CN113193412B

CN113193412B - Connector outer shell

Info

Publication number: CN113193412B
Application number: CN202110541267.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王睿; 车敏; 王丽丽
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact Asia Pacific Nanjing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact Asia Pacific Nanjing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-18
Filing date: 2021-05-18
Publication date: 2023-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2041-05-18
Also published as: CN113193412A

Abstract

The application relates to a connector outer shell, which comprises a first opening at the tail end and a second opening at the plug end, wherein the first opening is used for incoming wires, and the second opening is used for forming a plug connection with a matched connector outer shell, and is characterized in that: the locking device comprises an outer shell, and is characterized in that a locking spring arm is arranged on an operation surface of the outer shell and comprises a locking section close to the inserting end and an unlocking section far away from the inserting end, the locking spring arm is positioned on the outer shell through a supporting structure and can generate elastic deformation for lifting the locking section under the action of external force applied to the unlocking section, and the supporting structure is connected with the locking spring arm through a plurality of connecting parts.

Description

Connector outer shell

Technical Field

The present application relates to a connector housing, and more particularly, to a housing for an electrical connector having a latch structure that provides enhanced retention after mating with a mating connector housing.

Background

Electronic connectors are widely used in a variety of industrial products including vehicles for establishing electrical power and signal connections. An electronic connector generally includes a plug connector having a connector housing in which an electrical connection terminal structure is mountable, and a mating connector having a rear end for incoming wires and a mating end for mating with the housing of the mating connector. The mating connector may be a receptacle connector, such as a board-end receptacle connector mounted on a board, or a wire-end receptacle connector mounted at the end of another wire harness.

In general, a latch structure capable of being elastically deformed is provided on an outer housing of a plug connector, and when the outer housing of a receptacle connector is plugged with the outer housing of the plug connector, the latch structure on the plug connector and a corresponding structure on the receptacle connector may form physical interference, thereby locking the plug connector and the receptacle connector together. When the lock needs to be released, the lock catch structure is elastically deformed to a certain extent by pressing or other operations, so that the physical interference is released. Fig. 4A shows an outer housing of a technically possible plug connector with an elastically deformable latching structure 500. Fig. 4B shows another technically possible outer housing of a plug connector with another form of elastically deformable latching structure 600.

Either latch structure 500 or latch structure 600 eventually deforms under a sufficient pulling force, resulting in the release of the lock between the plug connector and the receptacle connector. The maximum pullout force that the connector can withstand before unlocking can be characterized as the retention force.

It will be appreciated that miniaturized connectors are more prone to retention challenges, and therefore, it is desirable to have a connector outer housing design with enhanced retention to address such challenges. In addition, secondary lock fittings may be used to enhance retention of the connector, but in some applications it may be desirable to reduce the use of secondary lock fittings, relying solely on the primary lock catch to provide adequate retention.

Disclosure of Invention

The present application aims to provide a novel connector outer housing having a novel latch structure that enables higher retention than existing designs.

According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a connector housing comprising a first opening at a rear end for incoming wires and a second opening at a mating end for forming a mating relationship with a mating connector housing, characterized in that: the locking device comprises an outer shell, and is characterized in that a locking spring arm is arranged on an operation surface of the outer shell and comprises a locking section close to the inserting end and an unlocking section far away from the inserting end, the locking spring arm is positioned on the outer shell through a supporting structure and can generate elastic deformation for lifting the locking section under the action of external force applied to the unlocking section, and the supporting structure is connected with the locking spring arm through a plurality of connecting parts.

In the connector outer shell, the support structure comprises a plurality of supporting feet at one end connected with the locking spring arm, and each supporting foot is connected to the locking spring arm respectively.

In the connector housing described above, the plurality of legs includes a first leg and a second leg that extend at different angles and are connected to the latch spring arm.

In the connector shell, the longitudinal section of the supporting structure comprises a main arc section, one end of the main arc section is connected to the operation surface, a first supporting leg is formed at the other end of the main arc section, the longitudinal section of the supporting structure further comprises a second supporting leg which is branched from the main arc section, and the first supporting leg and the second supporting leg are respectively connected to the locking elastic arms.

In the connector outer housing, the second leg diverges from the inside of the main arc section.

In the connector outer shell, the tail end of the locking arm of the locking spring arm is provided with a clamping nose structure which is used for being matched with a corresponding clamping structure on the opposite connector outer shell to realize locking.

In the connector outer shell, the corresponding clamping structure on the outer shell of the counter connector is a hanging table structure.

In the connector outer shell, the locking between the clamping nose structure and the hanging table structure can be released through external force applied to the unlocking section.

The connector outer shell further comprises a separable secondary lock catch, wherein the secondary lock catch can be installed on the operation surface of the outer shell and slide between a pre-locking position and a final-locking position.

In the connector outer shell, when the secondary lock catch slides to the final locking position, the secondary lock catch is positioned below the unlocking section of the lock catch spring arm, so that the movement stroke of the unlocking section pressed downwards is interfered.

In the connector outer shell, the bottom of the secondary lock catch is provided with the positioning protrusion, the operation surface of the outer shell is provided with the secondary lock catch matching installation structure, the secondary lock catch matching installation structure comprises one or more locking grooves, a pre-locking notch and a final-locking notch are arranged in each locking groove, and the secondary lock catch can be positioned in the pre-locking notch or the final-locking notch and can slide between the pre-locking notch and the final-locking notch by overcoming resistance.

In the connector shell, the secondary lock catch matching installation structure further comprises a stop groove, a stop protrusion is further arranged at the bottom of the secondary lock catch, and the stop protrusion can be positioned in the stop groove to limit the secondary lock catch to slide and withdraw.

In the connector shell, two sides of the operation surface of the shell are respectively provided with side walls, each side wall is provided with a limit guide protrusion, two ends of the secondary lock catch are respectively provided with a slide rail protrusion, and the limit guide protrusions on the side walls and the operation surface together define a slide groove matched with the slide rail protrusions of the secondary lock catch.

In the connector shell, a pair of limiting blocks are arranged above the unlocking section of the locking spring arm and are used for limiting the space for the locking spring arm to deform upwards.

In the connector housing, an operation surface of the connector housing corresponds to an operation surface of the unlocking operation.

According to an aspect of the present application, an electrical connector is provided, comprising the connector housing described above.

In the above electrical connector, the connector housing is a plug connector housing or a receptacle connector housing.

In the above electrical connector, the connector housing is a wire end connector housing or a board end connector housing.

According to one aspect of the present application, an electrical connection kit is provided, comprising a first connector and a mating second connector, wherein the first connector comprises the connector housing described above.

The application realizes the following beneficial effects: 1. the special design of the support structure of the latch spring arm as the primary lock means allows the connector housing to provide good retention without the use of a secondary lock. 2. An optional secondary lock may further enhance retention.

Drawings

Fig. 1A shows an exploded schematic view of an electrical connection kit according to an embodiment of the application.

Fig. 1B shows a schematic view of the assembled state of the electrical connection kit shown in fig. 1A.

Fig. 2 shows a side view and a partial sectional view of a plug connector and a receptacle connector in an assembled state according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3A shows a side view of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the application, and fig. 3B shows a partial enlarged view of the support structure of the latch spring arm in fig. 3A.

Fig. 4A shows an outer housing of a plug connector for comparison with an embodiment of the present application, fig. 4B shows an outer housing of a plug connector for comparison with an embodiment of the present application, and fig. 4C shows an outer housing of a plug connector for comparison with an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5A is a side view showing a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present application, fig. 5B shows a partially enlarged view of a secondary latch portion in fig. 5A, fig. 5C shows a schematic view of the secondary latch in fig. 5B in a pre-latch position, and fig. 5D shows a comparative view of the secondary latch in fig. 5B in a pre-latch position and a final-latch position.

Fig. 6A shows a bottom view of a secondary latch according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6B illustrates a secondary latch mating mounting structure on a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6C illustrates an assembly relationship of a secondary latch and a secondary latch mating mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present application.

Part of the reference numerals:

a 100 plug connector; 120 operation surface; 125 secondary lock catch matching installation structure; 130 locking grooves; 131 a pre-lock notch; 132 end lock notches; a 180 limiting block; 200 socket connector; 220 hanging table structure; 300 secondary locking; a 310 substrate; 320 sidewalls; 330 ramp; 340 sliding rail bulges; 350 positioning protrusions; 390 stop tab; 395 retaining groove; 400 latch spring arms; 410 locking section; 415 clip nose; 420 unlocking the segment; 440a support structure; 440A first leg; 440B second leg; 460 lock-in interference; a 500 latch structure; 600 latch structure; 700 latch structure.

Detailed Description

In the following description, the present application is described with reference to the embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other alternative and/or additional methods, materials, or components. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the application. Similarly, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the application. However, the application may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, it should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Fig. 1A shows an exploded schematic view of an electrical connection kit according to an embodiment of the application. Fig. 1B shows a schematic view of the assembled state of the electrical connection kit shown in fig. 1A. The electrical connection kit shown in fig. 1A includes a plug connector 100 and a receptacle connector 200. A latch spring arm 400 is provided on one face of the outer housing of the plug connector 100 as a primary lock structure for locking the plug connector 100 and the receptacle connector 200 to each other. The user can unlock by pressing the latch spring arm 400. In the present application, the surface of the plug connector 100 on which the latch spring arm 400 is located is referred to as the operation surface 120 unless otherwise specified. In some implementations, the electrical connection kit shown in fig. 1A may also include a secondary latch 300 that is an accessory for the plug connector 100. As shown in fig. 1B, the housing of the plug connector 100 and the housing of the receptacle connector 200 may be brought into a mating relationship such that mating terminals (not shown) mounted within the two connectors are brought into an electrical mating relationship. The secondary latch 300 may be fitted on the operating face 120 of the plug connector 100 and under the latch spring arm 400 in the locked state, thereby preventing the latch spring arm 400 of the plug connector 100 from being deformed by pressing. The secondary lock 300 thus has the effect of reinforcing the retention of the electrical connection kit.

Fig. 2 shows a side view and a partial sectional view of the plug connector 100 and the receptacle connector 200 in an assembled state according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the outer housing of the plug connector 100 in the form of a right-angle connector includes a rear end (opening on the right in the drawing) for incoming wires and a mating end (opening on the bottom in the drawing) for mating with a mating connector. The latch spring arm 400 is provided on the operating surface 120 of the outer housing of the plug connector 100. The latch spring arm 400 is seen in the partial cross-sectional view of fig. 2, with the body including a locking section 410 near the mating end and an unlocking section 420 remote from the mating end, the body of the latch spring arm 400 being positioned on the outer housing of the plug connector 100 by a support structure 440. The body of the latch spring arm 400 and the support structure 440 together form a main elastically deformable locking structure that elastically deforms under an external force (e.g., a downward pressing force) applied to the unlocking section 420, so that the locking section 410 is lifted, thereby achieving unlocking effect.

Fig. 3A shows a side view of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the application, and fig. 3B shows a partial enlarged view of the support structure of the latch spring arm in fig. 3A. In connection with fig. 2 and 3B, it can be seen that the support structure 440 is connected to the body of the latch arm 400 by a plurality of connections. In particular, the support structure 440 may include a first leg 440A and a second leg 440B, each of which is connected to the body of the latch spring arm 400. The first leg 440A and the second leg 440B form a bifurcated support structure, i.e., the two legs extend at different angles and are connected to the latch spring arm 400. In combination with the longitudinal section shown in fig. 2, the supporting structure 440 may include a main arc section, one end of the main arc section is connected to the operation surface 120, the other end forms a first leg 440A, the supporting structure 440 further includes a second leg 440B branching from the inner side of the main arc section, and the first leg 440A and the second leg 440B are respectively connected to the body of the elastic locking arm 400.

The range of values of the included angle formed by the first leg 440A and the second leg 440B should not be construed as limiting the underlying concepts of the present application. In some embodiments, the included angle may range in value from 55 ° to 135 °, or more preferably, the angle may range in value from 70 ° to 120 °.

With further reference to fig. 2, a catch structure 415 is provided at the end of the locking section 410 of the latch arm 400. Without the application of force to latch spring arm 400, the catch structures 415 are able to mate with corresponding catch structures on the outer housing of the mating receptacle connector 200 (locking interference 460 in fig. 2) to achieve locking. In fig. 2, the snap-fit structure on the receptacle connector 200 is shown as a stand structure 220. When a pressing force is applied to the unlocking section 420 of the latch arm 400, the connection portion of the latch arm 400 and the supporting structure 440 is elastically deformed, and the locking section 410 is lifted up, thereby releasing the lock between the plug connector 100 and the receptacle connector 200.

Simulation data shows that under substantially consistent simulation conditions, the latch structure 500 of the form shown in fig. 4A may achieve a dry latch retention of 69N, the latch structure 600 of the form shown in fig. 4B may achieve a dry latch retention of 239N, and the latch structure 700 of the form shown in fig. 4C may achieve a dry latch retention of 230N and a wet latch retention of 133N. Whereas the latch structure of the embodiment of the present application shown in fig. 2, 3A-3B according to the embodiment of the present application can achieve a dry latch retention of over 300N and a wet latch retention of over 223N. The latch structure of the embodiments of the present application can thus provide good retention on miniaturized connectors and achieve more adequate retention without the use of secondary locks.

Fig. 5A is a side view showing a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present application, fig. 5B shows a partially enlarged view of a secondary latch portion in fig. 5A, fig. 5C shows a schematic view of the secondary latch in fig. 5B in a pre-latch position, and fig. 5D shows a comparative view of the secondary latch in fig. 5B in a pre-latch position and a final-latch position. Fig. 6A shows a bottom view of a secondary latch according to an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 6B illustrates a secondary latch mating mounting structure on a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 6C illustrates an assembly relationship of a secondary latch and a secondary latch mating mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present application.

Embodiments of the secondary lock are described below in connection with fig. 5A-5D and fig. 6A-6C. It should be understood that the design of the secondary latch does not constitute any limitation on the latch spring arm proposed as the primary locking means of the present application.

As shown in fig. 1A, 1B, and 5A, the secondary lock 300 is a separate piece from the outer housing body of the plug connector 100. The secondary lock 300 is shaped to include a bottom surface 310, side walls 320 are provided at both ends of the bottom surface 310, sloping surfaces 330 are provided at the rear end of the bottom surface 310, and slide rail protrusions 340 are provided at the outer ends of the side walls 320. The rail protrusion 340 may take on a suitable shape to mate with the mounting slot, such as the L-shape of the rail protrusion 340 in FIG. 5B.

A positioning protrusion structure may be provided at the bottom side of the secondary lock 300. Correspondingly, a secondary latch mating structure 125 may be disposed on the operating surface 120 of the plug connector 100. As shown in fig. 6C, the secondary latch mating mounting structure 125 may include a left and right two locking grooves 130, each locking groove 130 having a pre-lock notch 131 and a final-lock notch 132. The positioning protrusion 350 at the bottom of the secondary lock catch 300 may be caught in the pre-lock recess 131 in the pre-lock position and caught in the final-lock recess 132 in the final-lock position, and the positioning protrusion 350 may be slid between the pre-lock recess 131 and the final-lock recess 132 by overcoming a certain resistance. . Referring to fig. 5C and 5D, when the secondary lock 300 is in the pre-lock position, the bottom surface 310 of the secondary lock 300 avoids the unlocking section 420, and thus does not physically interfere with the movement stroke of the unlocking section 420 after being pressed. When the secondary latch 300 slides to the final latched position, the base plate 310 of the secondary latch 300 is positioned below the unlatching section 420 of the latch spring arm 400, thereby preventing the unlatching section 420 from being pressed sufficiently downward. The slope 330 of the secondary lock 300 may be provided with an anti-slip edge to facilitate the user to toggle the secondary lock 300 with his finger. Although two locking grooves 130 are shown, it is understood that the locking grooves 130 may be single or more than three depending on the actual needs.

The secondary lock catch mating installation structure may further include a retaining groove 395, and a retaining protrusion 390 may be further provided at the bottom of the secondary lock catch 300, and when the secondary lock catch is installed on the operation surface, the retaining protrusion 390 is positioned in the retaining groove 395 and may slide back and forth, thereby restricting the secondary lock catch 300 from sliding out.

Further reference is made to fig. 1A and 1B to illustrate structural features for installation of the secondary lock 300. Side walls are respectively disposed on two sides of the operation surface 120 of the outer housing of the plug connector 100, and a limit guiding protrusion 140 is disposed on each side wall, and the limit guiding protrusion and the operation surface together define a chute structure for matching with the slide rail protrusion 340 of the secondary lock catch 300. After the secondary lock 300 is installed in the operation surface 120, the base plate 310 thereof is positioned in the secondary lock mounting region 125 and is slidable based on the guide of the chute structure, and the position is switched between the first positioning recess 121 and the second positioning recess 122.

With further reference to fig. 1A and 1B, a pair of stoppers 180 may be provided above the unlocking section of the latch arm 400, thereby restricting the space in which the latch arm 400 is deformed upward.

In the above embodiments, the construction of the latch spring arm in its outer housing was described based on the plug connector 100. However, it is understood that the latch spring arms may be configured on the outer housing of the receptacle connector. It will also be appreciated that the latch spring arm may be constructed on any wire end connector housing or board end connector housing. Furthermore, the protection of the present application should be applied to any electrical connector, as long as the outer housing of such an electrical connector adopts the configuration of the latch spring arm as the primary locking device proposed by the present application. Furthermore, the protection of the present application should be applied to any electrical connection kit, as long as the outer housing of the electrical connector in such an electrical connection kit adopts the configuration of the latch spring arm as the primary locking device proposed by the present application.

While the basic concepts have been described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing disclosure is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. Although not explicitly described herein, various modifications, improvements and adaptations of the application may occur to one skilled in the art. Such modifications, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested within the scope of embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A connector housing comprising a first opening at a trailing end for incoming wire and a second opening at a mating end for forming a mating relationship with a mating connector housing, characterized in that:

the operation surface of the outer shell is provided with a locking spring arm which comprises a locking section close to the plug-in end and an unlocking section far away from the plug-in end, the locking spring arm is positioned on the outer shell through a supporting structure and can generate elastic deformation for lifting the locking section under the action of external force applied to the unlocking section,

wherein the supporting structure is connected with the latch spring arm through a plurality of connecting parts,

the support structure comprises a plurality of legs connected to the latch spring arms, respectively, at one end connected to the latch spring arms, the plurality of legs comprising a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and the second leg extending at different angles and being connected to the latch spring arms in a longitudinal section of the support structure, thereby forming a bifurcated support structure.

2. A connector housing comprising a first opening at a trailing end for incoming wire and a second opening at a mating end for forming a mating relationship with a mating connector housing, characterized in that:

the longitudinal section of the supporting structure comprises a main arc section, one end of the main arc section is connected to the operation surface, a first supporting leg is formed at the other end of the main arc section, the longitudinal section of the supporting structure further comprises a second supporting leg which is branched from the main arc section, and the first supporting leg and the second supporting leg are respectively connected to the locking spring arm.

3. The connector housing of claim 2, wherein the second leg diverges from an inner side of the main arc segment.

4. A connector housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking section of the latch arms is provided with a catch formation at its end for cooperating with a corresponding catch formation on the counter connector housing to effect locking.

5. The connector housing of claim 4, wherein the corresponding engagement structure on the housing of the counter connector is a hanging stand structure.

6. The connector housing of claim 5, wherein the lock between the catch structure and the landing structure is releasable by an external force applied to the unlocking section.

7. The connector housing according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a separable secondary lock catch mountable to the operative face of the housing and slidable between a pre-lock position and a final-lock position.

8. The connector housing of claim 7, wherein the secondary lock is positioned below the unlocking section of the lock latch arm when the secondary lock is slid to the final lock position, thereby interfering with the downward stroke of movement of the unlocking section.

9. The connector housing according to claim 7, wherein the bottom of the secondary lock is provided with a positioning projection, and the operation surface of the housing is provided with a secondary lock mating installation structure including one or more locking grooves, each of which is provided with a pre-lock recess and a final-lock recess, the secondary lock being positionable in the pre-lock recess or the final-lock recess and slidable therebetween by overcoming resistance.

10. The connector housing of claim 9, wherein the secondary lock mating mounting structure further comprises a detent groove, the bottom of the secondary lock further provided with a detent protrusion, the detent protrusion being positionable in the detent groove to limit sliding withdrawal of the secondary lock.

11. The connector housing according to claim 7, wherein the side walls are provided on both sides of the operation surface of the housing, respectively, and a limit guide protrusion is provided on each side wall, and slide rail protrusions are provided on both ends of the secondary latch, respectively, and the limit guide protrusions on the side walls and the operation surface together define a slide groove matching with the slide rail protrusions of the secondary latch.

12. A connector housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a pair of stoppers are provided above the unlocking section of the latch arms for restricting the space in which the latch arms deform upward.

13. Connector housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operating surface of the connector housing corresponds to the active surface of the unlocking operation action.

14. An electrical connector comprising the connector housing of any one of claims 1-13.

15. The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein the connector housing is a plug connector housing or a receptacle connector housing.

16. The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein the connector housing is a wire end connector housing or a board end connector housing.

17. An electrical connection kit comprising a first connector and a mating second connector, wherein the first connector comprises the connector housing of any one of claims 1-13.