Elastic fastener and cable connector

Abstract

An elastic fastener and a cable connector. The elastic fastener is applicable to the cable connector (100); the elastic fastener comprises a mounting portion (310), a locking piece (320), a connecting portion (330), and a push arm (340); the mounting portion (310) and the locking piece (320) are provided opposite to each other; at least one locking member (350) is provided on the side of a first end of the locking piece (320) facing away from the mounting portion (310); a second end of the locking piece (320) is connected to one end of the connecting portion (330), and the other end of the connecting portion (330) is connected to the corresponding end of the mounting portion (310); one end of the push arm (340) is connected to the second end of the locking piece (320), and the push arm (340) is bent towards a side away from the mounting portion (310); in a mounting slot (111), the mounting portion (310) is located on the side of the locking piece (320) close to the bottom of the mounting slot (111), and the first end of the locking piece (320) faces a mating end of the cable connector (100); and when the push arm (340) is subjected to a thrust towards the first end of the locking piece (320), the push arm (340) drives the first end of the locking piece (320) to tilt towards the mounting portion (310). The push arm (340) can drive the first end of the locking piece (320) to tilt towards the mounting portion (310) so as to realize unlocking, and the unlocking process is opposite to the direction of a pressure applied toward a cable, thereby avoiding unlocking due to false triggering.

Description

Locking shrapnel, cable connector

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on December 28, 2023, with application number 202311827071.4 and application name “Locking spring, cable connector”, all contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of connectors, and in particular to a locking spring and a cable connector. Background Art

[0004] Cables are widely used as a medium for signal transmission within servers. As the connection port for these cables, a certain degree of retention between the board connector and the cable connector is required to ensure a reliable connection.

[0005] Existing connectors rely on two latches on a locking spring to lock the board-side connector and provide retention. The locking spring is unlocked by pressing. During the pressing process, the latch rotates around the fulcrum. When the top of the latch rotates into the metal shell of the board-side connector, the locking structure is released and the cable connector is unlocked. However, the press-to-unlock method has two disadvantages:

[0006] 1. It is easy for cables to be unlocked abnormally due to being close to each other or accidentally touching other components. Since abnormal unlocking caused by accidental touch usually involves pressing in the direction of the cable, that is, the direction of accidental touch is the same as the traditional unlocking direction, resulting in erroneous unlocking;

[0007] 2. Due to the unlocking rotation direction of the traditional connector lock, the lock surface needs to be close to the limit surface of the board-end connector opening at a certain distance before it can be separated from the board-end connector opening. Therefore, a gap of more than 0.07mm must be left between the lock surface and the board-end connector opening. Due to processing errors, the design gap here is generally 0.2±0.05mm. Therefore, after the traditional connector locks are mated, the cable connector has a 0.15-0.25mm movable space in front and behind. When the cable connector is subjected to tension on one side, the maximum gap on the side without tension can reach 1mm or even more, which leads to the probability of connection reliability problems. It is difficult to discover such connection reliability problems in the early testing stage. The connection reliability problem is particularly prominent in the face of a large amount of data after mass production.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of the present application is to provide a locking spring and a cable connector, which are used to solve the problem in the prior art that the locking spring of the connector is easily unlocked by accident.

[0010] The present application provides a locking spring piece, which is applicable to a cable connector, wherein the cable connector is provided with a mounting slot, and the locking spring piece includes a mounting portion, a locking disk, a connecting portion, and a push arm;

[0011] The mounting portion is arranged opposite to the locking disk;

[0012] A first end of the locking plate is provided with at least one lock buckle on a side facing away from the mounting portion, a second end of the locking plate is connected to one end of the connecting portion, and the other end of the connecting portion is connected to a corresponding end of the mounting portion, and one end of the push arm is connected to the second end of the locking plate and is bent toward a side away from the mounting portion;

[0013] In the mounting groove, the mounting portion is located on the side of the locking disk close to the bottom of the mounting groove, and the first end of the locking disk faces the docking end of the cable connector. When the push arm is subjected to the thrust toward the first end of the locking disk, the first end of the locking disk is driven to tilt toward the mounting portion.

[0014] According to a locking spring provided in the present application, the connecting part includes a pair of rotating arms, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the push arm. The pair of rotating arms are arc-shaped plates, one end of the arc-shaped plate is connected to the second end of the locking disk, and the other end is connected to the corresponding end of the mounting part.

[0015] According to a locking spring provided by the present application, the bending angle of the arc-shaped plate is greater than or equal to 180°, so that the two ends of the arc-shaped plate face the same direction.

[0016] According to a lock spring provided in the present application, the mounting portion includes a cross arm and a pair of connecting arms, the pair of connecting arms are arranged in parallel and spaced apart, one end of the pair of connecting arms is fixedly connected to the connecting portion, and the cross arm is respectively connected to one end of the pair of connecting arms facing away from the connecting portion.

[0017] According to a locking spring provided in the present application, the push arm includes a first section, a second section and a third section connected in sequence, the end of the first section facing away from the second section is fixedly connected to the locking disk, the first section is arranged parallel to the locking disk, and the second section and the first section and the second section and the third section are respectively arranged at an angle.

[0018] According to a locking spring provided by the present application, taking the first section as a reference, the inclination angle of the third section is greater than the inclination angle of the second section.

[0019] According to a lock buckle spring provided in the present application, a guide slope is provided on a side of the lock buckle facing the first end of the locking disk, and a positioning surface is provided on a side of the lock buckle facing the second end of the locking disk.

[0020] According to a locking spring provided in the present application, positioning protrusions are respectively provided on both sides of the mounting portion, and the side of the positioning protrusion close to the first end of the locking disk is set as a slope surface, and the side close to the second end of the locking disk is set as a vertical surface structure.

[0021] According to a lock spring provided in the present application, positioning grooves are respectively provided on both sides of the mounting portion, and the positioning grooves are located on one side of the positioning protrusion close to the second end of the locking disk and are adjacent to the vertical surface structure of the positioning protrusion.

[0022] According to a locking spring provided by the present application, the mounting portion, the locking disk, the connecting portion and the push arm are integrally formed.

[0023] The present application also provides a cable connector, comprising a connector body and the locking spring as described above, wherein the mounting groove is provided on one side of the connector body.

[0024] According to a cable connector provided by the present application, a positioning structure is provided in the installation groove, and the positioning structure is cooperatively connected with the installation portion.

[0025] According to a cable connector provided by the present application, when the mounting portion includes a cross arm and a pair of connecting arms, the positioning structure includes a hanging protrusion, which is located at the bottom of the mounting groove and is hung and cooperated with the cross arm.

[0026] According to a cable connector provided in the present application, the positioning structure includes limiting members located on both sides of the installation slot, and the limiting members abut against a side of the second end of the locking disk facing away from the installation portion.

[0027] A cable connector provided according to the present application further includes a pressing sleeve, which is arranged on the outer side of the push arm.

[0028] According to a cable connector provided by the present application, the pressing sleeve is made of elastic rubber material.

[0029] A cable connector provided in accordance with the present application further includes a pair of locking members, an unlocking sleeve, and a locking and resetting member;

[0030] The connector body is provided with an unlocking groove and a sliding groove, the unlocking groove is connected to the mounting groove through the sliding groove, and the unlocking groove forms an opening at one end of the connector body connected to the cable;

[0031] A pair of locking members are symmetrically arranged, and the locking members include a pressure-receiving portion, a locking portion, and a sliding portion. The pressure-receiving portion is movably arranged in the unlocking groove, and a rolling member is provided at one end of the pressure-receiving portion. The locking portion is located in the mounting groove, and the sliding portion is located in the sliding groove. One end of the sliding portion is fixedly connected to the pressure-receiving portion, and the other end is fixedly connected to the locking portion.

[0032] The unlocking sleeve comprises a sleeve body and an unlocking pressure block, the unlocking pressure block being a wedge-shaped structure, the unlocking pressure block being located in the unlocking groove and between the pair of locking members, unlocking inclined surfaces being provided on both sides of the unlocking pressure block, the unlocking inclined surfaces on both sides respectively contact and cooperate with the rolling members of the pair of locking members, the sleeve body being passed through the opening of the unlocking groove and being fixedly connected to the unlocking pressure block, the portion of the sleeve body being located outside the unlocking groove being slidably sleeved with the cable connected to the connector body, and when the unlocking sleeve slides in a direction away from the connector body, it is suitable for driving the pair of locking members to slide along the sliding groove, so that the pair of locking members are switched from the locked state to the unlocked state;

[0033] The locking reset member is located in the unlocking groove and is connected to the pair of locking members, and is used to provide elastic force for the pair of locking members to switch to the locked state;

[0034] In the locked state, the locking portion is located in the interlayer between the mounting portion and the locking disk; in the unlocked state, the locking portion is located outside the interlayer between the mounting portion and the locking disk.

[0035] According to a cable connector provided by the present application, the locking and resetting member includes a pair of compression springs, which are arranged corresponding to a pair of the locking members, and the compression springs are located on a side of the corresponding locking member away from the mounting portion.

[0036] According to a cable connector provided in the present application, the locking and resetting member includes a pair of elastic sheets, which are arranged corresponding to a pair of locking members, and the elastic sheets are located on the side of the corresponding locking members away from the mounting portion. The elastic sheet is an arc-shaped sheet, one end of the elastic sheet is fixedly connected to the connector body, and the elastic sheet is bent toward the locking member.

[0037] According to a cable connector provided by the present application, the wire sleeve body is a flexible member, and an anti-slip structure is provided on the outer side of the wire sleeve body.

[0038] The locking spring and cable connector provided by the present application utilize a push arm to drive the first end of the locking disk to tilt toward the mounting portion to achieve unlocking. This unlocking process differs from the pressure direction toward the cable in the prior art, effectively preventing accidental unlocking. Furthermore, during the unlocking process of the locking disk being pushed by the push arm, the locking latch tilts and moves away from the opening limit surface of the board-end connector, eliminating the need for a movable space between the locking latch and the opening limit surface of the board-end connector, effectively ensuring connection reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present application or the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0040] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a lock spring provided by the present application;

[0041] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a lock structure in a lock spring provided by the present application;

[0042] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a locking spring provided by the present application in a state of use;

[0043] FIG4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the board-end connector of the present application;

[0044] FIG5 is a cross-sectional view showing the side structure of the mounting slot in a cable connector provided by the present application;

[0045] FIG6 is a cross-sectional view showing the side structure of an unlocking slot in a cable connector provided by the present application;

[0046] FIG7 is a side view showing a locking member structure in a cable connector provided by the present application;

[0047] Reference numerals:

[0048] 100, cable connector; 110, connector body; 111, mounting slot; 112, unlocking slot; 113, slide slot; 114, hooking protrusion; 120, locking member; 121, pressure portion; 122, locking portion; 123, sliding portion; 124, rolling member; 130, unlocking sleeve; 131, sleeve body; 132, unlocking pressure block; 140, locking reset member; 150, pressing sleeve; 160, limiting member;

[0049] 200, board-end connector; 210, positioning plate; 211, opening;

[0050] 310. Mounting portion; 311. Cross arm; 312. Connecting arm; 313. Positioning protrusion; 314. Positioning groove; 320. Locking plate; 330. Connecting portion; 331. Rotating arm; 340. Push arm; 341. First section; 342. Second section; 343. Third section; 350. Locking catch; 351. Guide slope; 352. Positioning surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application more clear, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0052] The terms "first," "second," and the like in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or precedence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of this application can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein, and that the objects distinguished by "first," "second," and the like are generally of the same type, and do not limit the number of objects; for example, the first object can be one or more. In addition, the term "and / or" in the specification and claims refers to at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the objects connected are in an "or" relationship.

[0053] The following embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present invention but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0054] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0055] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections, electrical connections; and direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0056] In the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," or "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0057] In the description of this specification, the reference terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0058] The following describes the locking spring of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG1 to FIG7.

[0059] In conjunction with Figures 2 and 3, the locking spring of this embodiment is suitable for the cable connector 100, and the cable connector 100 is provided with a mounting groove 111. The cable connector 100 is usually approximately rectangular in structure, and the mounting groove 111 is arranged on one side of the cable connector 100, usually adopting a rectangular groove structure. The locking spring of this embodiment is arranged in the mounting groove 111. One end of the cable connector 100 is connected to multiple cables, and the other end serves as a docking end, which is suitable for plugging and mating with the board-end connector 200. The board-end connector 200 is provided with a positioning plate 210, and an opening 211 is provided on the positioning plate 210. The opening 211 can cooperate with the lock 350 on the locking spring to achieve positioning and prevent the cable connector 100 from detaching.

[0060] As shown in FIG1 , the locking spring of this embodiment includes a mounting portion 310, a locking plate 320, a connecting portion 330, and a push arm 340. The mounting portion 310 is disposed opposite the locking plate 320. At least one locking plate 350 is disposed on a side of the first end of the locking plate 320 facing away from the mounting portion 310. The second end of the locking plate 320 is connected to one end of the connecting portion 330, and the other end of the connecting portion 330 is connected to the corresponding end of the mounting portion 310. One end of the push arm 340 is connected to the second end of the locking plate 320 and is bent toward a side away from the mounting portion 310. Within the mounting slot 111, the mounting portion 310 is located on a side of the locking plate 320 close to the bottom of the mounting slot 111. The first end of the locking plate 320 faces the mating end of the cable connector 100. When the push arm 340 receives a thrust toward the first end of the locking plate 320, it drives the first end of the locking plate 320 to tilt toward the mounting portion 310.

[0061] During the insertion of the cable connector 100 into the board connector 200, the first end of the locking disk 320 is first inserted into the cable connector 100. During this process, the locking catch 350 and the positioning plate 210 of the board connector 200 are squeezed to elastically deform the connecting portion 330, causing the first end of the locking disk 320 to tilt toward the mounting portion 310. After being installed in place, the locking catch 350 falls into the opening 211 of the positioning plate 210. At this time, the locking disk 320 is reset under the elastic action of the connecting portion 330, and the locking disk 320 is abutted against the inner wall of the positioning plate 210. With the locking catch 350 and the opening 211 of the positioning plate 210 acting in a restraining manner, the cable connector 100 and the board connector 200 can be locked.

[0062] When the cable connector 100 needs to be removed from the board connector 200, the push arm 340 can be pushed toward the board connector 200. Under the action of the push arm 340, the first end of the locking plate 320 tilts toward the mounting plate, causing the lock catch 350 to leave the opening 211 of the positioning plate 210, thereby unlocking the cable connector 100. At this time, the cable connector 100 can be removed from the board connector 200. During this process, the push arm 340 rotates in a direction away from the cable as it moves, which can avoid squeezing the cable and prevent damage to the cable.

[0063] In addition, when the first end of the locking disk 320 is pushed toward the mounting disk by the push arm 340, the movement path of the first end of the locking disk 320 includes a component in the direction away from the connecting portion 330 and a component in the direction vertically close to the mounting portion 310, wherein the component in the direction away from the connecting portion 330 can avoid the positioning surface 352 of the lock buckle 350 and the side wall of the opening 211 on the positioning plate 210 from being squeezed, and the unlocking is smoother, and there is no need to reserve a gap between the positioning surface 352 of the lock buckle 350 and the side wall of the opening 211 on the positioning plate 210, thereby enabling the cable connector 100 and the board-end connector 200 to be connected more tightly, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present invention, the connecting portion 330 includes a pair of pivoting arms 331, one on each side of the push arm 340. The pivoting arms 331 are curved plates with a curvature angle greater than or equal to 180°, for example, between 180° and 200°, such that both ends of the curved plates face the same direction. One end of the curved plate is connected to the second end of the locking plate 320, and the other end is connected to the corresponding end of the mounting portion 310.

[0065] When the locking plate 320 is squeezed or pushes the push arm 340, the pivot arm 331 elastically deforms, allowing the first end of the locking plate 320 to move closer to the mounting portion 310. The pivot arm 331 is configured as an arcuate plate structure. This prevents stress concentration and prevents breakage during prolonged use. Furthermore, it ensures that when the first end of the locking plate 320 moves closer to the mounting portion 310, it generates a displacement component away from the connecting portion 330.

[0066] A pair of rotating arms 331 are disposed on either side of the push arm 340 to provide installation space for the push arm 340 and to balance the forces on both sides, thereby preventing the locking plate 320 from deflecting. The overall width of the connecting portion 330 can also be reduced, making it easier to push the push arm 340.

[0067] In some embodiments of the present invention, the push arm 340 includes a first section 341, a second section 342 and a third section 343 connected in sequence, the end of the first section 341 facing away from the second section 342 is fixedly connected to the locking disk 320, the first section 341 is arranged parallel to the locking disk 320, and the second section 342 and the first section 341 and the second section 342 and the third section 343 are respectively arranged at an angle.

[0068] Specifically, the first section 341, the second section 342, and the third section 343 are all rectangular plate structures. One end of the first section 341 is fixedly connected to the locking disk 320 and extends in the same direction as the locking disk 320. One end of the second section 342 is fixedly connected to the end of the first section 341 facing away from the locking disk 320, and the other end is tilted away from the cable relative to the first section 341. One end of the third section 343 is connected to the second section 342, and the other end is tilted away from the cable relative to the second section 342. With the first section 341 as a reference, the inclination angle of the third section 343 is greater than that of the second section 342. In this embodiment, the curved push arm 340 structure facilitates forward pushing. Furthermore, the multi-section push arm 340 acts as a lever, which, compared to an arc-shaped structure, can better drive the locking disk 320 to generate a displacement component in a direction away from the connecting portion 330.

[0069] In some embodiments of the present invention, the mounting portion 310 includes a cross arm 311 and a pair of connecting arms 312. The pair of connecting arms 312 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart. One end of the pair of connecting arms 312 is fixedly connected to the connecting portion 330, and the cross arm 311 is respectively connected to the end of the pair of connecting arms 312 facing away from the connecting portion 330. Specifically, the pair of connecting arms 312 correspond one-to-one with the pair of rotating arms 331 of the connecting portion 330, and the ends of the connecting arms 312 are fixedly connected to the ends of the corresponding rotating arms 331. The ends of the connecting arms 312 facing away from the rotating arms 331 are perpendicularly fixed to the ends of the cross arm 311. After the locking spring is installed in the mounting slot 111, the cross arm 311 cooperates with the retaining structure in the mounting slot 111 to provide a retaining function, preventing the locking spring from detaching from the cable connector 100. The use of the connecting arm 312 structure in this embodiment also enhances the bending performance of the locking spring, allowing for a greater bending angle.

[0070] In conjunction with Figures 1 and 2, in some embodiments of the present invention, a guide bevel 351 is provided on one side of the first end of the lock catch 350 facing the locking disk 320, and a positioning surface 352 is provided on one side of the second end of the lock catch 350 facing the locking disk 320. The angle between the guide bevel 351 and the locking disk 320 is preferably 30° to 60°, for example, 30°, 45° or 60°. By providing the guide bevel 351, it is easy to insert the cable connector 100 into the board connector 200. When the cable connector 100 needs to be pulled out of the board connector 200 and the locking disk 320 is pushed to rotate by the push arm 340, the guide bevel 351 can also reduce the resistance of the lock catch 350 from the opening 211 on the positioning plate 210, making it more convenient to use. The positioning surface 352 is perpendicular to the locking plate 320. After the cable connector 100 is inserted into the board-end connector 200, the lock 350 is located in the opening 211 of the positioning plate 210, and the positioning surface 352 of the lock 350 abuts against the side wall of the opening 211, thereby achieving a good locking effect.

[0071] The number of locks 350 on the lock plate 350 is not specifically limited. Preferably, the lock plate 350 includes multiple locks 350, for example, two locks 350, which are spaced apart in the transverse direction. By providing multiple locks 350 to cooperate with the multiple openings 211 on the positioning plate 210 of the board-end connector 200, the locking strength can be increased and the force applied to each lock 350 can be reduced. In addition to preventing the board-end connector 200 from disengaging from the cable connector, the multiple locks 350 can also prevent tilting and serve a positioning function.

[0072] The lock buckle 350 is preferably integrally formed on the lock buckle 350 plate, has good structural strength, and can reduce production difficulty and production cost.

[0073] Optionally, the mounting portion 310, locking plate 320, connecting portion 330, and push arm 340 are integrally formed. Since the overall size of the locking spring is relatively small, the integral molding method is easier to produce, which helps reduce production time and economic costs. Furthermore, compared to connection methods such as bonding or welding, the integral molding method is less likely to cause problems such as stress concentration or loose connections, which helps ensure the reliability of the overall structure of the locking spring.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present invention, positioning protrusions 313 are provided on both sides of the mounting portion 310. The side of the positioning protrusion 313 near the first end of the locking disk 320 is configured as a sloped surface, while the side near the second end of the locking disk 320 is configured as a vertical surface. The positioning protrusions 313 allow the mounting portion 310 to be locked using structures such as elastic pins or elastic clips provided on both sides of the mounting slot 111 of the cable connector 100, thereby ensuring a more stable installation of the locking spring within the cable connector 100.

[0075] Furthermore, positioning grooves 314 are respectively provided on both sides of the mounting portion 310. The positioning grooves 314 are located on one side of the second end of the positioning protrusion 313 close to the locking plate 320 and are adjacent to the vertical surface of the positioning protrusion 313. The positioning grooves 314 can achieve a better locking effect.

[0076] The lock spring of this embodiment can be made of metal or non-metal material with a certain elastic deformation ability, such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, nylon, polyester, etc.

[0077] 3 and 4 , an embodiment of the present invention further provides a cable connector 100 , including a connector body 110 and the aforementioned locking spring. A mounting groove 111 is provided on one side of the connector body 110 , and the locking spring is fixed in the mounting groove 111 .

[0078] The cable connector 100 of this embodiment adopts the locking spring structure as described above, and therefore has all the advantages of the locking spring, for example: the unlocking direction is changed from pressing down toward the cable to pushing forward, thereby avoiding damage to the cable during the unlocking process; the disengagement direction of the lock 350 is changed, and there is no need to reserve a gap between the lock 350 and the side wall of the opening 211 on the positioning plate 210 of the board-end connector 200, which is more stable when the cable connector 100 and the board-end connector 200 are connected.

[0079] In the cable connector 100 of this embodiment, a positioning structure is provided in the mounting groove 111 . The positioning structure cooperates with the mounting portion 310 to fix the locking spring in the mounting groove 111 .

[0080] When the mounting portion 310 includes a cross arm 311 and a pair of connecting arms 312, the positioning structure includes a hooking protrusion 114. The hooking protrusion 114 is located at the bottom of the mounting slot 111 and engages with the cross arm 311. Specifically, after the locking spring is inserted into the mounting slot 111, the hooking protrusion 114 is located on the side of the cross arm 311 near the connecting portion 330, limiting the locking spring and preventing it from sliding out of the mounting slot 111. The thickness of the hooking protrusion 114 is preferably the same as, or less than, the thickness of the cross arm 311 to prevent the hooking protrusion 114 from interfering with the rotation of the locking disk 320 toward the mounting portion 310.

[0081] Furthermore, when positioning protrusions 313 and positioning grooves 314 are provided on both sides of the mounting portion 310, the positioning structure also includes lateral positioning members, which can be structures such as elastic pins or elastic clips provided on both sides of the mounting groove 111. The lateral positioning members can cooperate with the positioning protrusions 313 and the positioning grooves 314 to allow the locking spring to be more stably installed in the cable connector 100.

[0082] In some embodiments of the present invention, the positioning structure includes a limiting member 160 located on both sides of the mounting slot 111. The limiting member 160 abuts against the side of the second end of the locking disk 320 facing away from the mounting portion 310. Specifically, the limiting member 160 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connector body 110 and extends toward the mounting slot 111. When the locking spring is installed in the mounting slot 111, the limiting members 160 on both sides of the mounting slot 111 respectively abut against the side of the second end of the locking disk 320 facing away from the mounting portion 310. This design has the following advantages: 1. It limits the locking spring, making it more stably fixed in the mounting slot 111; 2. The limiting member 160 can act as a lever fulcrum. When the locking disk 320 is rotated by the push arm 340, it is easier to rotate under the limiting action of the limiting member 160.

[0083] In some embodiments of the present invention, the cable connector 100 further includes a pressing sleeve 150, which is disposed on the outside of the push arm 340. Optionally, the pressing sleeve 150 is made of elastic rubber. The provision of the pressing sleeve 150 provides a more comfortable and anti-slip feel when pushing the push arm 340. Furthermore, the pressing sleeve 150 prevents direct contact between the push arm 340 and external structures such as cables, thereby preventing damage to the cables.

[0084] In conjunction with Figures 5, 6, and 7, in some embodiments of the present invention, the cable connector 100 further includes a pair of locking members 120, an unlocking sleeve 130, and a locking reset member 140. The cable connector 100 can be linked with the locking spring by the pair of locking members 120, the unlocking sleeve 130, and the locking reset member 140, further preventing unlocking caused by misoperation and achieving a better locking effect. A detailed description is provided below:

[0085] The connector body 110 is provided with an unlocking slot 112 and a sliding slot 113. The unlocking slot 112 is connected to the mounting slot 111 via the sliding slot 113. The unlocking slot 112 is formed at the end of the connector body 110 connected to the cable. Optionally, the unlocking slot 112 and the mounting slot 111 are located on opposite sides of the connector body 110, with one end of the sliding slot 113 connected to the mounting slot 111 and the other end connected to the unlocking slot 112.

[0086] A pair of locking members 120 are symmetrically arranged. The locking members 120 include a pressure portion 121, a locking portion 122, and a sliding portion 123. The ends of the pressure portion 121 and the locking portion 122 in the same direction are fixedly connected to the two ends of the sliding portion 123, respectively, so that the locking member 120 has an overall C-shaped structure. The pressure portion 121 is movably arranged in the unlocking groove 112. The end of the pressure portion 121 facing away from the sliding portion 123 is provided with a rolling member 124, which can be a roller structure. The locking portion 122 is located in the mounting groove 111. The thickness of the locking portion 122 is less than or equal to the thickness of the interlayer between the locking disk 320 and the connecting portion 330. Preferably, the thickness of the locking portion 122 is slightly less than the thickness of the interlayer between the locking disk 320 and the connecting portion 330. The sliding portion 123 is located in the slide groove 113 , one end of the sliding portion 123 is fixedly connected to the pressure portion 121 , and the other end is fixedly connected to the locking portion 122 . The sliding portion 123 is suitable for sliding in the slide groove 113 toward or away from the center direction of the connector body 110 .

[0087] The unlocking sleeve 130 includes a sleeve body 131 and an unlocking pressure block 132. The unlocking pressure block 132 is located in the unlocking groove 112 and between a pair of locking members 120. The unlocking pressure block 132 is a wedge-shaped structure, and unlocking inclined surfaces are provided on both sides of the unlocking pressure block 132. The unlocking inclined surfaces on both sides are in contact with and cooperate with the rolling members 124 of the pair of locking members 120 respectively. Preferably, the unlocking inclined surfaces on both sides of the unlocking pressure block 132 are symmetrically arranged. The sleeve body 131 is passed through the opening of the unlocking groove 112, and one end of the sleeve body 131 located in the unlocking groove 112 is a long strip structure, which is fixedly connected to the unlocking pressure block 132. The part of the sleeve body 131 located outside the unlocking groove 112 is a sleeve structure with an oblong cross-section, and the cable connected to the connector body 110 can be slidably sleeved. When the unlocking sleeve 130 slides in a direction away from the connector body 110 , it is suitable for driving the pair of locking members 120 to slide along the sliding groove 113 , so that the pair of locking members 120 are switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0088] The locking and resetting member 140 is located in the unlocking groove 112 and is connected to the pair of locking members 120 , and is used to provide elastic force for the pair of locking members 120 to switch to the locked state.

[0089] In the locked state, the locking portion 122 is located in the interlayer between the mounting portion 310 and the locking disk 320, which can prevent the locking disk 320 from rotating toward the connecting portion 330, thereby preventing accidental unlocking caused by accidental touch; in the unlocked state, the locking portion 122 is located outside the interlayer between the mounting portion 310 and the locking disk 320, and the locking disk 320 can rotate normally toward the connecting portion 330, thereby realizing the plugging and unplugging operations of the cable connector 100 and the board-end connector 200.

[0090] When performing the plugging and unplugging operation, the operator holds the part of the wire sleeve body 131 outside the unlocking slot 112 and pushes the push arm 340 with the thumb. At this time, the force directions of the wire sleeve body 131 and the push arm 340 are opposite, driving the wire sleeve body 131 to slide in the direction away from the connector body 110, and the locking part 122 moves to the outside of the interlayer between the mounting part 310 and the locking disk 320, releasing the obstruction to the locking disk 320, and then the locking disk 320 is driven by the push arm 340 to rotate toward the mounting part 310, thereby completing the plugging and unplugging operation.

[0091] After the cable connector 100 is connected to the board-end connector 200, under the elastic force of the locking reset member 140, the locking portion 122 moves to the interlayer between the mounting portion 310 and the locking disk 320, and drives the wire sleeve body 131 to reset. At this time, the locking portion 122 can prevent the positioning disk from rotating toward the mounting portion 310, thereby achieving the effect of preventing accidental unlocking.

[0092] In this embodiment, when unlocking, the movement direction of the cable sleeve body 131 is opposite to the pushing direction of the push arm 340, so the operation can be completed with one hand, which is convenient to use. Under the protection of the cable sleeve body 131, the cable of the cable connector 100 is not directly subjected to force during the insertion and removal process, which can prevent damage to the connection between the cable and the cable connector 100 or cable breakage.

[0093] Optionally, the cable sleeve body 131 is a flexible piece that can bend and deform to meet the installation and use requirements of different locations and spaces. The outer side of the cable sleeve body 131 is provided with an anti-slip structure. This anti-slip structure is a raised strip or dot structure that can increase friction with the hand and prevent relative sliding between the hand and the cable sleeve body 131 when unlocking.

[0094] In one optional form, the lock reset member 140 includes a pair of compression springs, which are arranged corresponding to the pair of locking members 120. The compression springs are located on the side of the corresponding locking members 120 facing away from the mounting portion 310. Specifically, a mounting hole is provided on the side wall of the unlocking slot 112. One end of the compression spring is inserted into the mounting hole, and the other end abuts against the locking member 120. When the locking member 120 switches from the locked state to the unlocked state, the compression spring is compressed and deformed. After the external force on the wire sleeve body 131 is removed, the compression spring pushes the locking member 120 to move to the locked state. Under the action of the locking member 120, the wire sleeve body 131 and the unlocking pressure block 132 can be driven to reset.

[0095] In another optional form, the locking and resetting member 140 includes a pair of elastic sheets, which are arranged corresponding to the pair of locking members 120. The elastic sheets are located on the side of the corresponding locking members 120 that is away from the mounting portion 310. The elastic sheets are arc-shaped sheets, one end of which is fixedly connected to the connector body 110, and the elastic sheets are bent toward the locking members 120. When the locking members 120 switch from the locked state to the unlocked state, the elastic sheets are squeezed to increase the bending angle of the elastic sheets. After the external force on the wire sleeve body 131 is removed, the elastic sheets are reset, pushing the locking members 120 to move to the locked state. Under the action of the locking members 120, the wire sleeve body 131 and the unlocking pressure block 132 can be driven to reset.

[0096] Of course, the above two locking reset member 140 structures are only two optional forms of the locking reset member 140. For example, the locking reset member 140 structure that can achieve reset, such as an elastic band, a tension spring, etc., should also be within the protection scope of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0097] The locking spring and cable connector 100 provided in the present application can drive the first end of the locking disk 320 to tilt toward the mounting portion 310 through the push arm 340 to achieve unlocking. The unlocking process is opposite to the pressure direction toward the cable, which can effectively avoid accidental unlocking. Moreover, in the process of unlocking the locking disk 320 by pushing the push arm 340, the lock 350 tilts and moves toward the direction of the limiting surface of the opening 211 away from the board-end connector 200, without reserving active space, thereby effectively ensuring the reliability of the connection.

[0098] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A snap spring piece, characterized in that, Applicable to a cable connector, the cable connector is provided with a mounting groove, and the latch spring piece includes a mounting portion, a locking disc, a connecting portion and a pushing arm; The mounting portion is disposed opposite to the locking disc; At least one latch is provided on a side of a first end of the locking disc facing away from the mounting portion. A second end of the locking disc is connected to one end of the connecting portion, the other end of the connecting portion is connected to a corresponding end of the mounting portion, and one end of the pushing arm is connected to the second end of the locking disc and is bent toward a side away from the mounting portion; In the mounting groove, the mounting portion is located on a side of the locking disc close to the bottom of the mounting groove, the first end of the locking disc faces the docking end of the cable connector, and when the pushing arm bears a thrust force toward the first end of the locking disc, it drives the first end of the locking disc to incline toward the mounting portion.

2. The snap spring according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting portion includes a pair of rotating arms, the pair of rotating arms are respectively disposed on both sides of the pushing arm, the pair of rotating arms are arc-shaped plates, one end of the arc-shaped plate is connected to the second end of the locking disc, and the other end is connected to the corresponding end of the mounting portion.

3. The snap spring according to claim 2, wherein The bending angle of the arc-shaped plate is greater than or equal to 180°, so that the two ends of the arc-shaped plate face the same direction.

4. The snap spring according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The mounting portion includes a cross arm and a pair of connecting arms, the pair of connecting arms are arranged in parallel at intervals, one end of the pair of connecting arms is fixedly connected to the connecting portion, and the cross arm is respectively connected to one end of the pair of connecting arms facing away from the connecting portion.

5. The snap spring according to claim 1, wherein, The pushing arm includes a first section, a second section and a third section connected in sequence. One end of the first section facing away from the second section is fixedly connected to the locking disc, the first section is arranged parallel to the locking disc, and an angle is respectively formed between the second section and the first section and between the second section and the third section.

6. The snap spring according to claim 5, characterized in that, Taking the first section as a reference, the inclination angle of the third section is greater than the inclination angle of the second section.

7. The snap spring according to claim 1, wherein A guiding inclined surface is provided on a side of the latch facing the first end of the locking disc, and a positioning surface is provided on a side of the latch facing the second end of the locking disc.

8. The snap spring according to claim 7, wherein Positioning protrusions are respectively provided on both sides of the mounting portion. A side of the positioning protrusion close to the first end of the locking disc is provided as a slope surface, and a side close to the second end of the locking disc is provided as a vertical surface structure.

9. The buckle spring piece according to claim 8, wherein, Positioning grooves are respectively provided on both sides of the mounting portion. The positioning grooves are located on a side of the positioning protrusion close to the second end of the locking disc and are adjacent to the vertical surface structure of the positioning protrusion.

10. The snap spring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting portion, the locking disc, the connecting portion and the pushing arm are integrally formed.

11. A cable connector, characterized in that, Comprising a connector body and the latch spring piece according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mounting groove is provided on one side of the connector body.

12. The cable connector according to claim 11, wherein, A positioning structure is provided in the mounting groove, and the positioning structure is in mating connection with the mounting portion.

13. The cable connector according to claim 12, characterized in that, When the mounting portion includes a cross arm and a pair of connecting arms, the positioning structure includes a hanging protrusion, and the hanging protrusion is located at the bottom of the mounting groove and is in hanging connection and cooperation with the cross arm.

14. The cable connector according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The positioning structure includes limiting members located on both sides of the mounting groove, and the limiting members are in abutting connection with a side of the second end of the locking disc facing away from the mounting portion.

15. The cable connector according to claim 11, characterized in that, It also includes a pressing sleeve, which is sleeved on the outer side of the push arm.

16. The cable connector according to claim 15, characterized in that, The pressing sleeve is made of elastic rubber material.

17. The cable connector according to claim 11, wherein, Also includes a pair of locking pieces, an unlocking wire sleeve and a locking reset piece; The connector body is provided with an unlocking groove and a sliding groove, the unlocking groove is connected to the mounting groove through the sliding groove, and the unlocking groove forms an opening at one end of the connector body connected to the cable; A pair of locking members are symmetrically arranged, and the locking members include a pressure-bearing portion, a locking portion and a sliding portion, the pressure-bearing portion is movably arranged in the unlocking groove, a rolling member is arranged at one end of the pressure-bearing portion, the locking portion is located in the mounting groove, the sliding portion is located in the sliding groove, one end of the sliding portion is fixedly connected to the pressure-bearing portion, and the other end is fixedly connected to the locking portion; The unlocking sleeve comprises a sleeve body and an unlocking pressure block, the unlocking pressure block is a wedge-shaped structure, the unlocking pressure block is located in the unlocking groove and between the pair of locking members, unlocking inclined surfaces are provided on both sides of the unlocking pressure block, the unlocking inclined surfaces on both sides are respectively in contact with the rolling members of the pair of locking members, the sleeve body is passed through the opening of the unlocking groove and is fixedly connected to the unlocking pressure block, the portion of the sleeve body located outside the unlocking groove is slidably sleeved with the cable connected to the connector body, and the unlocking sleeve moves away from the connector body. When the connector body slides in the direction of the connector body, the connector body is adapted to drive the pair of locking members to slide along the slide slot, so that the pair of locking members are switched from a locked state to an unlocked state; The locking reset member is located in the unlocking groove and connected to the pair of locking members, and is used to provide elastic force for the pair of locking members to switch to the locking state; In the locked state, the locking portion is located in the interlayer between the mounting portion and the locking disk; In the unlocked state, the locking portion is located outside the interlayer between the mounting portion and the locking disk.

18. The cable connector according to claim 17, characterized in that, The locking and resetting member includes a pair of compression springs, which are arranged corresponding to the pair of locking members, and the compression springs are located on a side of the corresponding locking member away from the mounting portion.

19. The cable connector according to claim 17, characterized in that, The locking and resetting member includes a pair of elastic sheets, and the pair of elastic sheets are arranged corresponding to the pair of locking members. The elastic sheet is located on the side of the corresponding locking member away from the mounting portion. The elastic sheet is an arc-shaped sheet, one end of the elastic sheet is fixedly connected to the connector body, and the elastic sheet is bent toward the locking member.

20. The cable connector according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that, The wire sleeve body is a flexible member, and an anti-slip structure is arranged on the outer side of the wire sleeve body.

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