connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that permanently fixes a terminal of a connector to an insulator and can improve the reliability of the connector.SOLUTION: A connector includes a terminal module including assembled first terminal module and second terminal module. The first terminal module includes a first insulator (112) and a row of first terminals (111). The second terminal module includes a second insulator (122) and a row of second terminals (121). A portion of each of the first terminals (111) is wrapped directly in the first insulator (112) so as to permanently secure the first terminal (111) to the first insulator (112). A portion of each of the second terminals (121) is wrapped directly in the second insulator (122) such that the second terminal (121) is permanently fixed to the second insulator (122).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of Chinese patent application CN202020144066.9, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on January 22, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] At least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a connector, particularly a USB 3.0 connector. [Background technology]

[0003] In related art, USB 3.0 connectors typically have upper and lower rows of terminals adjacent to each other, and these two rows of terminals are typically removably inserted into insertion slots in the insulator. This allows the terminals to easily move within the insulator. If the terminals are displaced from their correct mounting positions, the connector will not make proper contact, thereby reducing the reliability of the connector's operation. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure is directed to overcoming or mitigating at least one aspect of the above-mentioned disadvantages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a connector is provided that includes a terminal module including an assembled first terminal module and a second terminal module. The first terminal module includes a first insulator and a row of first terminals disposed within the first insulator. The second terminal module includes a second insulator and a row of second terminals disposed within the second insulator. A portion of each of the first terminals is directly encased within the first insulator to permanently secure the first terminals to the first insulator. A portion of each of the second terminals is directly encased within the second insulator to permanently secure the second terminals to the second insulator.

[0006] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector is a USB 3.0 connector, and one row of the first terminals and the second terminals is an upper row of the USB 3.0 connector, and the other row is a lower row of terminals of the USB 3.0 connector.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first insulator is insert molded directly onto the first row of terminals such that the first terminals in the row are permanently secured to the first insulator without being separated from the first insulator, and the second insulator is insert molded directly onto the second row of terminals such that the second terminals in the row are permanently secured to the second insulator without being separated from the second insulator.

[0008] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the first and second insulators is formed with a pin, and the other of the first and second insulators is formed with an insertion hole that mates with the pin, and the pin is inserted into the insertion hole with an interference fit to assemble the first and second insulators.

[0009] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a row of positioning protrusions is formed on a front end surface of the first insulator, and a row of positioning slots that mate with the row of positioning protrusions is formed in the second insulator, and the row of positioning protrusions is inserted into the row of positioning slots, respectively.

[0010] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first terminals in a row is located below a row of positioning protrusions and positioned within a row of positioning slots.

[0011] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first terminals includes a first contact portion at a front end thereof, each of the second terminals includes a second contact portion at a front end thereof, one of the first and second contact portions being a resiliently deformable resilient contact portion, and the other of the first and second contact portions being a non-resilient fixed contact portion.

[0012] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first contact portion is a resiliently deformable elastic contact portion that is movably received in a groove of the second insulator, and the second contact portion is a non-resilient fixed contact portion that is fixed in a retention groove of the second insulator.

[0013] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector further comprises a metal shielding shell in which the terminal module is received.

[0014] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a metal shield shell includes an upper half shield housing and a lower half shield housing assembled with a snap fit.

[0015] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector further comprises an insulating housing secured to the metal shielding shell.

[0016] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the insulating housing comprises an upper half housing and a lower half housing assembled with a snap fit.

[0017] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the upper and lower half housings is formed with a resilient latch, and the other of the upper and lower half housings is formed with a locking protrusion that mates with the resilient latch, the resilient latch being engaged with the locking protrusion in a snap fit.

[0018] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector further includes a pair of elastic metal sheets fixed to the inside of both sides of the insulating housing in the width direction, the elastic metal sheets elastically pressing against both sides of the metal shielding shell, so that the metal shielding shell is clamped between the pair of elastic metal sheets.

[0019] In the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above, the terminals in both rows of the connector are permanently secured to the insulator, thereby preventing the terminals from moving and therefore improving the reliability of the connector.

[0020] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which will provide a comprehensive understanding of the present disclosure.

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

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the connector shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic perspective view of a first terminal module of the connector shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic perspective view of a terminal module of the connector shown in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The technical solutions of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the following embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this description, the same or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar parts. The following description of the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to describe the general concept of the invention of the present disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation on the present disclosure.

[0024] Additionally, 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. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in schematic form to simplify the drawings.

[0025] According to one general technical concept of the present disclosure, a connector is provided that includes a terminal module including an assembled first terminal module and a second terminal module. The first terminal module includes a first insulator and a row of first terminals disposed within the first insulator. The second terminal module includes a second insulator and a row of second terminals disposed within the second insulator. A portion of each of the first terminals is directly encased within the first insulator to permanently secure the first terminals to the first insulator. A portion of each of the second terminals is directly encased within the second insulator to permanently secure the second terminals to the second insulator.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic exploded view of the connector shown in FIG.

[0027] 1 and 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector primarily comprises a terminal module 100. The terminal module 100 comprises a first terminal module 110 and a second terminal module 120 assembled together.

[0028] 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the first terminal module 110 of the connector shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the terminal module 100 of the connector shown in FIG.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the first terminal module 110 includes a first insulator 112 and a row of first terminals 111 provided on the first insulator 112.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the second terminal module 120 includes a second insulator 122 and a row of second terminals 121 provided on the second insulator 122.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, a portion of each of the first terminals 111 is directly encased within the first insulator 112 so as to permanently secure the first terminals 111 to the first insulator 112.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, in the illustrated embodiment, a portion of each of the second terminals 121 is directly encased in the second insulator 122 so as to permanently secure the second terminals 121 to the second insulator 122.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector is a USB 3.0 connector, and one of the row of first terminals 111 and the row of second terminals 121 is the upper row of terminals of the USB 3.0 connector, and the other row is the lower row of terminals of the USB 3.0 connector.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the first insulators 112 are molded directly onto the row of first terminals 111 by insert molding so that the row of first terminals 111 is permanently fixed to the first insulators 112 without being separated from the first insulators 112.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the second insulators 122 are molded directly onto the row of second terminals 121 by insert molding so that the row of second terminals 121 is permanently fixed to the second insulators 122 without being separated from the second insulators 122.

[0036] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, one of the first insulator 112 and the second insulator 122 is formed to have a pin 112a, and the other of the first insulator 112 and the second insulator 122 is formed to have an insertion hole (not shown) that mates with the pin 112a. The pin 112a is inserted into the insertion hole with an interference fit so as to assemble the first insulator 112 and the second insulator 122.

[0037] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, a row of positioning protrusions 112b is formed on the front end surface of the first insulator 112, and a row of positioning slots 122b that fit with the row of positioning protrusions 112b is formed in the second insulator 122. The row of positioning protrusions 112b is inserted into the row of positioning slots 122b, respectively.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the first terminals 111 in one row is located directly below a corresponding one of the positioning protrusions 112b and is positioned within a corresponding one of the positioning slots 122b.

[0039] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, each first terminal 111 has a first contact portion 111a at its front end. Each second terminal 121 has a second contact portion 121a at its front end. One of first contact portion 111a and second contact portion 121a is a resiliently deformable elastic contact portion, and the other of first contact portion 111a and second contact portion 121a is a fixed contact portion that cannot be resiliently deformed.

[0040] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the first contact portion 111a is an elastically deformable elastic contact portion that is movably received in a groove of the second insulator 122. The second contact portion 121a is a fixed contact portion that is not elastically deformable and is fixed in a retaining groove of the second insulator 122.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises a metal shielding shell 200 in which the terminal module 100 is received.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the metal shield shell 200 includes an upper half shield housing 210 and a lower half shield housing 220 assembled by snap fitting.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises an insulating housing 300 fixed to the metal shielding shell 200. As shown in FIG.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, insulating housing 300 comprises an upper half housing 310 and a lower half housing 320 assembled by a snap fit.

[0045] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, one of upper half housing 310 and lower half housing 320 is formed with a resilient latch 311, and the other of upper half housing 310 and lower half housing 320 is formed with a locking protrusion 321 that mates with resilient latch 311. Resilient latch 311 is engaged with locking protrusion 321 by a snap fit.

[0046] 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further includes a pair of elastic metal sheets 410 fixed to the inside of both sides in the width direction of the insulating housing 300. The pair of elastic metal sheets 410 are elastically pressed against both sides of the metal shielding shell 200, respectively, so that the metal shielding shell 200 is clamped between the pair of elastic metal sheets 410.

[0047] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments are intended to be illustrative and that many modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the various structures described in the various embodiments can be freely combined with each other without any contradiction in structure or principle.

[0048] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure by way of example and are not to be construed as limitations on the present disclosure.

[0049] While several embodiments of the general inventive concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concepts, and that the scope of the present disclosure is defined in the following claims and their equivalents.

[0050] It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "an" do not exclude more than one. In addition, any reference numerals in the claims should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a terminal module (100) with an assembled first terminal module (110) and a second terminal module (120), The first terminal module (110) comprises a first insulator (112) and a row of first terminals (111) provided on the first insulator (112); The second terminal module (120) is a connector including a second insulator (122) and a row of second terminals (121) provided on the second insulator (122), a portion of each of the first terminals (111) is directly encased in the first insulator (112) so as to permanently fix the first terminals (111) to the first insulator (112); a portion of each of the second terminals (121) is directly encased in the second insulator (122) so as to permanently fix the second terminals (121) to the second insulator (122); The connector comprises: a metal shield shell (200) in which the terminal module (100) is received; Further comprising an insulating housing (300) fixed to the metal shield shell (200), The insulating housing (300) comprises a pair of half housings (310, 320) assembled by snap fitting; The insulating housing (300) further includes a pair of elastic metal sheets (410) fixed to the inside of both sides in the width direction thereof, The pair of metal elastic sheets (410) are provided so that a portion of each extends outward from the insulating housing (300), The pair of metal elastic sheets (410) are elastically pressed against both sides of the metal shielding shell (200), respectively, so that the metal shielding shell (200) is clamped between the pair of metal elastic sheets (410) on the inside of the insulating housing (300) and on the outside of the insulating housing (300). A connector characterized by:

2. The connector is a USB 3.0 connector, and one of the first terminals (111) in one row and the second terminals (121) in one row is an upper row of terminals of the USB 3.0 connector, and the other row is a lower row of terminals of the USB 3.0 connector.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

3. The first insulator (112) is formed by insert molding the first terminals (111) of the row so as to permanently fix the first terminals (111) to the first insulator (112). 111) and is molded directly into The second insulator (122) is directly molded onto the row of second terminals (121) by insert molding so as to permanently fix the row of second terminals (121) to the second insulator (122).

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

4. One of the first insulator (112) and the second insulator (122) is formed to have a pin (112a), and the other of the first insulator (112) and the second insulator (122) is formed to have an insertion hole that fits with the pin (112a); The pin (112a) is inserted into the insertion hole with an interference fit so as to assemble the first insulator (112) and the second insulator (122).

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

5. A row of positioning protrusions (112b) is formed on the front end surface of the first insulator (112), and a row of positioning slots (122b) that mate with the row of positioning protrusions (112b) is formed in the second insulator (122); The row of positioning protrusions (112b) are inserted into the row of positioning slots (122b), respectively.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

6. 6. The connector of claim 5, wherein each of the first terminals (111) in the row is located below one of the positioning protrusions (112b) in the row and positioned within one of the positioning slots (122b).

7. Each of the first terminals (111) has a first contact portion (111a) at its front end; Each of the second terminals (121) has a second contact portion (121a) at its front end; One of the first contact portion (111a) and the second contact portion (121a) is an elastic contact portion that is elastically deformable, and the other of the first contact portion (111a) and the second contact portion (121a) is a fixed contact portion that is not elastically deformable.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

8. the first contact portion (111a) is an elastically deformable elastic contact portion, and is movably received in a groove of the second insulator (122); The second contact portion (121a) is a fixed contact portion that cannot be elastically deformed and is fixed in a holding groove of the second insulator (122).

8. The connector according to claim 7, wherein:

9. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the metallic shield shell (200) comprises a pair of half shield housings (210, 220) assembled by a snap fit.

10. One of the pair of half housings (310, 320) of the insulating housing (300) is formed to have a resilient latch (311), and the other of the pair of half housings (310, 320) is formed to have a locking protrusion (321) that fits with the resilient latch (311), The resilient latch (311) is engaged with the locking projection (321) by a snap fit.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

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