CN113131298A

CN113131298A - Connector and connector assembly

Info

Publication number: CN113131298A
Application number: CN202110431013.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李展华; 张军
Original assignee: Lizhen Technology Kunshan Co ltd
Current assignee: Lizhen Technology Kunshan Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-21
Filing date: 2021-04-21
Publication date: 2021-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-21
Also published as: CN113131298B

Abstract

The invention discloses a connector and a connector assembly, and belongs to the technical field of network interface equipment. The connector subassembly includes the connector, and the connector includes first terminal and first insulator, the one end of first insulator is the link, and the other end is the wiring end, one side of link has a breach, the draw-in groove has been seted up to the link, first terminal inserts and establishes in the draw-in groove, the wiring end seted up extending direction with the parallel wire passageway of grafting direction of first terminal, the wire passageway with the draw-in groove intercommunication so that first terminal connect in net twine in the wire passageway. The connector of the present invention reduces the volume of the connector insertion end of the present invention, and thus can be applied to small or thin devices. According to the connector assembly, the connector is arranged, so that the volume of the plugging end of the connector can be reduced, the volume of the socket can be reduced, the connector assembly can be further suitable for small or thin equipment, and the application range is expanded.

Description

Connector and connector assembly

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of network interface equipment, in particular to a connector and a connector assembly.

Background

As shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, a conventional connector assembly (for example, an RJ45 type connector) includes a connector 1 ' and a socket 2 ', wherein a cable 3 ' is fixedly connected to the connector 1 ', the connector 1 ' is inserted into the socket 2 ' for connection, and the connector 1 ' is securely connected to the socket 2 ' by a resilient latch 13 '.

The connector 1 ' mainly comprises a wire pressing terminal 11 ' and an insulating body 12 ', the mesh wire 3 ' is inserted into the insulating body 12 ' through a socket, the mesh wire 3 ' is pressed into the insulating body 12 ' through an elastic cantilever 14 ', and the wire pressing terminal 11 ' is pressed on the mesh wire 3 ' from one side of the insulating body 12 ', so that the mesh wire 3 ' is connected with the connector 1 '. This connection causes the connector 1 ' to be bulky, and thus the receptacle 2 ' to be mated with the connector 1 ' to be bulky, so that the entire connector assembly cannot be mounted on a small or thin device.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which can reduce the volume of a plug terminal and can be applied to a small or thin device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly, which can be applied to a wide range by providing the above connector.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention adopts the following technical scheme:

the utility model provides a connector, includes first terminal and first insulator, the one end of first insulator is the link, and the other end is the wiring end, one side of link has a breach, the draw-in groove has been seted up to the link, first terminal is inserted and is established in the draw-in groove, the wiring end seted up the extending direction with the parallel wire passageway of grafting direction of first terminal, the wire passageway with the draw-in groove intercommunication so that first terminal connect in net twine in the wire passageway.

Optionally, the notch enables the connecting end to be arranged in a step shape.

Optionally, the insulation structure further comprises a clamping structure, and the clamping structure is arranged on the outer wall of the first insulation body.

Optionally, the clamping structure includes an elastic clamping hook, and the two opposite side walls of the first insulating body parallel to the insertion direction of the first terminal are respectively provided with the elastic clamping hook.

Optionally, the elastic hook comprises a hook body and a clamping protrusion, and one end of the hook body is connected to the outer wall of the first insulating body; the clamping protrusion is arranged on the outer side of the connecting end of the clamping hook body.

Optionally, the wire channel includes an insertion section and a guide section, one end of the guide section is communicated with one end of the insertion section, and the other end of the guide section is communicated with the slot.

Optionally, one end of the insertion section near the guide section is provided with a taper.

Optionally, in the thickness direction of the first insulating body, the outlet end of the wire channel and one end of the card slot close to the wire channel are arranged up and down.

Optionally, the insulation board further comprises an elastic cantilever, a mounting groove communicated with the wire channel is formed in the side wall of the first insulation body, and one end of the elastic cantilever is connected to the inner wall, deviating from the clamping groove, of one side of the mounting groove.

Optionally, the elastic cantilever comprises a cantilever body and a clamping part, and one end of the cantilever body is connected to the inner wall of the mounting groove; the clamping portion is arranged at one end, adjacent to the wiring end, of the cantilever body.

Optionally, when the mesh in the wire channel is attached to the inner wall of the wire channel on the side opposite to the elastic cantilever, a gap is left between the inner wall of the wire channel on the same side as the elastic cantilever and the mesh.

Optionally, one end of the insertion section, which is close to the guide section, is provided with a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, the first inclined surface is connected with the second inclined surface to form the tapered arrangement, and an inclination angle of the first inclined surface is smaller than that of the second inclined surface.

A connector assembly comprises the connector and a socket matched with the connector.

Optionally, the socket includes a second insulating body, a second terminal and a housing, the second insulating body has a mating interface for plugging the connector; the second terminal is fixed on the second insulating body and at least partially exposes out of the inner wall of the butt joint interface; the shell is sleeved on the second insulation body.

Optionally, one side of the housing corresponding to the insertion end of the docking interface is provided with a stopping portion extending towards the central axis direction of the docking interface, and the inner wall of the second insulating body corresponding to the insertion end of the docking interface is provided with an avoiding groove.

Optionally, each second terminal includes two contact portions, a connecting portion and a soldering portion, and the two contact portions are respectively disposed on the top wall and the bottom wall of the second insulating body corresponding to the mating interface; the connecting part is fixed on the second insulating body and is positioned at one end of the two contact parts, and the two ends of the connecting part are respectively connected to one end of one contact part; one end of the welding part is connected with a joint of the contact part and the connecting part.

Optionally, two opposite side surfaces of the two contact portions are respectively provided with a plurality of protruding portions at intervals.

Optionally, the connecting portion is in a continuous curved structure.

The invention has the beneficial effects that:

the connector of the present invention comprises a first terminal and a first insulating body, by providing a notch at a connection end of the first insulating body, so that, on the one hand, the connector of the present invention may be limited in the insertion by a step surface formed on the first insulating body, on the other hand, the connection end of the first insulating body is provided with a card slot, the first terminal is inserted into the card slot, the first insulating terminal is provided with a wire passage extending in a direction parallel to the insertion direction of the first terminal, the wire passage is communicated with the card slot to connect the first terminal to a network cable in the wire passage, the first terminal and the network cable are connected in the length direction of the first insulating body, there is no overlap in the thickness direction of the first insulating body, the thickness of the first insulating body connection end can be reduced, that is, the volume of the connector insertion end of the present invention is reduced, so that it can be applied to a small or thin device.

According to the connector assembly, the connector is arranged, so that the volume of the plugging end of the connector can be reduced, the volume of the socket can be reduced, the connector assembly can be further suitable for small or thin equipment, and the application range is expanded.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view schematic of a prior art connector assembly;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a connector and receptacle of the connector assembly in a separated state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a connector assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at B-B of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view schematic of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view at C-C in fig. 7.

In the figure:

1', a connector; 11', wire pressing terminals; 12', an insulating body; 13', an elastic buckle; 14', a flexible cantilever; 2', a socket; 3', and a net wire;

1. a connector; 11. a first terminal; 12. a first insulating body; 121. a card slot; 122. a wire passage; 1221. an insertion section; 12211. a first inclined plane; 12212. a second inclined plane; 1222. a guide section; 123. mounting grooves; 124. a connecting end; 125. a terminal; 126. a notch; 13. a clamping structure; 131. an elastic clamping hook; 1311. a hook body; 1312. clamping convex; 14. a flexible cantilever; 141. a cantilever body; 142. a clamping part;

2. a socket; 21. a second insulating body; 211. a docking interface; 212. an avoidance groove; 22. a second terminal; 221. a contact portion; 2211. a boss portion; 222. a connecting portion; 223. welding the part; 23. a housing; 231. a stopper portion;

3. and (6) a network cable.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar function throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are illustrative and intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Wherein the terms "first position" and "second position" are two different positions.

Unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "secured" are to be construed broadly and encompass, for example, both fixed and removable connections; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

Unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may include the first feature being in direct contact with the second feature, or may include the first feature being in direct contact with the second feature but being in contact with the second feature by another feature therebetween. Also, the first feature being "on," "above" and "over" the second feature includes the first feature being directly on and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature includes the first feature being directly under and obliquely below the second feature, or simply meaning that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

The technical scheme of the invention is further explained by the specific implementation mode in combination with the attached figures 3-8.

The present embodiment provides a network cable 3 crystal head, as shown in fig. 3, the network cable 3 crystal head includes a connector 1 and a socket 2 which is matched with the connector 1.

As shown in fig. 3 to 6, the connector 1 includes a first terminal 11 and a first insulating body 12, one end of the first insulating body 12 is a connecting end 124, the other end is a terminal 125, one side of the connecting end 124 has a notch 126, the connecting end 124 is provided with a slot 121, the first terminal 11 is inserted into the slot 121, the terminal 125 is provided with a wire channel 122 extending in a direction parallel to the inserting direction of the first terminal 11, and the wire channel 122 is communicated with the slot 121 so that the first terminal 11 is connected to the network cable 3 in the wire channel 122.

In the present embodiment, by providing the connecting end 124 of the first insulating body 12 with the notch 126, on one hand, the connector 1 of the present invention can be restrained at the time of plugging by the step surface formed on the first insulating body 12, and on the other hand, the first terminal 11 and the mesh wire 3 are connected in the length direction of the first insulating body 12 without overlapping in the thickness direction of the first insulating body 12, the thickness of the connecting end 124 of the first insulating body 12, that is, the volume of the plugging end of the connector 1 of the present invention can be reduced, so that it can be applied to a small or thin device.

In alternative embodiments, the notches 126 provide a stepped arrangement of the connecting ends 124. In the case where the installation of the first terminal 11 and the mesh wire 3 is satisfied, the occupied space of the first insulating body 12 is reduced, thereby reducing the thickness of the first insulating body 12. In this embodiment, a notch 126 is formed on an outer wall of one side of the first insulator. Of course, in other embodiments, the notches 126 may be disposed on both of the opposite sidewalls of the first insulating body 12 according to the requirement, and are not limited herein.

As shown in fig. 6, the wire passage 122 includes an insertion section 1221 and a guide section 1222 having one end connected to one end of the insertion section 1221, and the other end of the guide section 1222 is connected to the card slot 121. In detail, the mesh wire 3 is inserted into the wire passage 122 from the insertion section 1221, and then inserted into the card slot 121 under the guiding action of the guide section 1222, so as to be connected with the first terminal 11 in the card slot 121.

To facilitate inserting the mesh wire 3 into the guiding segment 1222, as shown in fig. 6, an end of the inserting segment 1221 near the guiding segment 1222 is tapered, and in this embodiment, the tapered opening end may be, but is not limited to, a rectangular flaring shape.

As shown in fig. 6, in the thickness direction of the first insulating body 12, the exit end of the wire passage 122 and one end of the card slot 121 near the wire passage 122 are arranged up and down. It can be understood that the mesh wire 3 needs to be bent from the wire passage 122 into the card slot 121, so that the first terminal 11 can abut against the mesh wire 3 along the radial direction of the mesh wire 3, and thus the mesh wire 3 can be firmly fixed in the wire passage 122 and reliably connected with the first terminal 11.

Further, as shown in fig. 6, the connector 1 in this embodiment further includes an elastic cantilever 14, a mounting groove 123 communicating with the wire passage 122 is formed on a side wall of the first insulating body 12, and one end of the elastic cantilever 14 is connected to an inner wall of the mounting groove 123 on a side away from the card slot 121. Specifically, by pressing the elastic cantilever 14 to bring one end of the elastic cantilever 14 into contact with the wire 3 and finally fixing the elastic cantilever 14, the wire 3 can be further fixed, and the reliability of connection of the wire 3 can be improved.

Specifically, the elastic cantilever 14 includes a cantilever body 141 and a clamping portion 142, and one end of the cantilever body 141 is connected to the inner wall of the mounting groove 123. The clamping portion 142 is disposed at an end of the cantilever body 141 adjacent to the terminal 125. It can be understood that, pressing the elastic cantilever 14, the free end of the cantilever body 141 abuts on the network cable 3, and the end of the clamping portion 142 departing from the cantilever body 141 can abut on the intersection of the groove wall of the mounting groove 123 and the inner wall of the wire channel 122, so as to fix the elastic cantilever 14, and further fix the network cable 3.

In detail, when the mesh wire 3 in the wire guide passage 122 is attached to the inner wall of the wire guide passage 122 opposite to the elastic cantilever 14, a gap is left between the inner wall of the wire guide passage 122 on the same side as the elastic cantilever 14 and the mesh wire 3, so as to provide a moving space for the elastic cantilever 14, and the mesh wire 3 is reliably fixed between the inner wall of the guide passage and the elastic cantilever 14.

In particular, one end of the insertion section 1221 near the guide section 1222 has a first slope 12211 and a second slope 12212, the first slope 12211 is connected with the second slope 12212 to form a taper, so that the net wire can rapidly enter the guide section 1222, the slope angle of the first slope 12211 is smaller than that of the second slope 12212, the slope angle of the second slope 12212 is large to provide a large space, so that the cantilever body 141 has a large displacement space, and the clamping portion 142 can more conveniently push the net wire 3 into the guide section 1222; in addition, since the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 12211 is smaller than that of the second inclined surface 12212, a smaller space below the first inclined surface 12211 is formed than an upper space above the second inclined surface 12212, and thus the first inclined surface 12211 can rapidly guide the wire 3 from above to the guide section 1222 when the wire 3 is pushed into the guide section 1222.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the receptacle 2 includes a second insulative housing 21, a second terminal 22, and a housing 23, the second insulative housing 21 having a mating interface 211 for receiving the connector 1. The second terminal 22 is fixed to the second insulating body 21, and at least a portion of the second terminal is exposed from an inner wall of the mating interface 211. The housing 23 is fitted over the second insulating body 21. The first terminal 11 and the second terminal 22 are connected when the connector 1 is inserted into the mating interface 211, thereby achieving signal transmission.

In order to reliably connect the connector 1 and the socket 2, as shown in fig. 3, the connector 1 in this embodiment further includes a latch structure 13, and the latch structure 13 is disposed on an outer wall of the first insulating body 12. The connector 1 is securely connected to the socket 2 by the snap-fit structure 13.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, the clamping structure 13 includes an elastic clamping hook 131, and two opposite side walls of the first insulating body 12 parallel to the plugging direction of the first terminal 11 are respectively provided with the elastic clamping hook 131. It can be understood that, when the connector 1 is inserted into the socket 2, the elastic hook 131 is pressed to enable the connector 1 to be inserted into the docking interface 211, and when the connector 1 is inserted into the docking interface 211, the elastic hook 131 is released, and the elastic hook 131 resets and abuts against the inner wall of the docking interface 211, so that the reliability of connection between the connector 1 and the socket 2 is improved.

In order to further improve the reliability of the connection between the connector 1 and the socket 2, as shown in fig. 3, 4, 7 and 8, the elastic hook 131 includes a hook body 1311 and a protrusion 1312, and one end of the hook body 1311 is connected to the outer wall of the first insulating body 12. The latch 1312 is disposed outside the connection end 124 of the hook body 1311. Correspondingly, a stopping portion 231 extending towards the central axis direction of the docking interface 211 is disposed on one side of the housing 23 corresponding to the insertion end of the docking interface 211, and an avoiding groove 212 is disposed on an inner wall of the second insulating body 21 corresponding to the insertion end of the docking interface 211. Specifically, when the connector 1 is connected to the receptacle 2, the hook body 1311 is pressed to smoothly insert the connector 1 into the mating interface 211, and after the connector 1 is inserted into the mating interface 211, the hook body 1311 is released, the hook body 1311 is reset, the protrusion 1312 is located in the avoiding groove 212 and the protrusion 1312 abuts against the stopper 231, thereby preventing the connector 1 from being retracted and loosened by an external force.

Further, in order to facilitate the insertion of the connector 1 into the docking interface 211, the opposite outer sides of the two hook bodies 1311 are respectively provided with anti-slip threads for facilitating the assembly or disassembly in the assembled state.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, each second terminal 22 includes two contact portions 221, a connection portion 222 and a soldering portion 223, and the two contact portions 221 are respectively disposed on the top wall and the bottom wall of the second insulating body 21 corresponding to the mating interface 211. The connecting portion 222 is fixed to the second insulating body 21, the connecting portion 222 is located at one end of the two contact portions 221, and two ends of the connecting portion 222 are respectively connected to one end of one contact portion 221. One end of the welding part 223 is connected to a connection part of one contact part 221 and the connection part 222. When the connector 1 is connected to the socket 2, the upper and lower ends of the first terminal 11 can be connected to the contact portions 221 of the second terminals 22 on the top and bottom walls of the mating interface 211, respectively, thereby improving the connection stability between the connector 1 and the socket 2.

In order to further improve the reliability of the connection between the connector 1 and the socket 2, as shown in fig. 4, a plurality of protruding portions 2211 are respectively disposed on two opposite side surfaces of the two contact portions 221 at intervals. So that the first terminal 11 is tightly connected between the two contact portions 221.

As shown in fig. 4, in some alternative embodiments, the connecting portion 222 has a continuous curved structure, which increases the elasticity and assembling stress of the connecting portion 222, and facilitates the connection between the connector 1 and the socket 2, i.e. the first terminal 11 can be stably electrically connected to the second terminal 22.

In the present embodiment, the connecting end 124 of the first insulating body 12 is configured as the notch 126, so on the one hand, the connector 1 of the present invention can be limited by the step surface formed on the first insulating body 12 when being plugged, on the other hand, as shown in the above structural description and the drawings, it can be clearly known that the first terminal 11 and the mesh wire 3 are connected in the length direction of the first insulating body 12, there is no overlap in the thickness direction of the first insulating body 12, the thickness of the connecting end 124 of the first insulating body 12 can be reduced, that is, the volume of the plugging end of the connector 1 of the present invention can be reduced, and thus the present invention can be applied to small or thin devices.

Furthermore, by the provision of the elastic cantilever 14, the network cable 3 and the connector 1 can be reliably connected. Through the arrangement of the clamping structure 13, the reliability of the connection between the connector 1 and the socket 2 is improved. Therefore, the network cable 3 crystal head in the embodiment has a more compact overall structure, improves reliability, can be suitable for small or thin equipment, and enlarges application range.

The technical principle of the present invention is described above in connection with specific embodiments. The description is made for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope of the invention. Based on the explanations herein, those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of other embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort, which would fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. The utility model provides a connector, includes first terminal (11) and first insulator (12), its characterized in that, the one end of first insulator (12) is link (124), and the other end is wiring end (125), one side of link (124) has a breach (126), draw-in groove (121) have been seted up in link (124), first terminal (11) are inserted and are established in draw-in groove (121), wiring end (125) are seted up extension direction with wire passageway (122) that the grafting direction of first terminal (11) is parallel, wire passageway (122) with draw-in groove (121) intercommunication is so that first terminal (11) connect in net twine (3) in wire passageway (122).

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the notch (126) provides a stepped arrangement of the connecting end (124).

3. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a snap structure (13), wherein the snap structure (13) is disposed on an outer wall of the first insulating body (12).

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the clamping structure (13) comprises elastic clamping hooks (131), and two opposite side walls of the first insulating body (12) parallel to the plugging direction of the first terminal (11) are respectively provided with the elastic clamping hooks (131).

5. Connector according to claim 4, characterized in that said elastic catch (131) comprises:

a hook body (1311) having one end connected to an outer wall of the first insulating body (12); and

a clamping protrusion (1312) arranged at the outer side of the connecting end (124) of the clamping hook body (1311).

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the wire passage (122) includes an insertion section (1221) and a guide section (1222) having one end communicating with one end of the insertion section (1221), and the other end of the guide section (1222) communicates with the card slot (121).

7. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the insertion section (1221) is tapered near an end of the guide section (1222).

8. The connector according to claim 7, further comprising a resilient cantilever (14), wherein a side wall of the first insulating body (12) is provided with a mounting groove (123) communicated with the wire passage (122), and one end of the resilient cantilever (14) is connected to an inner wall of the mounting groove (123) on a side away from the card slot (121).

9. Connector according to claim 8, characterized in that the elastic cantilever (14) comprises:

the cantilever body (141), one end of the cantilever body (141) is connected to the inner wall of the mounting groove (123); and

and the clamping part (142) is arranged at one end of the cantilever body (141) adjacent to the terminal (125).

10. The connector according to claim 8, characterized in that when the mesh wire (3) in the wire passage (122) is attached to the inner wall of the wire passage (122) opposite to the elastic cantilever (14), a gap is left between the inner wall of the wire passage (122) on the same side as the elastic cantilever (14) and the mesh wire (3).

11. The connector according to claim 7, wherein an end of the insertion section (1221) near the guide section (1222) has a first slope (12211) and a second slope (12212), the first slope (12211) and the second slope (12212) are connected to form the tapered arrangement, and an inclination angle of the first slope (12211) is smaller than an inclination angle of the second slope (12212).

12. A connector assembly, characterized by comprising a connector (1) according to any one of claims 1-11 and a socket (2) for co-operation with the connector (1).

13. Connector assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the socket (2) comprises:

a second insulating body (21) having a mating interface (211) for mating with the connector (1);

the second terminal (22) is fixed on the second insulating body (21) and at least partially exposes out of the inner wall of the butt joint interface (211); and

and the shell (23) is sleeved on the second insulating body (21).

14. The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein a stopper portion (231) extending toward a central axis of the docking interface (211) is disposed on a side of the housing (23) corresponding to the insertion end of the docking interface (211), and an avoiding groove (212) is formed on an inner wall of the second insulating body (21) corresponding to the insertion end of the docking interface (211).

15. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the second terminals (22) comprises:

two contact parts (221) respectively arranged on the top wall and the bottom wall of the second insulating body (21) corresponding to the butt joint interface (211);

the connecting part (222) is fixed on the second insulating body (21), the connecting part (222) is positioned at one end of the two contact parts (221), and two ends of the connecting part (222) are respectively connected to one end of one contact part (221); and

and a welding part (223) having one end connected to a connection part of the contact part (221) and the connection part (222).

16. The connector assembly according to claim 15, wherein the two opposite sides of the two contact portions (221) are respectively provided with a plurality of projections (2211) at intervals.

17. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the connecting portion (222) is a continuous curved structure.