EP3128616B1

EP3128616B1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: EP3128616B1
Application number: EP16182809.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Liqiang Yao; Yong Wang; Yingchung WANG; Guoqiang Li
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-04
Filing date: 2016-08-04
Publication date: 2019-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-04
Also published as: EP3128616A1; CN204947117U

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a connector, and particularly, to an electrical connector adapted to be quickly connected with a wire.

Description of the Related Art

In the prior art, various methods for electrically connecting a terminal of an electrical connector with a wire mainly comprise cold pressing wiring, screw wiring, elastic clip wiring, and the like.
For the conventional cold pressing wiring method, it requires a special crimping tool. One terminal has a relatively narrow wiring range, and it is difficult to replace a wire when the wire is damaged. In addition, the whole connection operation is complicated.
For the conventional screw wiring method, it requires a corresponding screw locking tool, and the whole connection operation is relatively complicated.
For the conventional elastic clip wiring method, it generally needs a tool (for example, a slot type screwdriver) to release the elastic clip, then a wire is inserted therein, and the elastic clip restores and clamps the wire after the tool is pulled out. In general, although the whole connection operation for the conventional elastic clip wiring method is relatively simplified as compared with the cold pressing wiring method and the screw wiring method, the operation thereof is still complicated, thereby there still presents a drawback of inconvenient operation.
In US 2004/0152355 A1 , a connector for securing a wire to a contact is shown in which a clamping spring can be actuated by pushing an actuator. US 2014/0141657 A1 and DE 10 2007 009 082 A1 show connectors in which the clamping springs are actuated by actuators and additionally a cover is present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure aims to solve at least one aspect of the above issues and drawbacks in the prior art.
One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a connector, which may be conveniently connected with a wire.
According to the present invention, it is provided a connector according to independent claim 1 and an assembly according to claim 8. Further optional embodiments are presented respectively in claims 2 to 7 and 9 to 12.
According to the present disclosure, the elastic clip comprises a first end and a second end, and the first end of the elastic clip is formed with a notch. The upper portion of the conductive terminal has a tongue-shaped tip slidably received in the notch of the elastic clip.
According to the present disclosure, when the elastic clip is in the first position, a conductor of the wire is adapted to be inserted into the notch of the elastic clip, and wherein when the elastic clip is in the second position, the conductor inserted into the notch is clamped between the elastic clip and the conductive terminal by the elastic clip.
According to the present disclosure, the second end of the elastic clip is received in the notch of the elastic clip, and placed against a side of the tongue-shaped tip of the conductive terminal.
According to the present disclosure, one side of the elastic clip is placed against the upper portion of the conductive terminal, and the other side of the elastic clip is adapted to contact with the inserted driving member.
According to the present disclosure, a lower end of the driving member is formed with an inclined guiding surface, along which the arc protrusion of the elastic clip is adapted to be slid.
According to the present disclosure, a plurality of rows and two columns of conductive terminals are held in the base, and a plurality of rows and one column of slots are formed in the base, each slot is configured to receive two conductive terminals and two corresponding elastic clips therein.
According to the present disclosure, the cover is formed with a plurality of rows and two columns of wire insertion holes, and each slot in the base is corresponding to two wire insertion holes.
According to the present disclosure, the cover is formed with a plurality of rows and one column of driving member insertion holes, and each driving member insertion holes is corresponding to one slot in the base; and each driving members is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot through one corresponding driving member insertion hole, and adapted to simultaneously drive two elastic clips on two conductive terminals received in the one corresponding slot.
According to the present disclosure, the cover is formed with one column of driving member insertion holes, and each of the driving member insertion holes is corresponding to one slot in the base, and wherein each of a plurality of driving members is adapted to be simultaneously inserted into two corresponding slots through two corresponding driving member insertion holes, and adapted to simultaneously drive four elastic clips on four conductive terminals received in the two corresponding slots.
According to the present disclosure, the cover is formed with a plurality of rows and two columns of driving member insertion holes, and each of slots in the base is corresponding to two driving member insertion holes; and each driving members is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot through one corresponding driving member insertion hole, and adapted to drive one elastic clip on one conductive terminal received in the slot.
According to the present disclosure, each slot in the base is formed with a first alignment rib extending upwardly; each driving member insertion holes of the cover is formed with a second alignment rib extending downwardly, and wherein the second alignment rib is formed with a first alignment slot extending vertically, and the first alignment rib is adapted to be inserted into the first alignment slot, so as to ensure an alignment between the cover and the base in a vertical direction.
According to the present disclosure, the driving member is formed with a second alignment slot extending downwardly, and the second alignment rib is adapted to be inserted into the second alignment slot, so as to ensure an alignment between the driving member and the driving member insertion hole in the vertical direction.
According to the present disclosure, a top surface of the driving member is formed with a tool insertion hole communicated with the second alignment slot and extending vertically, and wherein an external tool is adapted to be inserted into the tool insertion hole and engaged with the driving member, so as to pull out the driving member inserted into the slot of the base from the slot, or pull the driving member to a position where the first recess of the driving member is engaged with the arc protrusion of the elastic clip.
According to the present disclosure, the external tool has two elongated elastic arms, and a distal end of each of the elastic arms is formed with a hook-shaped protrusion adapted to be engaged with an internal periphery of the tool insertion hole.
According to the present disclosure, a plurality of rows and two columns of conductive terminals are held in the base, and a plurality of rows and two columns of slots are formed in the base, the conductive terminals and the corresponding elastic clips being received in the slots in the base, respectively.
According to the present disclosure, the cover is formed with a plurality of rows and two columns of wire insertion holes, and each slots in the base is corresponding to two wire insertion holes of the cover.
According to the present disclosure, a plurality of rows and two columns of driving member insertion holes, and each driving member insertion holes is corresponding to two slots of the base in two adjacent columns; and each of a plurality of driving members is adapted to be simultaneously inserted into two slots in the base, so as to simultaneously drive the elastic clips on two conductive terminals.
According to the present disclosure, an upper edge of a side wall of the cover is formed with at least one first tool insertion hole, and an upper portion of the driving member is formed with a second tool insertion hole corresponding to the first tool insertion hole, and wherein an external tool is adapted to be inserted into the first tool insertion hole and the second tool insertion hole, so as to push out the driving member inserted into the slot in the base from the slot, or push the driving member to a position where the first recess of the driving member is engaged with the arc protrusion of the elastic clip.
According to the present disclosure, the cover is snapped on the base.
According to the present disclosure, a plurality of grooves, and an external wall of the base is formed with a plurality of protrusions. When the cover is mounted on the base, the protrusions of the base are snapped in the grooves of the cover, respectively.
According to the present disclosure, two ends of the base are formed with a first T-shaped groove, respectively, and two ends of the cover are formed with a second T-shaped groove corresponding to the first T-shaped groove, respectively, wherein the connector further comprises: a T-shaped mounting block adapted to be mounted in the first T-shaped groove and the second T-shaped groove; and a mounting plate connected with the T-shaped mounting block, and wherein the mounting plate is provided with a bolt configured for mounting the connector onto a panel.
According to the present disclosure, lower portions of two ends of the base are formed with a protruding supporting table, respectively, and the mounting plate is positioned and held on the supporting table of the base.
In each of the above paragraphs according to the present disclosure, an electrical connection between the wire and the conductive terminal of the connector may be achieved only by inserting the driving member into the slot of the base, without requiring any other additional tools, thereby improving wiring efficiency of the connector.
In addition, one driving member may simultaneously drive elastic clips on two, four or more conductive terminals, therefore, an electrical connection between two or more wires and two or more conductive terminals may be achieved by inserting only one driving member, thereby further improving the wiring efficiency of the connector.
Similarly, when the wires are needed to be replaced, the two or more wires may be simultaneously released by pulling out one driving member, thereby improving releasing efficiency of the connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a base of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the base shown in Fig. 1, in which a conductive terminal held in the base and an elastic clip mounted on the electrically conductive terminal are shown;
Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the conductive terminal and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector with a cover being mounted on the base shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in Fig. 4, in which the conductive terminal held in the base and the elastic clip mounted on the conductive terminal are shown;
Fig. 6 shows a schematic view representing that a driving member is inserted into a slot in the base through a driving member insertion hole of the cover, in which a guiding surface of a lower end of the driving member just comes into contact with the an arc protrusion of the elastic clip;
Fig. 7 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member is inserted into a first engagement position, in which a first recess of the driving member is engaged with the arc protrusion of the elastic clip;
Fig. 9 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector when the driving member is inserted into the first engagement position, in which a mounting structure for mounting the connector onto a panel is shown;
Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector with a wire being inserted into the slot in the base through a wire insertion hole of the cover;
Fig. 12 shows a relative position relationship between the wire, the driving member and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member is inserted into a second engagement position, in which a second recess of the driving member is engaged with the arc protrusion of the elastic clip;
Fig. 14 shows a schematic view representing that the inserted driving member is pulled out from the slot in the base by an external tool;
Fig. 15 shows a schematic perspective view of a non-claimed second embodiment of a base of a connector;
Fig. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the base shown in Fig. 15, in which an conductive terminal held in the base and an elastic clip mounted on the conductive terminal are shown;
Fig. 17 shows a schematic perspective view of the conductive terminal and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 16;
Fig. 18 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector with a cover being mounted on the base shown in Fig. 15;
Fig. 19 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in Fig. 18, in which the conductive terminal held in the base and the elastic clip mounted on the conductive terminal are shown;
Fig. 20 shows a schematic view representing that a driving member is inserted into a slot in the base through a driving member insertion hole of the cover, in which a guiding surface of a lower end of the driving member just comes into contact with the an arc protrusion of the elastic clip;
Fig. 21 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 20;
Fig. 22 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member is inserted into a first engagement position, in which a first recess of the driving member is engaged with the arc protrusion of the elastic clip;
Fig. 23 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 22;
Fig. 24 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector when the driving member is inserted into the first engagement position, in which a mounting structure for mounting the connector onto a panel is shown;
Fig. 25 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector with a wire being inserted into the slot in the base through a wire insertion hole of the cover;
Fig. 26 shows a relative position relationship between the wire, the driving member and the elastic clip shown in Fig. 25;
Fig. 27 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member is inserted into a second engagement position, in which a second recess of the driving member is engaged with the arc protrusion of the elastic clip;
Fig. 28 shows a schematic view representing that the inserted driving member is pulled out from the slot in the base by an external tool;
Fig. 29 shows a schematic perspective view of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 30 shows a schematic perspective view of a driving member of the connector shown in Fig. 29;
Fig. 31 shows a schematic perspective view of one driving member and four corresponding conductive terminals and four corresponding elastic clips of the connector shown in Fig. 29;
Fig. 32 shows a schematic perspective view of a non-claimed fourth embodiment of a connector; and
Fig. 33 shows a schematic perspective view of one driving member and one corresponding conductive terminal and one corresponding elastic clip of the connector shown in Fig. 32.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

Figs. 1-14 show a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a base 100 of the connector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the base 100 shown in Fig. 1, in which an conductive terminal 200 held in the base 100 and an elastic clip 300 mounted on the conductive terminal 200 are shown; Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the conductive terminal 200 and the elastic clip 300 shown in Fig. 2.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a connector. As shown in Figs. 1-3, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly comprises a base 100 and a conductive terminal 200 held in the base 100.
As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a slot 110 is formed in the base 100, and an upper portion 210 of the conductive terminal 200 is received in the slot 110 of the base 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 210 of the conductive terminal 200 has a flat plate shape, and is configured for electrically contacting with a conductor 810 of a wire 800 (as shown in Fig. 13); and a lower portion 220 of the conductive terminal 200 has a cylinder shape, and is adapted to electrically contact with a conductive terminal of a mating connector (not shown).
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises an elastic clip 300 and a driving member 500 (as shown in Figs. 6-13). The elastic clip 300 is received in the slot 110 of the base 100 and mounted on the upper portion 210 of the conductive terminal 200. The driving member 500 is adapted to be inserted into the slot 110 of the base 100, so as to drive the elastic clip 300 to move between a first position and a second position.
When the elastic clip 300 is in the first position (the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12), an insertion space, adapted to receive the wire 800 inserted therein, is defined between the elastic clip 300 and the conductive terminal 200. When the elastic clip 300 is in the second position (the position shown in Fig. 13), the wire 800 inserted into the insertion space is clamped between the elastic clip 300 and the conductive terminal 200 by the elastic clip 300.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector with a cover 400 being mounted on the base 100 shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in Fig. 4, in which the conductive terminal 200 held in the base 100 and the elastic clip 300 mounted on the conductive terminal 200 are shown.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises a cover 400 adapted to be mounted on the base 100. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cover 400 is formed with a wire insertion hole 411, through which the wire 800 is adapted to be inserted into the slot 110 of the base 100 (as shown in Figs. 11 and 12); and the cover 400 is further formed with a driving member insertion hole 412, through which the driving member 500 is adapted to be inserted into the slot 110 of the base 100.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 400 is snapped on the base 100.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a side wall of the cover 400 is formed with a groove 420, and an external wall of the base 100 is formed with a protrusion 120. When the cover 400 is mounted on the base 100, the protrusion 120 of the base 100 is snapped in the groove 420 of the cover 400.
As clearly shown in Fig. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic clip 300 comprises a first end 310 and a second end 320. The first end 310 of the elastic clip 300 is formed with a notch 311, and the upper portion 210 of the conductive terminal 200 is provided with a tongue-shaped tip 211 slidably received in the notch 311 of the elastic clip 300.
Fig. 6 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member 500 is inserted into the slot 110 in the base 100 through the driving member insertion hole 412 of the cover 400, in which a guiding surface 510 of a lower end of the driving member 500 just comes into contact with the an arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300; and Fig. 7 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member 500 and the elastic clip 300 shown in Fig. 6.
As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the lower end of the driving member 500 is formed with an inclined guiding surface 510, along which the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300 is adapted to be slid when the driving member 500 is initially inserted.
When the elastic clip 300 is in the first position (the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12), the conductor 810 of the wire 800 is adapted to be inserted into the notch 311 of the elastic clip 300, and when the elastic clip 300 is in the second position (the position shown in Fig. 13), the conductor 810 inserted into the notch 311 is clamped between the elastic clip 300 and the conductive terminal 200 by the elastic clip 300. Thus, it can achieve an electrical connection between the wire 800 and the conductive terminal 200.
Please refer to Fig. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the second end 320 of the elastic clip 300 is received in the notch 311 of the elastic clip 300, and rested against a side of the tongue-shaped tip 211 of the conductive terminal 200. One side of the elastic clip 300 is rested against the upper portion 210 of the conductive terminal 200, and the other side of the elastic clip 300 is adapted to contact with the inserted driving member 500 (as shown in Figs. 8-13).
Fig. 8 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member 500 is inserted into a first engagement position, in which a first recess 520 of the driving member 500 is engaged with the arc protrusion 300 of the elastic clip 300; Fig. 9 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member 500 and the elastic clip 300 shown in Fig. 8.
As shown in Figs. 7-9, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the driving member 500 is formed with a first recess 520 and a second recess 530 located above the first recess 520. As shown in Figs. 3, 7-9, the arc protrusion 330 formed on the elastic clip 300 protrudes outwardly and is adapted to be engaged with the first recess 520 and the second recess 530, respectively.
Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector with the wire 800 inserted into the slot 110 in the base 100 through the wire insertion hole 411 of the cover 400; and Fig. 12 shows a relative position relationship between the wire 800, the driving member 500 and the elastic clip 300 shown in Fig. 11.
As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and7-9, when the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300 is engaged with the first recess 520 of the driving member 500, the elastic clip 300 is moved to the first position by the driving member 500 (as shown in Figs. 11 and 12), then, the wire 800 is allowed to be inserted into the slot 110 of the base 100 through the wire insertion hole 411 of the cover 400, and into the notch 311 of the elastic clip 300.
When the conductor 810 of the wire 800 is inserted into the notch 311 of the elastic clip 300, the driving member 500 may be further inserted until the second recess 530 of the driving member 500 is engaged with the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300.
Fig. 13 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member 500 is inserted into the second engagement position, in which the second recess 530 of the driving member 500 is engaged with the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300.
As shown in Fig. 13, when the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300 is engaged with the second recess 530 of the driving member 500, the elastic clip 300 is moved to the second position, then, the conductor 800 inserted into the notch 311 of the elastic clip 300 is clamped between the elastic clip 300 and the conductive terminal 200.
In the above-described embodiment, when the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300 is engaged with the first recess 520 of the driving member 500, the elastic clip 300 is held in the first position, and the driving member 500 is held in the first engagement position. Similarly, when the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300 is engaged with the second recess 530 of the driving member 500, the elastic clip 300 is held in the second position, and the driving member 500 is held in the second engagement position. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in the illustrated embodiment, two rows and two columns of conductive terminals 200 are held in the base 100, and two rows and one column of slots 110 are formed in the base 100, the conductive terminals 200 and the corresponding elastic clips 300 are received in the slots 110 in the base 100, respectively.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 400 is formed with three columns and two columns of wire insertion holes 411, and the wire insertion holes 411 of the cover 400 are corresponding to the slots 110 in the base 100, respectively. Three rows and two columns of conductive terminals 200 are held in the base 100, and three rows and one column of slots 110 are formed in the base 100. The conductive terminals 200 and the corresponding elastic clips 300 are received in the slots 110 in the base 100, respectively.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 400 is formed with three rows of driving member insertion holes 412, and each of the driving member insertion holes 412 is corresponding to one slot 110 in the base 100. As shown in Figs. 6-13, each plurality of driving members 500 is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot 110 through one corresponding driving member insertion hole 412, and adapted to simultaneously drive two elastic clips 300, which are held on two conductive terminals 200 received in the one corresponding slot 110, respectively. As clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the slots 110 in the base 100 is formed with a first alignment rib 150 extending upwardly from a bottom wall of the base 100, each of the driving member insertion holes 412 of the cover 400 is formed with a second alignment rib 450 extending downwardly from a top wall of the cover 400, and the second alignment rib 450 is formed with a first alignment slot 451 extending vertically. The first alignment rib 150 is adapted to be inserted into the first alignment slot 451, so as to ensure an alignment between the cover 400 and the base 100 in a vertical direction during mounting the cover 400 on the base 100.
As clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the driving member 500 is formed with a second alignment slot 550 extending vertically. The second alignment rib 450 is adapted to be inserted into the second alignment slot 550, so as to ensure an alignment between the driving member 500 and the driving member insertion hole 412 in the vertical direction during inserting the driving member 500 into the driving member insertion hole 412.
Fig. 14 shows a schematic view representing that the inserted driving member 500 is pulled out from the slot 110 in the base 100 by an external tool 900.
As shown in Figs. 7 and 14, in the illustrated embodiment, a top surface of the driving member 500 is formed with a tool insertion hole 540 communicated with the second alignment slot 550 and extending vertically. An external tool 900 is adapted to be inserted into the tool insertion hole 540 and engaged with the driving member 500, so as to pull out the driving member 500 inserted into the slot 110 of the base 100 from the slot 110, or pull the driving member 500 to the first engagement position where the first recess 520 of the driving member 500 is engaged with the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig. 14, the external tool 900 has two elongated elastic arms 910, 910, and a distal end of each of the elastic arms 910, 910 is formed with a hook-shaped protrusion 911, which is adapted to be engaged with an internal periphery of an opening of the tool insertion hole 540. Thus, when the two elastic arms 910, 910 of the external tool 900 is inserted into the tool insertion hole 540 of the driving member 500, the distal ends of the two elastic arms 910, 910 expands outwardly under an elastic restoring force, such that the hook-shaped protrusions 911 at the distal ends of the two elastic arms 910, 910 are engaged with the internal periphery of the opening of the tool insertion hole 540. Thus, the driving member 500 inserted into the slot 110 of the base 100 may be pulled out from the slot 110 by the external tool 900, or the driving member 500 may be pulled to the first engagement position where the first recess 520 of the driving member 500 is engaged with the arc protrusion 330 of the elastic clip 300. Thus, the clamped wire 800 is released by the elastic clip 300, such that it is allowable to conveniently pull out the wire 800 from the connector.
Fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector when the driving member 500 is inserted into the first engagement position, in which a mounting structure for mounting the connector onto a panel is shown.
As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 10, two ends of the base 100 are formed with a first T-shaped groove 140, respectively, and two ends of the cover 400 are formed with a second T-shaped groove 440 corresponding to the first T-shaped groove 140, respectively. The connector further comprises a T-shaped mounting block 600 adapted to be mounted in the first T-shaped groove 140 and the second T-shaped groove 440, and a mounting plate 700 connected with the T-shaped mounting block 600. The mounting plate 700 is provided with two bolts 710 configured for mounting the connector onto a panel (not shown).
As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 10, lower portions of two ends of the base 100 are formed with protruding supporting tables 130, respectively, and the mounting plate 700 is positioned and held on the supporting table 130 of the base 100.
In each of the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, an electrical connection between the wire 800 and the conductive terminal 200 of the connector may be achieved only by inserting the driving member 500 into the slot 110 of the base 100, without requiring any other additional tools, thereby improving wiring efficiency of the connector.
In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, one driving member 500 may simultaneously drive elastic clips 300 provided on two conductive terminals 200, therefore, an electrical connection between two wires 800 and two conductive terminals 200 may be achieved by inserting only one driving member 500, thereby further improving the wiring efficiency of the connector.
Similarly, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the wires 800 are needed to be replaced, the two wires 800 may be simultaneously released by pulling out one driving member 500, thereby improving releasing efficiency of the connector.

Second Embodiment

Figs. 15-28 show a non-claimed second embodiment of a connector. Fig. 15 shows a schematic perspective view of a base 100' of the connector according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the base 100' shown in Fig. 15, in which an conductive terminal 200' held in the base 100' and an elastic clip 300' mounted on the conductive terminal 200' are shown; and Fig. 17 shows a schematic perspective view of the conductive terminal 200' and the elastic clip 300' shown in Fig. 16.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a connector. As shown in Figs. 15-17, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly comprises a base 100' and a plurality of conductive terminal 200' held in the base 100'.
As clearly shown in Figs. 15 and 16, a plurality of slots 110' are formed in the base 100', and an upper portion 210' of each conductive terminal 200' is received in one corresponding slot 110' of the base 100'. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 210' of the conductive terminal 200' has a flat plate shape, and is configured for electrically contacting with a conductor 810' of a wire 800' (as shown in Fig. 27); and a lower portion 220' of the conductive terminal 200' has a cylinder shape, and is adapted to electrically contact with an conductive terminal of a mating connector (not shown).
As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises an elastic clip 300' and a driving member 500' (as shown in Figs. 20-27). The elastic clip 300' is received in the slot 110' of the base 100' and mounted on the upper portion 210' of the conductive terminal 200'. The driving member 500' is adapted to be inserted into the slot 110' of the base 100', so as to drive the elastic clip 300' to move between a first position and a second position.
When the elastic clip 300' is in the first position (the position shown in Figs. 25 and 26), an insertion space, adapted to receive the wire 800' inserted therein, is defined between the elastic clip 300' and the conductive terminal 200'. When the elastic clip 300' is in the second position (the position shown in Fig. 27), the wire 800' inserted into the insertion space is clamped between the elastic clip 300' and the conductive terminal 200' by the elastic clip 300'.
Fig. 18 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector with a cover 400' mounted on the base 100' shown in Fig. 15; and Fig. 19 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in Fig. 18, in which the conductive terminal 200' held in the base 100' and the elastic clip 300' mounted on the conductive terminal 200' are shown.
As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises a cover 400' adapted to be mounted on the base 100'. The cover 400' is formed with a wire insertion hole 411', through which the wire 800' is adapted to be inserted into the slot 110' of the base 100' (as shown in Figs. 25 and 26), and the cover 400' is further formed with a driving member insertion hole 412', through which the driving member 500' is adapted to be inserted into the slot 110' of the base 100'.
As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 400' is snapped on the base 100'.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 18 and 19, a side wall of the cover 400' is formed with a groove 420', and an external wall of the base 100' is formed with a protrusion 120'. When the cover 400' is mounted on the base 100', the protrusion 120' of the base 100' is snapped in the groove 420' of the cover 400'.
As clearly shown in Fig. 17, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic clip 300' comprises a first end 310' and a second end 320'. The first end 310' of the elastic clip 300' is formed with a notch 311'. The upper portion 210' of the conductive terminal 200' has a tongue-shaped tip 211' slidably received in the notch 311' of the elastic clip 300'.
Fig. 20 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member 500' is inserted into the slot 110' in the base 100' through the driving member insertion hole 412' of the cover 400', in which a guiding surface 510' of a lower end of the driving member 500' just comes into contact with the an arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300'; and Fig. 21 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member 500' and the elastic clip 300' shown in Fig. 20.
As shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the lower end of the driving member 500' is formed with an inclined guiding surface 510', along which the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300' is adapted to be slid when the driving member 500' is initially inserted.
When the elastic clip 300' is in the first position (the position shown in Figs. 25 and 26), the conductor 810' of the wire 800' is adapted to be inserted into the notch 311' of the elastic clip 300'; and when the elastic clip 300' is in the second position (the position shown in Fig. 27), the conductor 810' inserted into the notch 311' is clamped between the elastic clip 300' and the conductive terminal 200' by the elastic clip 300'. Thus, it can achieve an electrical connection between the wire 800' and the conductive terminal 200'.
Please refer to Figs. 17, 26 and 27, in the illustrated embodiment, the second end 320' of the elastic clip 300' is received in the notch 311' of the elastic clip 300', and abutted against a side of the tongue-shaped tip 211' of the conductive terminal 200'. One side of the elastic clip 300' is abutted against the upper portion 210' of the conductive terminal 200', and the other side of the elastic clip 300' is adapted to contact with the inserted driving member 500' (as shown in Figs. 22-27).
Fig. 22 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member 500' is inserted into a first engagement position, in which a first recess 520' of the driving member 500' is engaged with the arc protrusion 300' of the elastic clip 300'; and Fig. 23 shows a relative position relationship between the driving member 500' and the elastic clip 300' shown in Fig. 22.
As shown in Figs. 21-23, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the driving member 500' is formed with a first recess 520' and a second recess 530' located above the first recess 520'. As shown in Figs. 17, 21-23, the elastic clip 300' is formed with an arc protrusion 330' protruding outwardly and adapted to be engaged with the first recess 520' and the second recess 530', respectively.
Fig. 25 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector with the wire 800' inserted into the slot 110' in the base 100' through the wire insertion hole 411' of the cover 400'; and Fig. 26 shows a relative position relationship between the wire 800', the driving member 500' and the elastic clip 300' shown in Fig. 25;
As shown in Figs. 21-23, when the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300' is engaged with the first recess 520' of the driving member 500', the elastic clip 300' is moved to the first position by the driving member 500' (as shown in Figs. 25 and 26), then, the wire 800' is allowed to be inserted into the slot 110' of the base 100' through the wire insertion hole 411' of the cover 400', and into the notch 311' of the elastic clip 300'.
When the conductor 810' of the wire 800' is inserted into the notch 311' of the elastic clip 300', the driving member 500' may be further inserted until the second recess 530' of the driving member 500' is engaged with the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300'.
Fig. 27 shows a schematic view representing that the driving member 500' is inserted into a second engagement position, in which a second recess 530' of the driving member 500' is engaged with the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300'.
As shown in Fig. 27, when the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300' is engaged with the second recess 530' of the driving member 500', the elastic clip 300' is moved to the second position, then, the conductor 800' inserted into the notch 311' of the elastic clip 300' is clamped between the elastic clip 300' and the conductive terminal 200'.
In the above-described embodiment, when the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300' is engaged with the first recess 520' of the driving member 500', the elastic clip 300' is held in the first position, and the driving member 500' is held in the first engagement position. Similarly, when the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300' is engaged with the second recess 530' of the driving member 500', the elastic clip 300' is held in the second position, and the driving member 500' is held in the second engagement position. As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, in the illustrated embodiment, two columns and twelve rows of conductive terminals 200' are held in the base 100', and one column and twelve rows of slots 110' are formed in the base 100', the conductive terminals 200' and the corresponding elastic clips 300' are received in the slots 110' in the base 100', respectively.
As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 400' is formed with two columns and twelve rows of wire insertion holes 411', and each slot 110' in the base 100' is corresponding to two wire insertion holes 411' of the cover 400' arranged in one row.
As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 400' is formed with two columns and six rows of driving member insertion holes 412' at two sides of the wire insertion holes 411', and each driving member insertion hole 412' is corresponding to two slots 110', which are arranged in one column and two rows, in the base 100'. As shown in Figs. 20-27, each of a plurality of driving members 500' is adapted to be simultaneously inserted into two slots 110', which are arranged in one column and two rows, of the base 100', so as to simultaneously drive the elastic clips 300' on two conductive terminals 200', which are arranged in one column and two rows.
Fig. 28 shows a schematic view representing that the inserted driving member 500' is pulled out from the slot 110' in the base 100' by an external tool 900'.
As shown in Figs. 21 and 28, in the illustrated embodiment, an upper edge of a side wall of the cover 400' is formed with a plurality of (six) first tool insertion hole 430', and an upper portion of the driving member 500' is formed with a second tool insertion hole 540' corresponding to the first tool insertion hole 430'. As shown in Fig. 28, the external tool 900' (for example, a screwdriver) is adapted to be inserted into the first tool insertion hole 430' and the second tool insertion hole 540', so as to lift the driving member 500' inserted into the slot 110' in the base 100' from the slot 110', or lift the driving member 500' to the first engagement position, i.e., lift the driving member 500' to the first engagement position where the first recess 520' of the driving member 500' is engaged with the arc protrusion 330' of the elastic clip 300'. Thus, the clamped wire 800' is released by the elastic clip 300', such that it is allowable to conveniently pull out the wire 800' from the connector.
Fig. 24 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector when the driving member 500' is inserted into the first engagement position, in which a mounting structure for mounting the connector onto a panel is shown.
As shown in Figs. 15, 18 and 24, two ends of the base 100' are formed with a first T-shaped groove 140', respectively, and two ends of the cover 400' are formed with a second T-shaped groove 440' corresponding to the first T-shaped groove 140', respectively. The connector further comprises: a T-shaped mounting block 600' adapted to be mounted in the first T-shaped groove 140' and the second T-shaped groove 440'; and a mounting plate 700' connected with the T-shaped mounting block 600'. The mounting plate 700' is provided with two bolts 710' configured for mounting the connector onto a panel (not shown).
As shown in Figs. 15, 18 and 24, lower portions of two ends of the base 100' are formed with a protruding supporting table 130', respectively, and the mounting plate 700' is positioned and held on the supporting table 130' of the base 100'.
In each of the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, an electrical connection between the wire 800' and the conductive terminal 200' of the connector may be achieved only by inserting the driving member 500' into the slot 110' of the base 100', without requiring any other additional tools, thereby improving wiring efficiency of the connector.
In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, one driving member 500' may simultaneously two drive elastic clips 300' on two conductive terminals 200', which are arranged in one column and two rows, therefore, an electrical connection between two wires 800' and two conductive terminals 200' may be achieved by inserting only one driving member 500', thereby further improving the wiring efficiency of the connector.
Similarly, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the wires 800' are needed to be replaced, the two wires 800' may be simultaneously released by pulling out one driving member 500', thereby improving releasing efficiency of the connector.

Third Embodiment

Figs. 29-31 show a connector according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 29 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 30 shows a schematic perspective view of a driving member 500" of the connector shown in Fig. 29; and Fig. 31 shows a schematic perspective view of one driving member 500" and four corresponding conductive terminals 200" and four corresponding elastic clips 300" of the connector shown in Fig. 29.
The connector of the third embodiment shown in Figs. 29-31 is different from the connector of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14 only in that the structure of the driving member is different.
In the connector of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14, each of a plurality of driving members 500 is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot 110 through one corresponding driving member insertion hole 412, and adapted to simultaneously drive two elastic clips 300 on two conductive terminals 200, which are received in one corresponding slot 110.
In the connector of the third embodiment shown in Figs. 29-31, each of a plurality of driving members 500" is adapted to be simultaneously inserted into two corresponding slots 110 through two corresponding driving member insertion holes 412 (Figs. 4 and 5), which are ranged in two adjacent rows, and adapted to simultaneously drive four elastic clips 300 on four conductive terminals 200 received in the two corresponding slots 110.
Each of the plurality of driving members 500" shown in Figs. 29-31 is equivalent to a combined driving members 500" which is formed by parallelly connecting two driving member 500 shown in Figs. 1-14 with each other.
Except the above-described differences, the connector of the third embodiment shown in Figs. 29-31 is substantially identical to the connector of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14. For the sake of brevity, the same description of the third embodiment as the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14 need not be repeated.
It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, three or more driving member 500 may be parallelly connected with each other, so as to simultaneously drive the elastic clips 300 on six or more conductive terminals 200.

Fourth Embodiment

Figs. 32-33 show a connector according to a non-claimed fourth embodiment of a connector. Fig. 32 shows a schematic perspective view of the connector according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig. 33 shows a schematic perspective view of one driving member 500"' and one corresponding conductive terminal and one corresponding elastic clip of the connector shown in Fig. 32.
The connector of the fourth embodiment shown in Figs. 32-33 is different from the connector of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14 only in that the structure of the driving member and the cover is different.
In the connector of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14, the cover 400 is formed with one column of driving member insertion holes 412. Each of the driving member insertion holes 412 is corresponding to one slot 110 in the base 100. Each of a plurality of driving members 500 is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot 110 through one corresponding driving member insertion hole 412, and adapted to simultaneously drive two elastic clips 300 on two conductive terminals 200, which are arranged in one row and received in the one corresponding slot 110.
In the connector of the fourth embodiment shown in Figs. 32-33, the cover 400"' is formed with three rows and two columns of driving member insertion holes 412"'. Each of slots 110 in the base 100 is corresponding to two driving member insertion holes 412"'. Each of a plurality of driving members 500'" is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot 110 through one corresponding driving member insertion hole 412"', and adapted to drive one elastic clip 300 on one conductive terminal 200 received in the slot 110.
Except the above-described contents, the connector of the fourth embodiment shown in Figs. 32-33 is substantially identical to the connector of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14. For the sake of brevity, the same description of the fourth embodiment as the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14 need not be repeated.

Claims

A connector, comprising:
a base (100) formed with at least one slot (110) or one pair of slots (110);

at least one pair of conductive terminals (200) held in the base (100), an upper portion (210) of each conductive terminal (200) being received in one slot (110) of the base (100);

at least one elastic clip (300, 300") or one pair of elastic clips (300, 300") each received in one slot (110) of the base (100) and mounted on the upper portion (210) of the conductive terminal (200), each elastic clip (300, 300") being formed with an arc protrusion (330) protruding outwardly; and

at least one driving member (500, 500") adapted to be inserted into the slot (110) or the pair of slots (110) of the base (100) to drive each of the elastic clips (300, 300") or the pair of elastic clips (300, 300") to move between a first position and a second position, said at least one driving member (500, 500") being formed with a first recess (520) or a pair of first recesses (520) and a second recess (530) or a pair of second recesses (530) located above the first recess (520) or the pair of first recesses (520),

wherein when the arc protrusion (330) is engaged with a first recess (520), the corresponding elastic clip (300, 300") is held in the first position, where an insertion space is defined between such elastic clip (300, 300") and the conductive terminal (200) to receive a wire (800) inserted therein, and

wherein when the arc protrusion (330) is engaged with a second recess (530), the corresponding elastic clip (300, 300") is held in the second position, where the wire (800) inserted into the insertion space is clamped between such elastic clip (300, 300") and the upper portion (210) of the conductive terminal (200) by the elastic clip (300, 300"),

characterized in that

the connector further comprises a cover (400) adapted to be mounted on the base (100),

wherein the cover (400) is formed with at least one wire insertion hole (411), through which a wire (800) or wires (800) is or are insertable into the slot (110) or the pair of slots (110) of the base (100), and

wherein the cover (400) is further formed with at least one driving member insertion hole (412, 412"), through which the driving member (500, 500") is inserted into the slot (110) of the base (100),

wherein each slot (110) or pair of slots (110) in the base (100) is formed with a first alignment rib (150) extending upwardly from a bottom wall of the base (100),

wherein each driving member insertion holes (412, 412") of the cover (400) is formed with a second alignment rib (450) extending downwardly from a top wall of the cover (400), and

wherein the second alignment rib (450) is formed with a first alignment slot (451) extending vertically along a vertical direction that is parallel to an upward-downward extension direction of the first alignment rib (150) and the second alignment rib (450), and the first alignment rib (150) is adapted to be inserted into the first alignment slot (451), so as to ensure an alignment between the cover (400) and the base (100) in the vertical direction,

wherein the driving member (500, 500") is formed with a second alignment slot (550) extending downwardly, and the second alignment rib (450) is adapted to be inserted into the second alignment slot (550), so as to ensure an alignment between the driving member (500, 500") and the driving member insertion hole (412, 412") in the vertical direction.
The connector according to claim 1, wherein each elastic clip (300, 300") comprises a first end (310) and a second end (320), the first end (310) of the elastic clip (300, 300") being formed with a notch (311),
wherein the upper portion (210) of the conductive terminal (200) has a tongue-shaped tip (211) slidably received in the notch (311) of the elastic clip (300, 300"),
wherein when the elastic clip (300, 300") is in the first position, a conductor of the wire (800) is adapted to be inserted into the notch (311) of the elastic clip (300, 300"), and
wherein when the elastic clip (300, 300") is in the second position, the conductor inserted into the notch (311) is clamped between the elastic clip (300, 300") and the conductive terminal (200) by the elastic clip (300, 300").
The connector according to claim 2, wherein the second end (320) of the elastic clip (300, 300") is received in the notch (311) of the elastic clip (300, 300"), and rested against a side of the tongue-shaped tip (211) of the conductive terminal (200),
wherein one side of the elastic clip (300, 300") is rested against the upper portion (210) of the conductive terminal (200), and the other side of the elastic clip (300, 300") is adapted to contact with the inserted driving member (500, 500"),
wherein a lower end of the driving member (500, 500") is formed with an inclined guiding surface (510, 510'), along which the arc protrusion (330) of the elastic clip (300, 300") is adapted to be slid.
The connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of rows and two columns of conductive terminals (200) are held in the base (100), and a plurality of rows and one column of slots (110) are formed in the base (100), each slot (110) is configured to receive two conductive terminals (200) and two corresponding elastic clips (300, 300") therein,
wherein the cover (400) is formed with a plurality of rows and two columns of wire insertion holes (411), and each slot (110) in the base (100) is corresponding to two wire insertion holes (411).
The connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cover (400) is formed with a plurality of rows and one column of driving member insertion holes (412), and each driving member insertion holes (412, 412") is corresponding to one slot (110) in the base (100), and
wherein each driving members (500, 500") is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot (110) through one corresponding driving member insertion hole (412, 412"), and adapted to simultaneously drive two elastic clips (300, 300") on two conductive terminals (200) received in the one corresponding slot (110).
The connector according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover (400) is formed with one column of driving member insertion holes (412), and each driving member insertion holes (412, 412") is corresponding to one slot (110) in the base (100), and
wherein each driving members (500, 500") is adapted to be simultaneously inserted into two corresponding slots (110) through two corresponding driving member insertion holes (412, 412"), and adapted to simultaneously drive four elastic clips (300, 300") on four conductive terminals (200) received in the two corresponding slots (110).
The connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cover (400) is formed with a plurality of rows and two columns of driving member insertion holes (412), and each slot (110) in the base (100) is corresponding to two driving member insertion holes (412, 412"), and
wherein each driving members (500, 500") is adapted to be inserted into one corresponding slot (110) through one corresponding driving member insertion hole (412, 412"), and adapted to drive one elastic clip (300, 300") on one conductive terminal (200) received in the slot (110).
An assembly comprising an external tool (900) and the connector according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a top surface of the driving member (500, 500") is formed with a tool insertion hole communicated with the second alignment slot (550) and extending vertically, and
wherein the external tool (900) is insertable into the tool insertion hole and engaged with the driving member (500, 500"), so as to lift out the driving member inserted into the slot (110) of the base (100) from the slot (110), or lift the driving member (500, 500") to a position where the first recess (520) of the driving member (500, 500") is engaged with the arc protrusion (330) of the elastic clip (300, 300").
The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the external tool (900) has two elongated elastic arms (910), and a distal end of each elastic arms (910) is formed with a hook-shaped protrusion (911) adapted to be engaged with an internal periphery of the tool insertion hole.
The assembly according to one of claims 8 to 9, wherein a plurality of rows and two columns of conductive terminals (200) are held in the base (100), and a plurality of rows and two columns of slots (110) are formed in the base (100), the conductive terminals (200) and the corresponding elastic clips (300, 300") being received in the slots (110) in the base (100), respectively;
wherein the cover (400) is formed with a plurality of rows and two columns of wire insertion holes (411), and each slots (110) in the base (100) is corresponding to two wire insertion holes (411) of the cover (400).
The assembly according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the cover (400) is formed with a plurality of rows and two columns of driving member insertion holes (412, 412"), and each driving member insertion holes (412, 412") is corresponding to two slots (110) of the base (100) in two adjacent columns, and
wherein each driving members (500, 500") is adapted to be simultaneously inserted into two slots (110) of the base (100), so as to simultaneously drive the elastic clips (300, 300") provided on two conductive terminals (200).
The assembly according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein an upper edge of a side wall of the cover (400) is formed with at least one first tool insertion hole, and an upper portion (210) of the driving member (500, 500") is formed with a second tool insertion hole corresponding to the first tool insertion hole, and
wherein an external tool (900) is insertable into the first tool insertion hole and the second tool insertion hole, so as to lift out the driving member (500, 500") inserted into the slot (110) in the base (100) from the slot (110), or lift the driving member (500, 500") to a position where the first recess (520) of the driving member (500, 500") is engaged with the arc protrusion (330) of the elastic clip (300, 300").