Electrical connector

Abstract

The present application discloses an electrical connector, comprising a plastic body and a conductive terminal arranged on the plastic body, wherein a coupling end of the electrical connector is provided with a protective component. The protective component is arranged on the coupling end of the electrical connector, and particularly, the protective component is made of a plastic material. Compared with the metal coupling ends in the prior art, in the coupling process of using or testing an electronic product, a female socket connector is not easily damaged and is well protected, thereby prolonging the service life of the electronic product. By arranging a detachable connection, when the protective component is damaged, the protective component is easily replaced, and the electrical connector has a fine adjustment function when the electrical connector is inserted or extracted, and is not easily damaged.

Description

An electrical connector

[0001] This application is based on the Chinese invention application with application number 202311855365.8 filed on December 29, 2023 and named “Electrical Connector”, and the Chinese invention application with application number 202311144941.8 filed on September 6, 2023 and named “Electrical Connector”, and claims priority to them. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of electronic equipment, and in particular to an electrical connector. Background Art

[0003] Electrical connectors are widely used in various electronic products, such as power banks, Bluetooth headsets, and mobile phones, for charging or signal transmission. Electrical connectors consist of mating male and female connectors. These connectors work together to charge electronic products or transmit data. Generally, electronic products are equipped with female connectors. Damage to female connectors can be difficult and costly to repair, so special care is required for female connectors on electronic products.

[0004] Application Contents

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an electrical connector.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the electrical connector of the present application includes a plastic body and a conductive terminal arranged on the plastic body, wherein a protective component is provided at the mating end of the electrical connector.

[0007] Preferably, the protective component is detachably provided on the mating end of the electrical connector.

[0008] Preferably, a gap is provided between the connecting end of the protection component and the plastic body.

[0009] Preferably, the electrical connector is provided with a metal shell, the metal shell covers the plastic body, the metal shell is provided with a positioning hole, and the surface of the protective component is provided with a positioning column that cooperates with the positioning hole.

[0010] Preferably, the protective component is provided with a hook, and the plastic body is provided with a locking groove, and the hook cooperates with the locking groove to achieve the connection between the protective component and the plastic body.

[0011] Preferably, a gap is provided between the hooks on the same side.

[0012] Preferably, the protective component is provided with an arc-shaped protrusion, and the connecting end of the plastic body is provided with an arc-shaped notch, and the arc-shaped protrusion cooperates with the arc-shaped notch so that the protective component can be swingably mounted on the connecting end of the plastic body.

[0013] Preferably, two arc-shaped semi-convex portions are provided on each side of the protective component, a gap is provided between the two arc-shaped semi-convex portions, and an arc-shaped notch is provided at the connecting end of the plastic body. The arc-shaped semi-convex portions cooperate with the arc-shaped notch so that the protective component can be swingably mounted on the connecting end of the plastic body.

[0014] Preferably, a concave portion is provided at the rear end of the protection component, and a convex portion that cooperates with the concave portion is provided at the front end of the plastic body.

[0015] Preferably, the protective component is made of plastic, the protective component is provided with a docking hole, the electrical connector is also provided with a lock, and grooves for installing the lock are provided on both sides of the plastic body, and the electrical connector is a Type-C male electrical connector.

[0016] Preferably, the protective component is provided with a wear-resistant component.

[0017] Preferably, the protective component is provided with a docking port, and the wear-resistant component includes an outer wear-resistant surface provided on the outer side surface of the protective component.

[0018] Preferably, the wear-resistant component includes an inner wear-resistant surface arranged in the docking port.

[0019] Preferably, the wear-resistant component includes a supporting portion, an inner wear-resistant portion connected to the supporting portion, and an outer wear-resistant portion connected to the inner wear-resistant portion, the supporting portion is buried in the protective component, the inner wear-resistant surface is the inner side surface of the inner wear-resistant portion, and the outer wear-resistant surface is the outer side surface of the outer wear-resistant portion.

[0020] Preferably, the support portion is bent toward the docking port and then extended to form an inner wear-resistant portion, and the inner wear-resistant portion is bent and then extended to form an outer wear-resistant portion, and the wear-resistant component is hook-shaped as a whole.

[0021] Preferably, the edges of the outer wear-resistant part and the inner wear-resistant part are thinned to form steps, and the steps are buried in the protective component; or the edge of the outer wear-resistant component is thinned to form steps, and the steps are exposed; or the outer wear-resistant component is provided with an exposed groove.

[0022] Preferably, the bending surface of the wear-resistant component is lower than the end surface of the protective component.

[0023] Preferably, the support portion is provided with a positioning surface.

[0024] Preferably, the wear-resistant component is processed into one piece with the protective component through an injection molding process; or the protective component is provided with a mounting groove, and the wear-resistant component is installed in the mounting groove; or the wear-resistant component is provided with a protrusion, and the protective component is provided with a recess, and the protrusion cooperates with the recess, so that the wear-resistant component is clamped on the protective component.

[0025] Preferably, the protective component is made of plastic, and the wear-resistant component is made of metal.

[0026] By providing a protective component at the docking end of the electrical connector, especially when the protective component is made of a plastic material, compared to the metal docking end in the prior art, the female connector is less likely to be damaged during the docking process of the electronic product when in use or testing, and the female connector is well protected, thereby extending the service life of the electronic product. By providing a detachable connection, the protective component can be easily replaced when damaged. A gap is provided between the protective component and the connection end of the plastic body, so that the protective component can swing or move in a predetermined manner. The protective component can swing or move flexibly according to the actual shape of the connector female, so that the electrical connector has a fine-tuning function when plugging and unplugging, thereby adapting to the connector female and preventing damage to the connector female. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of embodiment 1 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0028] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connector in FIG1 with the metal housing removed;

[0029] FIG3 is an exploded view of the electrical connector in FIG1 ;

[0030] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the protective component in FIG1 ;

[0031] FIG5 is an exploded view of Example 2 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0032] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connector in FIG5 after the metal housing is removed;

[0033] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the protective component in FIG5;

[0034] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the protective component and the plastic body;

[0035] FIG9 is an exploded schematic diagram of the protective component and the plastic body of Example 3 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0036] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the protective component and the plastic body of Example 3 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0037] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of the swing protection component;

[0038] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the protective component and the plastic body of the electrical connector of Example 4 of the present application;

[0039] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of a protective component of Example 4 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0040] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of Example 5 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0041] FIG15 is an exploded view of the electrical connector in FIG14;

[0042] FIG16 is a schematic assembly diagram of the electrical connector in FIG14 without the metal housing;

[0043] FIG17 is a cross-sectional view of the protective member in FIG15;

[0044] FIG18 is a schematic diagram of the protective component in FIG15;

[0045] FIG19 is a schematic diagram of the wear-resistant component in FIG15;

[0046] FIG20 is a schematic diagram of another perspective of the wear-resistant component in FIG15

[0047] FIG21 is a schematic diagram of a protective component of Example 6 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0048] FIG22 is a schematic diagram of the wear-resistant component in FIG21;

[0049] FIG23 is a schematic diagram of a protective component of a seventh embodiment of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0050] FIG24 is a schematic diagram of the wear-resistant component in FIG23;

[0051] FIG25 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment 8 of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0052] FIG26 is an exploded view of some components of the electrical connector in FIG25;

[0053] FIG27 is a schematic diagram of a ninth embodiment of the electrical connector of the present application;

[0054] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of the protective component and the plastic body in FIG. 27 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The present application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0056] Example 1:

[0057] 1-4 , the electrical connector of this embodiment includes a plastic body 12 and conductive terminals 18 disposed on the plastic body 12 , wherein the mating end of the electrical connector is provided with a protective component 11 . In this embodiment, the electrical connector is a Type-C male electrical connector.

[0058] The protective component 11 is detachably arranged at the docking end of the electrical connector. It should be noted that the end of the electrical connector that is plugged into another electrical connector is the docking end of the electrical connector. Specifically, in this embodiment, the electrical connector is provided with a metal shell 19, the metal shell 19 covers the plastic body 12, the metal shell 19 is provided with a positioning hole 191, and the surface of the protective component 11 is provided with a positioning column 111 that cooperates with the positioning hole 191. By providing the positioning hole 191 and the positioning column 111, the positioning and detachable connection of the protective component 11 and the metal shell 19 can be achieved. By providing the detachable connection, the protective component 11 can be easily replaced when it is damaged. The specific connection method between the metal shell 19 and the plastic body 12 is common knowledge in the field and will not be repeated here. The protective component 11 is provided with a docking hole 112, and the docking hole 112 corresponds to the docking hole on the plastic body 12.

[0059] The rear end of the protective component 11 is provided with a recess 113, and the front end of the plastic body 12 is provided with a protrusion 121 that cooperates with the recess 113. By providing the protrusion 121 and the recess 113, the protective component 11 and the plastic body 12 can be more firmly matched, the positioning is more accurate, and the assembly is more convenient.

[0060] The electrical connector is further provided with a latch 13 , and grooves 129 for mounting the latch are provided on both sides of the plastic body 12 .

[0061] As a further improvement measure of this embodiment, a gap is provided between the connecting end of the protective component 11 and the plastic body 12, and the positioning hole 191 and the positioning column 111 can be arranged to be non-tightly fitted, so that the protective component 11 can swing or move in a predetermined manner. The protective component 11 can swing or move flexibly according to the actual shape of the connector socket, thereby adapting to the connector socket and preventing damage to the connector socket.

[0062] By providing a protective component at the mating end of the electrical connector, particularly one made of plastic, the female connector is less likely to be damaged during the docking process of electronic products during use or testing, compared to metal mating ends in the prior art. This effectively protects the female connector and thus extends the service life of the electronic product. The detachable connection also makes it easier to replace the protective component if it becomes damaged.

[0063] Example 2:

[0064] As shown in Figures 5-8, the electrical connector of this embodiment includes a plastic body 22 and conductive terminals 28 disposed on the plastic body 22. A protective component 21 is provided at the mating end of the electrical connector. In this embodiment, the electrical connector is a Type-C male electrical connector. The electrical connector of this embodiment also includes a latch 23 and a metal housing 29.

[0065] The protective component 21 is detachably mounted on the mating end of the electrical connector. Specifically, the protective component 21 is provided with a hook 219, and the plastic body 22 is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove 229. The hook 219 cooperates with the snap-fit ​​groove 229 to achieve a detachable connection between the protective component 21 and the plastic body 22.

[0066] The protective component 21 is provided with four hooks 219, and the plastic body 22 is provided with four engaging grooves 229. A notch 218 is provided between the hooks 219 on the same side. By providing the notch 218, the hooks 219 form a cantilever structure, which can be deformed and is easy to disassemble and assemble.

[0067] The protective component 21 is made of plastic and is provided with a docking hole.

[0068] As a further improvement measure of this embodiment, a gap is provided between the connecting end of the protective component 21 and the plastic body 22, and the hook 219 and the engaging groove 229 can be arranged to be non-tightly fitted, so that the protective component 21 can swing or move in a predetermined manner. The protective component 21 can swing or move flexibly according to the actual shape of the connector socket, thereby adapting to the connector socket and preventing damage to the connector socket.

[0069] By providing a protective component at the mating end of the electrical connector, particularly one made of plastic, the female connector is less likely to be damaged during the docking process of electronic products during use or testing, compared to metal mating ends in the prior art. This effectively protects the female connector and thus extends the service life of the electronic product. The detachable connection also makes it easier to replace the protective component if it becomes damaged.

[0070] Example 3:

[0071] As shown in Figures 9-11, the unique feature of this embodiment is that the protective component 31 is swingably mounted on the connecting end of the plastic body 32. The protective component 31 is provided with an arc-shaped protrusion 311, and the connecting end of the plastic body 32 is provided with an arc-shaped notch 321. The arc-shaped protrusion 311 cooperates with the arc-shaped notch 321 to enable the protective component 31 to be swingably mounted on the connecting end of the plastic body 32. The edge of the protective component 31 is provided with a rounded corner 319. The provision of the rounded corner 319 makes insertion smoother. A gap 1000 is provided between the connecting end of the protective component 31 and the plastic body 32, and the gap 1000 provides space for the protective component 31 to swing. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the protective component in Figure 11 swings slightly. Of course, the protective component 31 can also swing in the opposite direction. Since the connection is in a swingable manner, when the electrical connector of this embodiment is inserted into the connector socket, the protective component 31 can flexibly swing according to the actual shape of the connector socket, so that the electrical connector has a fine-tuning function when plugging and unplugging, thereby adapting to the connector socket and preventing damage to the connector socket.

[0072] Example 4:

[0073] As shown in Figures 12-13, the protective component 41 is swingably mounted on the connecting end of the plastic body 42. Two arcuate semi-convex portions 411 are provided on each side of the protective component 41, and an arcuate notch 421 is provided on the connecting end of the plastic body 42. The arcuate semi-convex portions 411 cooperate with the arcuate notch 421 to allow the protective component 41 to be swingably mounted on the connecting end of the plastic body 42. A gap 2000 is provided between the connecting end of the protective component 41 and the plastic body 42, and the gap 2000 provides space for the swinging of the protective component 41. The difference between this embodiment and Example 3 is that a gap 412 is provided between the two arcuate semi-convex portions 411. By providing the gap 412, the arcuate semi-convex portion 411 forms a cantilever structure, which can be deformed during installation, thereby facilitating installation. Due to the swingable connection, when the electrical connector of this embodiment is inserted into the connector socket, the protective component 41 can flexibly swing according to the actual shape of the connector socket, so that the electrical connector has a fine-tuning function when plugging and unplugging, thereby adapting to the connector socket and preventing damage to the connector socket.

[0074] Example 5:

[0075] As shown in Figures 14-20, the electrical connector of this embodiment includes a plastic body 52 and conductive terminals 59 disposed on the plastic body 52, wherein the mating end of the electrical connector is provided with a protective component 51. In this embodiment, the electrical connector is a Type-C male electrical connector.

[0076] The protective component 51 is detachably mounted on the mating end of the electrical connector. It should be noted that the end of an electrical connector that plugs into another electrical connector is considered the mating end of the electrical connector. In this embodiment, the electrical connector includes a metal housing 58 that encases the plastic body 52. ​​The specific connection between the metal housing 58 and the plastic body 52 is common knowledge in the art and will not be detailed here.

[0077] The electrical connector also features a latch 53, with grooves for receiving the latch on either side of the plastic body 52. ​​The protective component 51 is swingably mounted to the connection end of the plastic body 52. ​​The protective component 51 features an arcuate protrusion 511, which mates with an arcuate notch at the connection end of the plastic body 52, allowing the protective component 51 to be swingably mounted to the connection end of the plastic body 52. ​​The arcuate notch is enclosed by two protrusions 521 on the plastic body 52. ​​A gap 3000 is provided between the protective component 51 and the plastic body 52, providing space for the protective component 51 to swing. Due to its swingable connection, when the electrical connector of this embodiment is inserted into the connector receptacle, the protective component 51 can flexibly swing to the actual shape of the connector receptacle, enabling fine-tuning during insertion and removal, thereby adapting to the connector receptacle and preventing damage. The detachable connection also makes it easy to replace the protective component 51 if it becomes damaged. The protective component 51 is provided with a docking port 512 that corresponds to a docking port on the plastic body 52. ​​The protective component 51 is also provided with a wear-resistant component 56. The wear-resistant component 56 is integrally formed with the protective component 51 through an injection molding process. The protective component 51 is made of plastic, while the wear-resistant component 56 is made of a metal material. In this embodiment, the wear-resistant component 56 is made of stainless steel. The wear-resistant component 56 can also be made of other metal materials such as copper and aluminum. The wear-resistant component 56 includes an inner wear-resistant surface 5621 disposed within the docking port 512. The wear-resistant component 56 also includes an outer wear-resistant surface 5631 disposed on the outer side of the protective component 51. The wear-resistant component 56 includes a support portion 561, an inner wear-resistant portion 562 connected to the support portion 561, and an outer wear-resistant portion 563 connected to the inner wear-resistant portion 562. The support portion 561 is embedded in the protective component 51, thereby securing the wear-resistant component 56 to the protective component 51. The inner wear-resistant surface 5621 is the inner side surface of the inner wear-resistant portion 562, and the outer wear-resistant surface 5631 is the outer side surface of the outer wear-resistant portion 563. Specifically, the support portion 561 is bent toward the docking port 512 and extends to form the inner wear-resistant portion 562, and the inner side surface of the inner wear-resistant portion 562 is exposed to form the inner wear-resistant surface 5621. The inner wear-resistant portion 562 is bent and extends to form the outer wear-resistant portion 563, and the outer side surface of the outer wear-resistant portion 563 is exposed to form the outer wear-resistant surface 5631. The edge of the outer wear-resistant portion 563 is thinned to form a step 5632; the edge of the inner wear-resistant portion 562 is thinned to form a step 5622. By providing the steps 5632 and 5622, the edges of the outer wear-resistant portion 563 and the inner wear-resistant portion 562 can be buried in the plastic, making the combination of the wear-resistant component 56 and the protective component 51 more secure.The bent surface 5699 of the wear-resistant component 56 is lower than the end surface 5199 of the protective component 51, thereby preventing damage to the mating connector. The support portion 561 is provided with a positioning surface 5619, which facilitates positioning during processing. The provision of a wear-resistant component on the protective component improves wear resistance, prevents excessive wear, and extends its service life.

[0078] Example 6:

[0079] As shown in Figures 21-22, the protective component 61 of the electrical connector in this embodiment is also provided with a wear-resistant component 66. This wear-resistant component 66 also includes a support portion 661, an inner wear-resistant portion 662 connected to the support portion 661, and an outer wear-resistant portion 663 connected to the inner wear-resistant portion 662. This embodiment differs from Example 1 in that only the edge of the outer wear-resistant portion 663 is thinned to form a step 6632, and this step 6632 is exposed and not embedded within the protective component 61. The provision and exposure of this step 6632 facilitates the securing of the wear-resistant component 66 during the injection molding process.

[0080] Example 7:

[0081] As shown in Figures 23-24, the protective component 71 of the electrical connector of this embodiment is also provided with a wear-resistant component 76. The wear-resistant component 76 also includes a support portion 761, an inner wear-resistant portion 762 connected to the support portion 761, and an outer wear-resistant portion 763 connected to the inner wear-resistant portion 762. This embodiment differs from Example 1 in that the outer wear-resistant portion 763 is further provided with a groove 7639. The provision of groove 7639 facilitates securing the wear-resistant component 76 during the injection molding process.

[0082] Example 8:

[0083] As shown in Figures 25-26, the electrical connector of this embodiment also includes a metal housing 88, a plastic body 82, a protective component 81, and a wear-resistant component 86. The protective component 81 is provided with a mounting groove 8199, and the wear-resistant component 86 is mounted within the mounting groove 8199. The wear-resistant component 86 has an outer wear-resistant surface 8631.

[0084] Example 9:

[0085] As shown in Figures 27-28, in this embodiment, the wear-resistant component 96 is provided with a protrusion 9699, and the protective component 91 is provided with a recess 9199 that cooperates with the protrusion 9699. The wear-resistant component 96 is mounted on the protective component 91, and the protrusion 9699 cooperates with the recess 9199, thereby securing the wear-resistant component 96 to the protective component 91.

[0086] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present application. That is, all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the present application are covered by the scope of the claims of the present application and will not be listed one by one here.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising a plastic body and a conductive terminal disposed on the plastic body, wherein: The butt end of the electrical connector is provided with a protective component.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The protection component is detachably arranged on the butt end of the electrical connector.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: A gap is provided between the connecting end of the protection component and the plastic body.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The electrical connector is provided with a metal shell, the metal shell covers the plastic body, the metal shell is provided with a positioning hole, and the surface of the protection component is provided with a positioning column matched with the positioning hole.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The protection component is provided with a hook, and the plastic body is provided with a clamping groove. The hook cooperates with the clamping groove to achieve the connection between the protection component and the plastic body.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein: A gap is provided between the hooks on the same side.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The protection component is provided with an arc-shaped convex portion, and the connecting end of the plastic body is provided with an arc-shaped notch. The arc-shaped convex portion cooperates with the arc-shaped notch so that the protection component can be swingably installed on the connecting end of the plastic body.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: Two arcuate semi-convex parts are respectively provided on both sides of the protection component, and a gap is provided between the arcuate semi-convex parts on the same side. An arcuate notch is provided on the connecting end of the plastic body. The arcuate semi-convex part cooperates with the arcuate notch so that the protection component can be swingably installed on the connecting end of the plastic body.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The rear end of the protection component is provided with a concave portion, and the front end of the plastic body is provided with a convex portion matched with the concave portion.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The protective component is made of plastic, and is provided with a docking hole. The electrical connector is also provided with a lock. Grooves for installing the lock are provided on both sides of the plastic body. The electrical connector is a Type-C male electrical connector, and the edges of the protective component are provided with rounded corners.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The protection component is provided with a wear-resistant component.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein: The protection component is provided with a docking port, and the wear-resistant component comprises an outer wear-resistant surface arranged on the outer side surface of the protection component.

13. The electrical connector according to claim 12, wherein: The wear-resistant component includes an inner wear-resistant surface arranged in the docking port.

14. The electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein: The wear-resistant component includes a support portion, an inner wear-resistant portion connected to the support portion, and an outer wear-resistant portion connected to the inner wear-resistant portion. The support portion is buried in the protective component, the inner wear-resistant surface is the inner side surface of the inner wear-resistant portion, and the outer wear-resistant surface is the outer side surface of the outer wear-resistant portion.

15. The electrical connector according to claim 14, wherein: The support portion is bent toward the docking port and then extends to form an inner wear-resistant portion, and the inner wear-resistant portion is bent and then extends to form an outer wear-resistant portion, and the wear-resistant component is hook-shaped as a whole.

16. The electrical connector according to claim 15, wherein: The edges of the outer wear-resistant part and the inner wear-resistant part are thinned to form steps, and the steps are buried in the protective component; or the edge of the outer wear-resistant component is thinned to form steps, and the steps are exposed; or the outer wear-resistant component is provided with an exposed groove.

17. The electrical connector according to claim 14, wherein: The bending surface of the wear-resistant component is lower than the end surface of the protective component.

18. The electrical connector according to claim 14, wherein: The support portion is provided with a positioning surface.

19. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein: The wear-resistant component is processed into one piece with the protective component through an injection molding process; or the protective component is provided with a mounting groove, and the wear-resistant component is installed in the mounting groove; or the wear-resistant component is provided with a protrusion, and the protective component is provided with a recess, and the protrusion cooperates with the recess, so that the wear-resistant component is clamped on the protective component.

20. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein The protective component is made of plastic, and the wear-resistant component is made of metal material.

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