CN115528488A

CN115528488A - Connector and connector assembly

Info

Publication number: CN115528488A
Application number: CN202110710288.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李宝良; 王本祥; 吴枭
Original assignee: Jingliang Electronics Chengdu Co ltd; Measurement Specialties China Ltd
Current assignee: Jingliang Electronics Chengdu Co ltd; Measurement Specialties China Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-25
Filing date: 2021-06-25
Publication date: 2022-12-27

Abstract

The invention discloses a connector and a connector assembly. The connector includes: a housing; the buckle piece is movably arranged in the shell; and an elastic holding member fixed in the housing. In the process of mating with the mating connector, the buckle is firstly pushed by a plug of the mating connector to move forwards from the initial position to the terminal position and then moves backwards from the terminal position to the retaining position engaged with the elastic retaining element under the action of the elastic force of the buckle, so that the buckle is retained in the state of being engaged with the plug by the elastic retaining element; in the process of separating the connector from the mating connector, the catch is first moved forward from the holding position to the releasing position not engaging with the elastic holding member by the urging of the plug, and then moved from the releasing position to the initial position of separation from the plug by its own elastic force. In the invention, the counter connector or the connector can be unlocked by pushing the counter connector or the connector without pressing the fastener by fingers, so that the blind plugging of the connector can be realized.

Description

Connector and connector assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly including the same.

Background

In the prior art, the locking structures of the connector are all buckle structures, and the positions of the buckles need to be known exactly when unlocking is performed, and meanwhile, an operator needs to press or rotate an unlocking part to enable the buckles to move to the unlocking positions. This results in the prior art connectors being unable to be plugged or unplugged blindly, and the prior art snap-fit structures being unable to ensure that the connector is fully locked, and the locking structure is prone to failure when the pull-out force is high.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the above problems and disadvantages in the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector including: a housing; the buckle piece is movably arranged in the shell; and an elastic holding member fixed in the housing. In the process of matching the connector with the mating connector, the buckle is firstly pushed by a plug of the mating connector to move forwards from the initial position to the termination position, and then moves backwards from the termination position to the holding position engaged with the elastic holding element under the action of the elastic force of the buckle, so that the buckle is held in the state of being engaged with the plug by the elastic holding element; during the process of separating the connector from the mating connector, the snap member is pushed by the plug to move forward from the holding position to the releasing position not engaged with the elastic holding element, and then moves from the releasing position to the initial position of separation from the plug under the action of the elastic force of the snap member.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when the catch is in the end position, the catch portion engages with the plug and the catch is not held in this position by the resilient holding element, to allow the catch to move back to the holding position under its own resilient force; when the latch is in the holding position, the latch portion engages with the plug, and the latch is held in this position by the elastic holding member to prevent the latch from moving back to the initial position under the action of its own elastic force; when the catch is in the release position, the catch portion engages with the plug and the catch is not held in this position by the resilient retaining element to allow the catch to move back to the initial position under its own resilient force.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the latch includes an elastic arm portion and a latch portion and a base plate portion respectively connected to both ends of the elastic arm portion, and an inclined slide groove for guiding movement of the latch portion is formed on the housing; a guide groove is formed on the base plate portion, and an end portion of the elastic holding member is slidably fitted with the guide groove so that the end portion of the elastic holding member is movable relative to the base plate portion along the guide groove.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a convex slider is formed on the hook portion, and the slider is slidably fitted in the inclined slide groove to guide the movement of the hook portion along the inclined slide groove.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector includes a pair of snaps and a pair of inclined slide grooves corresponding to the pair of snaps, respectively, the pair of inclined slide grooves being arranged in a figure-eight shape such that the elastic arm portions of the pair of snaps are elastically deformed in a direction to approach each other when the pair of snaps are pushed by the plug to move from the initial position to the terminal position.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the plug of the mating connector is adapted to drive the pair of latches to move synchronously by simultaneously pushing the base plate portions of the pair of latches.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector includes a pair of elastic holding members, ends of which are slidably fitted with guide grooves on the pair of snaps, respectively.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the guide groove has an initial recess, a termination recess, a retaining recess and a release recess; when the latch is pushed to the termination position by the plug, the end of the elastic holding element abuts against the wall surface of the termination recess, so that the latch cannot be pushed further forward; when the grommet moves back to the holding position under its own elastic force, the end of the elastic holding member engages with the holding recess, so that the grommet is held at the holding position; when the latch is pushed to the release position by the plug, the end of the elastic holding member abuts against the wall surface of the release recess, so that the latch cannot be pushed further forward; when the clip moves back to the initial position under its own elastic force, the end of the elastic holding member is positioned in the initial recess of the guide groove.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guide groove comprises: an outward-movement guide groove extending from the initial recess to the termination recess and then from the termination recess to the holding recess; and a return guide groove extending from the holding recess to the release recess and then from the release recess to the initial recess.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, during mating with a mating connector, the end of the resilient holding element moves along the forward-travel guide groove from the initial recess to the terminal recess and then from the terminal recess to the holding recess; during the separation from the mating connector, the end of the resilient holding element moves along the return guide groove from the holding recess to the release recess and then from the release recess to the initial recess.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the termination recess has a first guiding bevel directed towards the holding recess for guiding the end of the resilient holding element to move from the termination recess to the holding recess, so that the catch can move back to the holding position under its own resilient force.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the retaining recess has a second guiding slope directed towards the release recess for guiding the end of the resilient retaining element to move from the retaining recess to the release recess, so that the catch can be moved forward to the release position under the urging of the plug.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the pair of snaps are at the end position, the holding position, and the release position, the hook portions of the pair of snaps are snapped onto stepped portions on both sides of the plug, so that the snaps and the plug are engaged together; when the pair of buckling pieces are located at the initial positions, the buckling parts of the pair of buckling pieces are separated from the step parts on the two sides of the plug, so that the buckling pieces are separated from the plug.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly comprising: the aforementioned connector and mating connector. A mating connector includes a plug adapted to be inserted into a housing of the connector. In the process of matching the connector with a matching connector, the buckle is pushed by the plug to move forwards from the initial position to the final position, and then moves backwards from the final position to the holding position engaged with the elastic holding element under the action of the elastic force of the buckle, so that the buckle is held in the state of being engaged with the plug by the elastic holding element; in the process of separating the connector from the mating connector, the snap piece moves forwards from the holding position to the releasing position which is not engaged with the elastic holding element under the pushing of the plug, and then moves from the releasing position to the initial position separated from the plug under the action of the elastic force of the snap piece.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector further comprises conductive terminals mounted in the housing, the mating connector further comprises mating terminals adapted to mate with the conductive terminals; the conductive terminal is in electrical contact with the mating terminal when the latch is in the terminating position, the retaining position, and the releasing position; when the buckle piece is located at the initial position, the conductive terminal is separated from the mating terminal.

In the foregoing exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, the mating connector or the connector is pushed to unlock the mating connector or the connector without pressing the fastener with fingers, so that the present invention can realize blind insertion and extraction between the mating connector and the connector, and is very convenient to use.

Furthermore, in some of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments of the invention, the resilient retaining element can reliably retain the catch in the locked position in engagement with the plug, so that a reliable connection between the mating connector and the connector can be ensured.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings, and may assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an example embodiment of the invention, wherein the connector and mating connector have not yet been mated;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 1, wherein the latch is in an initial position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of latches and a pair of resilient retention elements of the connector shown in FIG. 2, with the latches in an initial position;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an example embodiment of the invention, wherein the connector and mating connector have been mated together;

fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the connector shown in fig. 4 with the latch in the retention position.

Detailed Description

The technical scheme of the invention is further specifically described by the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the general inventive concept of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure. It may be evident, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in schematic form in order to simplify the drawing.

According to one general technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a connector including: a housing; the buckle piece is movably arranged in the shell; and an elastic holding member fixed in the housing. In the process of matching the connector with the mating connector, the buckle is firstly pushed by a plug of the mating connector to move forwards from the initial position to the termination position, and then moves backwards from the termination position to the holding position engaged with the elastic holding element under the action of the elastic force of the buckle, so that the buckle is held in the state of being engaged with the plug by the elastic holding element; in the process of separating the connector from the mating connector, the snap piece moves forwards from the holding position to the releasing position which is not engaged with the elastic holding element under the pushing of the plug, and then moves from the releasing position to the initial position separated from the plug under the action of the elastic force of the snap piece.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an example embodiment of the invention, wherein the connector 200 and the mating connector 100 have not yet been mated. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the connector 200 shown in fig. 1, wherein the latch 20 is in an initial position. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a pair of latches 20 and a pair of resilient retention elements 240 of the connector shown in fig. 2, with the latches 20 in an initial position.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly includes: a housing 210, a catch 20 and a resilient retaining element 240. The catch 20 is movably mounted in the housing 210. The resilient holding element 240 is fixed in the housing 210.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an example embodiment of the invention, in which a connector 200 and a mating connector 100 have been mated together; fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the connector shown in fig. 4, with the latch 20 in the retention position.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, during the mating of the connector 200 with the mating connector 100, the latch 20 is moved forward from the initial position (the position shown in fig. 1 to 3) to the terminal position (i.e., the position when the end 241 of the elastic holding member 240 moves to the terminal recess 230 b) by the pushing of the plug 110 of the mating connector 100, and then moved back from the terminal position to the holding position (the position shown in fig. 4 and 5) engaged with the elastic holding member 240 by the elastic force of its own, so that the latch 20 is held in the state engaged with the plug 110 by the elastic holding member 240.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, in the process of separating the connector 200 from the counterpart connector 100, the latch 20 is moved forward from the holding position to the releasing position not engaged with the elastic holding member 240 (i.e., the position when the end portion 241 of the elastic holding member 240 is moved to the releasing recess 230 d) under the urging of the plug 110, and then moved from the releasing position to the initial position separated from the plug 110 by its own elastic force.

As illustrated in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the catch 20 is in the end position, the catch portion 221 engages with the plug 110, and the catch 20 is not held in this position by the resilient holding element 240, to allow the catch 20 to move back to the holding position under its own resilient force.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the grommet 20 is in the holding position, the grommet 221 is engaged with the plug 110, and the grommet 20 is held in this position by the elastic holding member 240 to prevent the grommet 20 from moving back to the initial position by its own elastic force.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the latch 20 is in the release position, the latch portion 221 is engaged with the plug 110, and the latch 20 is not held in this position by the resilient holding member 240 to allow the latch 20 to move back to the initial position under its own resilient force.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the latch 20 includes an elastic arm portion 222, and a latch portion 221 and a base plate portion 230 respectively connected to both ends of the elastic arm portion 222, and an inclined slide groove 211 for guiding the movement of the latch portion 221 is formed on the housing 210.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, a convex slider 221a is formed on the hook part 221, and the slider 221a is slidably fitted in the inclined slide groove 211 to guide the hook part 221 to move along the inclined slide groove 211.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, a guide groove 231 is formed on the base plate portion 230, and an end portion 241 of the elastic holder 240 is slidably fitted with the guide groove 231 such that the end portion 241 of the elastic holder 240 is movable along the guide groove 231 relative to the base plate portion 230.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector 200 includes a pair of latches 20 and a pair of inclined chutes 211 corresponding to the pair of latches 20, respectively. The pair of inclined slide grooves 211 are arranged in a figure-eight shape such that the elastic arm portions 222 of the pair of latches 20 are elastically deformed in a direction to approach each other when the pair of latches 20 are pushed by the plug 110 to move from the initial position to the final position.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the plug 110 of the mating connector 100 is adapted to drive the pair of latches 20 to move synchronously by simultaneously pushing the base plate portions 230 of the pair of latches 20.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector 200 includes a pair of elastic holding elements 240, and ends 241 of the pair of elastic holding elements 240 are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 231 of the pair of clasps 20, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic holder 240 is a substantially rod-shaped elastic member, one end of which is fixed to the housing 210 and the other end of which is bent by 90 degrees and slidably fitted in the guide groove 231.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the guide groove 231 has an initial recess 230a, a terminating recess 230b, a holding recess 230c, and a release recess 230d.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the grommet 20 is pushed to the terminating position by the plug 110, the end 241 of the elastic holding member 240 abuts against the wall surface of the terminating recess 230b, so that the grommet 20 cannot be pushed further forward.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the grommet 20 moves back to the holding position by its own elastic force, the end 241 of the elastic holding member 240 engages with the holding recess 230c, so that the grommet 20 is held at the holding position.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the catch 20 is pushed to the release position by the plug 110, the end 241 of the elastic holding member 240 abuts against the wall surface of the release recess 230d, so that the catch 20 cannot be pushed further forward.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the catch 20 moves back to the initial position by its own elastic force, the end 241 of the elastic holder 240 is positioned in the initial recess 230a of the guide groove 231.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the guide groove 231 includes: a forward travel guide groove 231a and a return travel guide groove 231b. The forward travel guide groove 231a extends from the initial recess 230a to the termination recess 230b, and then from the termination recess 230b to the holding recess 230c. The return guide groove 231b extends from the holding recess 230c to the release recess 230d, and further extends from the release recess 230d to the initial recess 230a.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, during mating with the mating connector, the end 241 of the elastic holder 240 moves along the forward-travel guide groove 231a from the initial recess 230a to the terminal recess 230b, and then from the terminal recess 230b to the holding recess 230c.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, during the separation from the counterpart connector, the end 241 of the elastic holder 240 moves from the holding recess 230c to the release recess 230d along the return guide groove 231b and then moves from the release recess 230d to the initial recess 230a.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminating recess 230b has a first guiding inclined surface f1, the first guiding inclined surface f1 being directed toward the holding recess 230c for guiding the end 241 of the elastic holding element 240 to move from the terminating recess 230b to the holding recess 230c, so that the catch 20 can move back to the holding position under its own elastic force.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the holding recess 230c has a second guiding slope f2, and the second guiding slope f2 is directed to the releasing recess 230d for guiding the end 241 of the elastic holding element 240 to move from the holding recess 230c to the releasing recess 230d, so that the catch 20 can move forward to the releasing position under the push of the plug 110.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the pair of clasps 20 are in the terminating position, the holding position, and the releasing position, the hooking portions 221 of the pair of clasps 20 are hooked to the step portions 110a on both sides of the plug 110, so that the clasps 20 and the plug 110 are engaged together.

As described in fig. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, when the pair of latches 20 are in the initial position, the latch portions 221 of the pair of latches 20 are disengaged from the step portions 110a on both sides of the plug 110, so that the latches 20 are separated from the plug 110.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in fig. 1 to 5, there is also disclosed a connector assembly, which mainly comprises: the aforementioned connector 200 and the counterpart connector 100. The mating connector 100 includes a plug 110 adapted to be inserted into a housing 210 of the connector 200.

As shown in fig. 1-5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector 200 further includes conductive terminals 201 mounted in the housing 210, and the mating connector 100 further includes mating terminals 101 adapted to mate with the conductive terminals 201.

As illustrated in fig. 1-5, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal 201 is in electrical contact with the mating terminal 101 when the catch 20 is in the terminating, holding, and releasing positions. When the latch 20 is in the initial position, the conductive terminal 201 is separated from the mating terminal 101.

The plugging and unplugging process of the connector and the counterpart connector of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 5.

During the process of inserting the mating connector 100 into the connector 200, i.e., during the process of mating the connector 200 with the mating connector 100, the catch 20 is first moved forward from the initial position (the position shown in fig. 1 to 3) to the terminal position (i.e., the position when the end 241 of the elastic holding member 240 moves to the terminal recess 230 b) by the urging of the plug 110 of the mating connector 100, and then moved back from the terminal position to the holding position (the position shown in fig. 4 and 5) engaged with the elastic holding member 240 by its own elastic force, so that the catch 20 is held in the state of being engaged with the plug 110 by the elastic holding member 240.

In the process of pulling out the counterpart connector 100 from the connector 200, i.e., in the process of separating the connector 200 from the counterpart connector 100, the catch 20 is first moved forward from the holding position to the releasing position not engaged with the elastic holding member 240 under the urging of the plug 110 (i.e., the position at which the end portion 241 of the elastic holding member 240 moves to the releasing recess 230 d), and then moved from the releasing position to the initial position separated from the plug 110 by its own elastic force.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above described embodiments are exemplary and can be modified by those skilled in the art, and that the structures described in the various embodiments can be freely combined without structural or conceptual conflicts, and that such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to be illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the words "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, any reference signs to elements of the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a housing (210);

a clasp (20) movably mounted in the housing (210); and

an elastic holding element (240) fixed in the housing (210),

in the process of matching the connector (200) and the mating connector (100), the buckle (20) moves forwards from the initial position to the terminal position under the pushing of the plug (110) of the mating connector (100) and then moves back from the terminal position to the retaining position engaged with the elastic retaining element (240) under the action of the elastic force of the buckle (20), so that the buckle (20) is retained in the state of being engaged with the plug (110) by the elastic retaining element (240),

during the separation of the connector (200) from the mating connector (100), the latch (20) is first pushed forward by the plug (110) from the holding position to the release position not engaging with the resilient holding member (240), and then moved from the release position to the initial position of separation from the plug (110) by its own resilient force.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein:

when the catch (20) is in the end position, the catch portion (221) engages with the plug (110) and the catch (20) is not held in this position by the resilient holding element (240) to allow the catch (20) to move back to the holding position under its own resilient force;

when the catch (20) is in the retaining position, the catch portion (221) engages with the plug (110) and the catch (20) is retained in this position by the resilient retaining element (240) to prevent the catch (20) from moving back to the initial position under its own resilient force;

when the catch (20) is in the release position, the catch portion (221) engages with the plug (110) and the catch (20) is not held in this position by the resilient retaining element (240) to allow the catch (20) to move back to the initial position under its own resilient force.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the fastener (20) comprises an elastic arm part (222), and a clamping hook part (221) and a base plate part (230) which are respectively connected to two ends of the elastic arm part (222), wherein an inclined sliding groove (211) for guiding the clamping hook part (221) to move is formed on the shell (210);

a guide groove (231) is formed on the base plate portion (230), and an end portion (241) of the elastic holding member (240) is slidably fitted with the guide groove (231) so that the end portion (241) of the elastic holding member (240) is movable along the guide groove (231) relative to the base plate portion (230).

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein:

a convex slider (221 a) is formed on the hooking portion (221), and the slider (221 a) is slidably fitted in the inclined sliding groove (211) to guide the hooking portion (221) to move along the inclined sliding groove (211).

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein:

the connector (200) includes a pair of clasps (20) and a pair of inclined slide grooves (211) respectively corresponding to the pair of clasps (20), the pair of inclined slide grooves (211) being arranged in a splay shape so that when the pair of clasps (20) is pushed by the plug (110) to move from the initial position to the terminal position, elastic arm portions (222) of the pair of clasps (20) are elastically deformed in a direction to approach each other.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein:

the plug (110) of the mating connector (100) is suitable for driving the pair of fasteners (20) to synchronously move by simultaneously pushing the base plate parts (230) of the pair of fasteners (20).

7. The connector of claim 3, wherein:

the connector (200) comprises a pair of elastic holding elements (240), and the ends (241) of the pair of elastic holding elements (240) are respectively in sliding fit with the guide grooves (231) on the pair of buckles (20).

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the guide groove (231) has an initial recess (230 a), a termination recess (230 b), a holding recess (230 c), and a release recess (230 d);

when the grommet (20) is pushed to the terminal position by the plug (110), an end portion (241) of the elastic holding member (240) abuts on a wall surface of the terminal recess portion (230 b) so that the grommet (20) cannot be pushed further forward;

when the catch (20) moves back to the holding position under its own elastic force, an end (241) of the elastic holding element (240) engages with the holding recess (230 c) so that the catch (20) is held at the holding position;

when the clip (20) is pushed to the release position by the plug (110), an end (241) of the elastic holding member (240) abuts against a wall surface of the release recess (230 d) so that the clip (20) cannot be pushed further forward;

when the catch (20) moves back to the initial position under its own elastic force, the end (241) of the elastic holding element (240) is positioned in the initial recess (230 a) of the guide groove (231).

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein:

the guide groove (231) includes:

an outward-movement guide groove (231 a) extending from the initial recess (230 a) to the termination recess (230 b) and then from the termination recess (230 b) to the holding recess (230 c); and

a return guide groove (231 b) extending from the holding recess (230 c) to the release recess (230 d) and then from the release recess (230 d) to the initial recess (230 a).

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein:

during mating with a mating connector, the end portion (241) of the elastic holding member (240) moves along the forward-travel guide groove (231 a) from the initial recess (230 a) to the terminal recess (230 b) and then from the terminal recess (230 b) to the holding recess (230 c);

during the separation from the counterpart connector, the end portion (241) of the elastic holder member (240) moves from the holding recess (230 c) to the release recess (230 d) along the return guide groove (231 b) and then moves from the release recess (230 d) to the initial recess (230 a).

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein:

the termination recess (230 b) has a first guiding bevel (f 1), the first guiding bevel (f 1) pointing towards the holding recess (230 c) for guiding an end (241) of the resilient holding element (240) to move from the termination recess (230 b) to the holding recess (230 c) such that the catch (20) can move back to the holding position under its own resilient force.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein:

the retaining recess (230 c) has a second guiding slope (f 2), the second guiding slope (f 2) being directed towards the releasing recess (230 d) for guiding the end (241) of the resilient retaining element (240) to move from the retaining recess (230 c) to the releasing recess (230 d) such that the catch (20) can move forward to the releasing position under the urging of the plug (110).

13. The connector of claim 5, wherein:

when the pair of clasps (20) are at the termination position, the holding position and the release position, the clasping parts (221) of the pair of clasps (20) are clasped to the step parts (110 a) at two sides of the plug (110), so that the clasping parts (20) and the plug (110) are jointed together;

when the pair of clasps (20) are at the initial position, the clasp parts (221) of the pair of clasps (20) are separated from the step parts (110 a) on the two sides of the plug (110), so that the clasps (20) are separated from the plug (110).

14. A connector assembly, comprising:

the connector (200) of any of claims 1-13; and

mating connector (100) comprising a plug (110) adapted to be inserted into a housing (210) of the connector (200),

during the process of mating the connector (200) and the mating connector (100), the latch (20) moves forward from the initial position to the terminal position under the pushing of the plug (110) and then moves back from the terminal position to the retaining position engaged with the elastic retaining element (240) under the action of the elastic force of the latch (20), so that the latch (20) is retained in the state of being engaged with the plug (110) by the elastic retaining element (240),

15. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein:

the connector (200) further comprises an electrically conductive terminal (201) mounted in the housing (210), the mating connector (100) further comprises a mating terminal (101) adapted to mate with the electrically conductive terminal (201);

-said conductive terminal (201) is in electrical contact with said counter-terminal (101) when said catch (20) is in said end position, in said retaining position and in said release position;

when the fastener (20) is at the initial position, the conductive terminal (201) is separated from the mating terminal (101).