wall 10. When the connector housing 1 is mounted in the mounting opening 30 of the mounting panel 3, the edge of the mounting opening 30 of the mounting panel 3 is clamped between the flange portion 12 and the protruding portion 113 of the elastic buckle 11, and thus the connector housing 1 is locked to the mounting panel 3.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, when the connector housing 1 mounted on the mounting panel 3 is fitted into the mating housing 2, the protruding portion 113 of the elastic buckle 11 moves to an unlocked position that detaches from the edge of the mounting opening 30 of the mounting panel 3, making it possible to pull the connector housing 1 out of the mounting opening 30 of the mounting panel 3.

[0043] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of elastic buckles 11 and a plurality of unlocking parts 14 connected to the plurality of elastic buckles 11 are formed on the outer peripheral wall 10 of the connector housing 1, and the plurality of elastic buckles 11 are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the connector housing 1.

[0044] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer peripheral wall 10 of the connector housing 1 includes a pair of opposing side walls 10a in the lateral direction X of the connector housing 1, and the elastic buckle 11 is formed on the side walls 10a of the connector housing 1. A protruding column 13 is formed on the inside of the side walls 10a of the connector housing 1 along the lateral direction X. The protruding column 13 is used to slidably fit into a sliding slot 40 of a drive component 4 that is inserted into a mating housing 2, so that the mating housing 2 can be moved from a pre-installation position to a final installed position by the drive of the drive component 4.

[0045] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, a connector is also disclosed in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connector comprises a connector housing 1 and terminals (not shown). The terminals are mounted on the connector housing 1. The terminals are used to mate with mating terminals (not shown) mounted on the mating housing 2 of a mating connector.

[0046] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, a connector assembly is also disclosed in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly comprises the above-described connector and a mating connector. The mating connector includes a mating housing 2 and mating terminals. The mating housing 2 is inserted into the connector housing 1 along the height direction Z of the connector housing 1. The mating terminals are installed in the mating housing 2 and mat with the terminals of the connector housing 1. A mating release portion 24 is formed in the peripheral wall 20 of the mating housing 2, and the mating release portion 24 engages with the release portion 14 of the connector housing 1 to push the elastic buckle 11 of the connector housing 1 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0047] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the mating inclined surface 24a is formed on the mating unlocking portion 24, and the mating inclined surface 24a cooperates with the inclined surface 14a of the unlocking portion 14 to convert the movement of the mating unlocking portion 24 in the height direction Z into the movement of the elastic buckle 11 in the lateral direction X of the connector housing 1.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, a receiving slot 21 corresponding to the elastic buckle 11 is formed in the peripheral wall 20 of the mating housing 2, and the elastic buckle 11 is housed in the receiving slot 21 of the peripheral wall 20 of the mating housing 2.

[0049] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the mating release portion 24 includes two tongues 240 located on both sides in the width direction of the receiving slot 21, and the two tongues 240 engage with two lugs 140 of the release portion 14, respectively. The two tongues 240 have mating inclined surfaces 24a, and the mating inclined surfaces 24a abut against the inclined surfaces 14a of the two lugs 140, respectively.

[0050] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of receiving slots 21 and a plurality of mating side unlocking parts 24 are formed in the peripheral wall 20 of the mating housing 2. A plurality of elastic buckles 11 of the connector housing 1 are each housed in the plurality of receiving slots 21, and the plurality of mating side unlocking parts 24 engage with the plurality of unlocking parts 14 of the connector housing 1, respectively.

[0051] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral wall 20 of the mating housing 2 includes a pair of side walls 20 facing each other in the lateral direction X of the mating housing 2, and the receiving slot 21 and the mating lock release portion 24 are formed in the side walls 20 of the mating housing 2.

[0052] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector assembly further comprises a drive component 4. The drive component 4 includes a pair of push rod portions 41 and an end plate portion 42. Sliding slots 40 are formed in each of the pair of push rod portions 41. The end plate portion 42 is connected between the outer ends of the pair of push rod portions 41. A pair of slots 201 extending along the longitudinal direction Y (vertical direction) of the mating housing 2 are formed in each of the pair of side walls 20a of the mating housing 2, and the pair of push rod portions 41 of the drive component 4 are inserted into the slots 201 of the pair of side walls 20a of the mating housing 2. Slot holes 202 connected to the slots 201 are formed in the side walls 20a of the mating housing 2. The protruding column 13 is inserted into the sliding slot 40 through the slot hole 202 and slides along the sliding slot 40, so that the mating connector can be moved from the pre-mounting position to the final mounting position along the height direction Z by the drive of the drive component 4.

[0053] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the drive component 4 is movably inserted into a slot 201 of the mating housing 2 and can move along the longitudinal direction Y relative to the mating housing 2 between a pre-lock position and a final locked position. When the drive component 4 moves from the pre-lock position to the final locked position, the mating connector moves from the pre-mount position to the final mounted position by the drive of the drive component 4.

[0054] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, when the mating connector is in the pre-installation position, the mating terminals do not contact the terminals of the connector, and the mating release portion 24 is separated from the release portion 14. When the mating connector is in the final installation position, the mating terminals mate with the terminals of the connector, and the mating release portion 24 engages with the release portion 14.

[0055] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the sliding slot 40 extends for a predetermined length in a direction inclined with respect to the height Z and longitudinal Y of the mating housing 2, so that the movement of the drive component 4 along the longitudinal Y direction can be converted into the movement of the mating connector along the height Z direction.

[0056] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, an elastic lock buckle 43 is formed on the push rod portion 41 of the drive component 4, and a pre-lock slot 23a and a final lock slot 23b are formed on the mating housing 2, with the pre-lock slot 23a and the final lock slot 23b being separated in the longitudinal direction Y of the mating housing 2. When the drive component 4 is in the pre-lock position, the elastic lock buckle 43 engages with the pre-lock slot 23a to hold the drive component 4 in the pre-lock position. When the drive component 4 is in the final lock position, the elastic lock buckle 43 engages with the final lock slot 3b to hold the drive component 4 in the final lock position.

[0057] As shown in Figures 1 to 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the sliding slot 40 of the push rod portion 41 has an entrance 401 located at one end, allowing the protruding column 13 of the connector housing 1 to enter the sliding slot 40 through the entrance 401. When the drive component 4 is in the pre-lock position and the mating housing 2 is in the pre-mount position, the protruding column 13 of the connector housing 1 is located at the entrance 401 of the sliding slot 40 of the push rod portion 41. When the drive component 4 is in the final locked position and the mating housing 2 is in the final mounted position, the protruding column 13 of the connector housing 1 is located at the other end of the sliding slot 40 of the push rod portion 41.

[0058] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments described above are illustrative and not limiting. For example, those skilled in the art can make many modifications to the embodiments described above without structural or principle contradictions, and can freely combine the various features described in different embodiments.

[0059] While several exemplary embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications or changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this disclosure. The scope of this disclosure is defined in the claims and its equivalents.

[0060] When used herein, elements described in the singular form and preceded by the words "a" or "an" should be understood not to exclude the plural forms of such elements or steps unless it is explicitly stated that such exclusion is excluded. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be construed as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that likewise incorporate the described features. Moreover, unless it is expressly stated otherwise, embodiments that “compile” or “have” one or more elements having a particular characteristic may include additional such elements that do not possess that characteristic.

Claims

1. A connector housing, An outer peripheral wall (10) on which an elastic buckle (11) is formed, The release part (14) connected to the elastic buckle (11) and Equipped with, When the connector housing (1) is not fitted into the mating housing (2), the elastic buckle (11) is in a locked position that engages with the mounting panel (3) and locks the connector housing (1) to the mounting panel (3). When the connector housing (1) is fitted into the mating housing (2), the unlocking portion (14) engages with the mating unlocking portion (24) of the mating housing (2), and the elastic buckle (11) moves from the locked position to an unlocked position that detaches from the mounting panel (3) by the drive of the mating unlocking portion (24), in the connector housing.

2. The connector housing (1) is configured to fit into the mating housing (2) along the height direction (Z) of the connector housing (1), and the elastic buckle (11) is configured to move between the locked position and the unlocked position along the lateral direction (X) of the connector housing (1). The connector housing according to claim 1, wherein an inclined surface (14a) inclined with respect to the height direction (Z) is formed on the unlocking portion (14), and the inclined surface (14a) of the unlocking portion (14) is used to cooperate with the mating inclined surface (24a) of the mating unlocking portion (24) to convert the movement of the mating unlocking portion (24) along the height direction (Z) into the movement of the elastic buckle (11) along the lateral direction (X).

3. The elastic buckle (11) is A frame (111) which has the shape of a door frame with an opening, A cantilever (112) connected to the frame (111) and suspended from the frame (111), The protrusion (113) formed on the cantilever (112) and Includes, The connector housing according to claim 2, wherein the connector housing (1) is configured to be mounted in a mounting opening (30) of the mounting panel (3), and the protrusion (113) is configured to abut against the edge of the mounting opening (30) of the mounting panel (3) along the height direction (Z) in order to lock the connector housing (1) to the mounting panel (3).

4. The frame (111) is A pair of side support columns (11a), the lower ends of which are connected to the outer peripheral wall (10), An upper beam (11b) connected between the upper ends of the pair of side support columns (11a) and Includes, The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein the cantilever (112) extends along the height direction (Z), the upper end of the cantilever (112) is connected to the upper beam (11b), the projection (113) is formed on the outside of the lower end of the cantilever (112), and the unlocking portion (14) is connected to the inside of the lower end of the cantilever (112).

5. The unlocking portion (14) has two lugs (140) located on both sides in the width direction of the cantilever (112), and the two lugs (141) are used to engage with the two tongues (240) of the mating housing (2), The connector housing according to claim 4, wherein the inclined surface (14a) is formed on each of the two ear portions (140), and the inclined surfaces (14a) of the two ear portions (140) are used to cooperate with the mating inclined surfaces (24a) of the two tongues (240).

6. The outer peripheral wall (10) further comprises a flange portion (12) formed on the outside, The connector housing according to claim 3, wherein when the connector housing (1) is mounted in the mounting opening (30) of the mounting panel (3), the edge of the mounting opening (30) of the mounting panel (3) is clamped between the flange portion (12) and the protruding portion (113) of the elastic buckle (11), and thus the connector housing (1) is locked to the mounting panel (3).

7. The connector housing according to claim 6, wherein when the connector housing (1) mounted on the mounting panel (3) is fitted into the mating housing (2), the protruding portion (113) of the elastic buckle (11) moves to the unlocked position, which is detached from the edge of the mounting opening (30) of the mounting panel (3), and the connector housing (1) can be pulled out of the mounting opening (30) of the mounting panel (3).

8. The connector housing according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of elastic buckles (11) and a plurality of unlocking parts (14) connected to each of the plurality of elastic buckles (11) are formed on the outer peripheral wall (10) of the connector housing (1), and the plurality of elastic buckles (11) are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the connector housing (1).

9. The outer peripheral wall (10) of the connector housing (1) includes a pair of opposing side walls (10a) in the lateral direction (X) of the connector housing (1), and the elastic buckle (11) is formed on the side walls (10a) of the connector housing (1). A connector housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a protruding column (13) is formed on the inside of the side wall (10a) of the connector housing (1) along the lateral direction (X), and the protruding column (13) is used to slidably fit into a sliding slot (40) of a drive component (4) inserted into the mating housing (2), so that the mating housing (2) can be moved from a pre-installation position to a final installed position by the drive of the drive component (4).

10. It is a connector, The connector housing (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The terminals installed on the connector housing (1) Equipped with, The aforementioned terminal is used to mate with a mating terminal installed on the mating housing (2) of the mating connector.

11. A connector assembly, The connector according to claim 10, The other connector and Equipped with, The aforementioned mating connector is, A mating housing (2) is inserted into the connector housing (1) along the height direction (Z) of the connector housing (1), A mating terminal installed in the mating housing (2) and mating to the terminal of the connector housing (1) Includes, A connector assembly in which a mating side unlocking portion (24) is formed on the peripheral wall of the mating side housing (2), and the mating side unlocking portion (24) engages with the unlocking portion (14) of the connector housing (1) to push the elastic buckle (11) of the connector housing (1) from the locked position to the unlocked position.

12. The connector assembly according to claim 11, wherein a mating inclined surface (24a) is formed on the mating unlocking portion (24), and the mating inclined surface (24a) cooperates with the inclined surface (14a) of the unlocking portion (14) to convert the movement of the mating unlocking portion (24) in the height direction (Z) into the movement of the elastic buckle (11) in the lateral direction (X) of the connector housing (1).

13. The connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein a receiving slot (21) corresponding to the elastic buckle (11) is formed in the peripheral wall (20) of the mating housing (2), and the elastic buckle (11) is housed in the receiving slot (21) of the peripheral wall (20) of the mating housing (2).

14. The mating lock release portion (24) includes two tongues (240) located on both sides in the width direction of the receiving slot (21), the two tongues (240) engage with the two lugs (140) of the lock release portion (14), The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the two tongues (240) each have a mating inclined surface (24a), and the mating inclined surfaces (24a) of the two tongues (240) each abut against the inclined surfaces (14a) of the two ear portions (140).

15. The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of receiving slots (21) and a plurality of mating release portions (24) are formed in the peripheral wall (20) of the mating housing (2), a plurality of elastic buckles (11) of the connector housing (1) are each received in the plurality of receiving slots (21), and the plurality of mating release portions (24) each engage with the plurality of release portions (14) of the connector housing (1).

16. The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the peripheral wall (20) of the mating housing (2) includes a pair of side walls (20a) facing each other in the lateral direction (X) of the mating housing (2), and the receiving slot (21) and the mating lock release portion (24) are formed in the side walls (20a) of the mating housing (2).

17. The device further comprises a drive component (4), and the drive component (4) is A pair of push rod portions (41) each having a sliding slot (40) formed therein, The end plate portion (42) is connected between the outer ends of the pair of push rod portions (41) and Includes, A pair of slots (201) extending along the longitudinal direction (Y) of the mating housing (2) are formed in a pair of side walls (20a) of the mating housing (2), and a pair of push rod portions (41) of the drive component (4) are inserted into the slots (201) of the pair of side walls (20a) of the mating housing (2), A slot hole (202) connected to the slot (201) is formed in the side wall (20a) of the mating housing (2), and the protruding column (13) is inserted into the sliding slot (40) through the slot hole (202) and slidably fitted into the sliding slot (40), so that the mating connector can be moved along the height direction (Z) from a pre-installation position to a final installation position by the drive of the drive component (4), as described in claim 16.

18. The drive component (4) is movably inserted into the slot (201) of the mating housing (2) and can move between a pre-lock position and a final locked position along the longitudinal direction (Y) relative to the mating housing (2). The connector assembly according to claim 17, wherein when the drive component (4) moves from the pre-lock position to the final lock position, the mating connector moves from the pre-mount position to the final mounting position by the drive of the drive component (4).

19. When the mating connector is in the pre-installation position, the mating terminals do not contact the terminals of the connector, and the mating unlocking portion (24) is separated from the unlocking portion (14). The connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein when the mating connector is in the final mounting position, the mating terminals are mated with the terminals of the connector, and the mating release portion (24) engages with the release portion (14).

20. The connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein the sliding slot (40) extends for a predetermined length in a direction inclined with respect to the height direction (Z) and the longitudinal direction (Y) of the mating housing (2) so as to be able to convert the movement of the drive component (4) along the longitudinal direction (Y) into movement of the mating connector along the height direction (Z).

21. An elastic lock buckle (43) is formed on the push rod portion (41) of the drive component (4), and a pre-lock slot (3a) and a final lock slot (3b) are formed on the mating housing (2), and the pre-lock slot (3a) and the final lock slot (3b) are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the mating housing (2). When the drive component (4) is in the pre-lock position, the elastic lock buckle (43) engages with the pre-lock slot (3a) to hold the drive component (4) in the pre-lock position. The connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein when the drive component (4) is in the final locked position, the elastic lock buckle (43) engages with the final lock slot (3b) to hold the drive component (4) in the final locked position.

22. The sliding slot (40) of the push rod portion (41) has an entrance (401) located at one end, allowing the protruding column (13) of the connector housing (1) to enter the sliding slot (40) through the entrance (401). When the drive component (4) is in the pre-lock position and the mating housing (2) is in the pre-mount position, the protruding column (13) of the connector housing (1) is located at the entrance (401) of the sliding slot (40) of the push rod portion (41), The connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein when the drive component (4) is in the final locked position and the mating housing (2) is in the final mounting position, the protruding column (13) of the connector housing (1) is located at the other end of the sliding slot (40) of the push rod portion (41).

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