WO2021175671A1

WO2021175671A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: WO2021175671A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/054530
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dingbing Fan; Ming Shi; Xiaozhi Fu; Wei Zhang; Shuzhi WANG; Beibei Jing
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; Tyco Electronics Uk Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-03-03
Filing date: 2021-02-24
Publication date: 2021-09-10
Also published as: CN211829327U

Abstract

The present invention discloses a connector comprising: a housing formed with a terminal slot extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing; and a terminal inserted into the terminal slot of the housing, wherein a locking member slot extending in a height direction of the housing is formed in the bottom of the housing, the connector further comprises a locking member adapted to be inserted into the locking member slot; wherein when the locking member is inserted to an installation position in the housing, the locking member is locked in the locking member slot, and the locking member locks the terminal in the terminal slot. In the present invention, the locking member may reliably lock the terminal in the housing, and the locking member may be conveniently moved to a pre-installation position which allows the terminal to be pulled out of the housing.

Description

Connector

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN202020248699.4 filed on March 3, 2020, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates to a connector.

Description of the Related Art

In the prior art, a connector usually comprises a housing and a terminal inserted into a terminal slot of the housing. In order to lock the terminal in the terminal slot of the housing, the terminal is usually formed with an elastic locking arm adapted to engage with a recess of an inner wall of the terminal slot. When the terminal is subjected to an external pulling force, all external pulling force will act on the elastic locking arm, and it is easy to stretch the elastic locking arm. Moreover, in the prior art, once the terminal is inserted into the terminal slot, it cannot be pulled out of the housing.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to solve at least one of the above and other problems and defects existing in the prior arts.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a connector comprising a housing formed with a terminal slot extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing; and a terminal inserted into the terminal slot of the housing, wherein a locking member slot extending in a height direction of the housing is formed at the bottom of the housing, the connector further comprises a locking member adapted to be inserted into the locking member slot; wherein when the locking member is inserted into an installation position in the housing, the locking member is locked in the locking member slot, and the locking member locks the terminal in the terminal slot.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the locking member is capable of being inserted into a pre-installation position in the housing; when the locking member is inserted into the pre-installation position in the housing, the locking member is locked in the locking member slot, and the locking member does not block the terminal from being inserted into the terminal slot and does not block the terminal from being pulled out of the terminal slot. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the locking member has two elastic arms opposite to each other in a lateral direction of the housing, and a protrusion is formed on a free end of each elastic arm; an inner wall of the locking member slot of the housing is formed with a first recess adapted to engage with the protrusion and a second recess located above the first recess; When the locking member is inserted into the pre-installation position, the protrusion is locked in the first recess, thereby locking the locking member in the pre-installation position; When the locking member is inserted into the installation position, the protrusion is locked in the second recess, thereby locking the locking member in the installation position.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an opening is formed on both sides of the housing in the lateral direction, respectively, so that the protrusion of the locking member is available through the opening and is capable of being pushed from the installation position engaged with the second recess to the pre-installation position engaged with the first recess.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal has an elastic locking arm, the elastic locking arm is adapted to engage with a recess in an inner wall of the terminal slot to lock the terminal in the terminal slot.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hole corresponding to the elastic locking arm is formed in a bottom wall of the housing, so that the elastic locking arm may be pushed to a release position, where the elastic locking arm is separated from the recess in the inner wall of the terminal slot by an external tool extending into the hole, to allow the terminal to be pulled out of the terminal slot.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the housing is formed with a row of terminal slots, and a plurality of terminals are inserted into the row of terminal slots, respectively.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the locking member is adapted to simultaneously lock the plurality of terminals inserted in the row of terminal slots.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the locking member may reliably lock the terminal in the housing, and the locking member may be conveniently moved to a pre-installation position which allows the terminal to be pulled out of the housing.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and may help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows an exploded schematic view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section view of the connector shown in Fig. 1, wherein a locking member is in a installation position;

Fig. 3 shows a stereoscopic schematic view of the locking member and a terminal in the connector shown in Fig. 2, wherein the locking member is in the installation position;

Fig. 4 shows a cross section view of the connector shown in Fig. 2, wherein the locking member is in the installation position;

Fig. 5 shows a stereoscopic schematic view of a locking member and a terminal in the connector shown in Fig. 1, wherein the locking member is in a pre-installation position.

PET ATT, ED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Technical solutions of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to these embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. The following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to illustrate the general inventive concept of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

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

According to a general technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a connector comprising a housing formed with a terminal slot extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing; and a terminal inserted into the terminal slot of the housing. A locking member slot extending in a height direction of the housing is formed in the bottom of the housing, and the connector further comprises a locking member adapted to be inserted into the locking member slot. When the locking member is inserted to an installation position in the housing, the locking member is locked in the locking member slot, and the locking member locks the terminal in the terminal slot.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded schematic view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section view of the connector shown in Fig. 1, wherein a locking member 300 in an installation position.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connector comprises a housing 100 and a terminal 200. The housing 100 is formed with a terminal slot 110 extending in a longitudinal direction Y of the housing 100. The terminal 200 is inserted into the terminal slot 110 of the housing 100. Fig. 3 shows a stereoscopic schematic view of the locking member 300 and a terminal 200 in the connector shown in Fig. 2, wherein the locking member 300 is in the installation position; and Fig. 4 shows a cross section view of the connector shown in Fig. 2, wherein the locking member 300 is in the installation position.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a locking member slot 120 extending along a height direction Z of the housing 100 is formed at the bottom of the housing 100, the connector further comprises the locking member 300 adapted to be inserted into the locking member slot 120, and the locking member 300 may be inserted into an installation position in the housing 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when the locking member 300 is inserted into the installation position in the housing 100, the locking member 300 is locked in the locking member slot 120, and at this time the locking member 300 locks the terminal 200 in the terminal slot 110.

Fig. 5 shows a stereoscopic schematic view of the locking member and the terminal in the connector shown in Fig. 1, wherein the locking member is in a pre-installation position.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the locking member 300 is also capable of being inserted into a pre-installation position in the housing 100. When the locking member 300 is inserted into the pre-installation position in the housing 100, the locking member 300 is locked in the locking member slot 120, and at this time the locking member 300 does not block the terminal 200 from being inserted into the terminal slot 110 and does not block the terminal 200 from being pulled out of the terminal slot 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the locking member 300 has two elastic arms 310 opposed to each other in a lateral direction X of the housing 100, and a protrusion 311 is formed on a free end of each elastic arm 310. An inner wall of the locking member slot 120 of the housing 100 is formed with a first recess 121 adapted to engage with the protrusion 311 and a second recess 121 located just above the first concave portion 121.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, when the locking member 300 is inserted into the pre-installation position, the protrusion 311 is locked in the first recess 121, thereby locking the locking member 300 in the pre-installation position.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, when the locking member 300 is inserted into the installation position, the protrusion 311 is locked in the second recess 122, thereby locking the locking member 300 in the installation position.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, an opening 130 is formed on both sides of the housing 100 in the lateral direction, respectively, so that the protrusion 311 of the locking member 300 is available through the opening 130. In this way, by pushing the protrusion 311 of the locking member 300 in a direction indicated by the arrow F in Fig. 4, the protrusion 311 of the locking member 300 may be pushed from the installation position engaged with the second recess 122 to the pre-installation position engaged with the first recess. 121. In this way, the protrusion 311 of the locking member 300 may be retracted to the pre-installation position to allow the terminal 200 to be pulled out of the housing 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the terminal 200 has an elastic locking arm 210. The elastic locking arm 210 is adapted to engage with a recess in an inner wall of the terminal slot 110 to lock the terminal 200 in the terminal slot 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a hole (not shown) corresponding to the elastic locking arm 210 is formed in the bottom wall of the housing 100, so that the elastic locking arm 210 may be pushed to a release position, where the elastic locking arm 210 is separated from the recess in the inner wall of the terminal slot 110, by an external tool extending into the hole. After the elastic locking arm 210 is pushed to the release position, the terminal 200 may be pulled out of the terminal slot 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the housing 100 is formed with a row of terminal slots 110, and a plurality of terminals 200 are inserted into the row of terminal slots 110, respectively.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the locking member 300 is adapted to simultaneously lock the plurality of terminals 200 in the row of terminal slots 110.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrative, and many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various structures described in various embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.

Although the present invention have been described hereinbefore in detail with reference to the attached drawings, it should be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments in the attached drawings are intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example, and should not be construed as limitation to the present invention.

Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

It should be noted that, the word “comprise” doesn’t exclude other elements or steps, and the word “a” or “an” doesn’t exclude more than one. In addition, any reference numerals in the claims should not be interpreted as the limitation to the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is,

1. A connector, comprising: a housing (100) formed with a terminal slot (110) extending in a longitudinal direction (Y) of the housing (100); and a terminal (200) inserted into the terminal slot (110) of the housing (100), wherein a locking member slot (120) extending in a height direction (Z) of the housing (100) is formed at the bottom of the housing (100), the connector further comprises a locking member (300) adapted to be inserted into the locking member slot (120); wherein when the locking member (300) is inserted into an installation position in housing (100), the locking member (300) is locked in the locking member slot (120), and the locking member (300) locks the terminal (200) in the terminal slot (110).

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: the locking member (300) is capable of being inserted into a pre-installation position in the housing (100); when the locking member (300) is inserted into the pre-installation position in the housing (100), the locking member (300) is locked in the locking member slot (120), and the locking member (300) does not block the terminal (200) from being inserted into the terminal slot (110) and does not block the terminal (200) from being pulled out of the terminal slot (110).

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: the locking member (300) has two elastic arms (310) opposite to each other in a lateral direction (X) of the housing (100), and a protrusion (311) is formed on a free end of each elastic arm (311); an inner wall of the locking member slot (120) of the housing (100) is formed with a first recess (121) adapted to engage with the protrusion (311) and a second recess (122) located above the first recess ( 121); when the locking member (300) is inserted into the pre-installation position, the protrusion (311) is locked in the first recess (121), thereby locking the locking member (300) in the pre-installation position; when the locking member (300) is inserted into the installation position, the protrusion (311) is locked in the second recess (122), thereby locking the locking member (300) in the installation position.

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein: an opening (130) is formed on both sides of the housing (100) in the lateral direction, respectively, so that the protrusion (311) of the locking member (300) is available through the opening (130) and is capable of being pushed from the installation position engaged with the second recess (122) to the pre-installation position engaged with the first recess (121).

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: the terminal (200) has an elastic locking arm (210), the elastic locking arm (210) is adapted to engage with a recess in an inner wall of the terminal slot (110) to lock the terminal (200) in the terminal slot (110).

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein: a hole corresponding to the elastic locking arm (210) is formed in the bottom wall of the housing (100), so that the elastic locking arm (210) may be pushed to a release position, where the elastic locking arm (210) is separated from the recess in the inner wall of the terminal slot (110), by an external tool extending into the hole, to allow the terminal (200) to be pulled out of the terminal slot (110).

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: the housing (100) is formed with a row of terminal slots (110), and a plurality of terminals (200) are inserted into the row of terminal slots (110), respectively.

8. The connector according to claim 7, wherein: the locking member (300) is adapted to simultaneously lock the plurality of terminals (200) in the row of terminal slots (110).