CN111525351B

CN111525351B - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: CN111525351B
Application number: CN201910106960.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张腾飞; 陈锋
Original assignee: Molex Interconnect Shanghai Co Ltd; Molex LLC
Current assignee: Molex Interconnect Shanghai Co Ltd; Molex LLC
Priority date: 2019-02-02
Filing date: 2019-02-02
Publication date: 2021-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-02
Also published as: TWM584034U; CN111525351A

Abstract

The invention provides an electric connector, which comprises an insulating base, a switch terminal assembly arranged in the insulating base, a button arranged on the insulating base and at least one charging terminal fixed on the insulating base, wherein the switch terminal assembly is arranged on the insulating base; the button is positioned above the switch terminal assembly and can movably abut against the switch terminal assembly up and down along the insulating base so as to realize the switch function; at least one side surface of the button is provided with an accommodating groove; each charging terminal comprises a connecting part, a contact part bent upwards from one end of the connecting part and a welding part bent downwards from the other end of the connecting part; wherein, the contact part is exposed and accommodated in the accommodating groove. The electric connector integrates the charging function and the switching function into a whole, can save one connector in small-sized electronic equipment, saves application space and cost, and is convenient for miniaturization of the electronic equipment.

Description

Electrical connector

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of electric connectors, in particular to an electric connector convenient for miniaturization of electronic equipment.

Background

CN207896013U discloses a dab switch, including the plastic base, locate terminal subassembly, lid on the plastic base are located plastic upper cover on the plastic base, from top to bottom wear to locate the plastic upper cover is used for supporting the pressure the button of terminal subassembly, and will the plastic base with the plastic upper cover is fixed in integrative metal support, the metal support is located including the lid the support body of plastic upper cover and by the both ends of support body are buckled downwards respectively and are extended and will the plastic base wraps up two stabilizer blades in, the support body with plastic upper cover injection moulding is as an organic whole, the button by wear out on the support body. The tact switch has only a single function of a switch, and cannot meet the need of the industry to realize various functions on one connector, and thus needs to be further improved.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to overcoming the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, and to providing an electrical connector integrated with multiple functions to facilitate miniaturization of electronic devices.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first connector including: an electric connector comprises an insulating base, a switch terminal assembly arranged in the insulating base, a button arranged on the insulating base and at least one charging terminal fixed on the insulating base; the button is positioned above the switch terminal assembly and can movably abut against the switch terminal assembly up and down along the insulating base so as to realize the switch function; at least one side surface of the button is provided with an accommodating groove; each charging terminal comprises a connecting part, a contact part bent upwards from one end of the connecting part and a welding part bent downwards from the other end of the connecting part; wherein, the contact part is exposed and accommodated in the accommodating groove.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has at least the following advantages: the electric connector uses the charging terminal as the cover body of the insulating base, and the button for realizing the switch function is provided with the accommodating groove which accommodates the contact part of the charging terminal therein, thereby having compact structure. The electric connector integrates a switch function and a charging function into a whole, and when the electronic equipment using the electric connector is normally used, the electric connector is used as a switch connector. When the electronic equipment needs to be charged, the electric connector can be used as a charging connector. One connector can be saved in the electronic device, thereby saving application space and cost and facilitating miniaturization of the electronic device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view a-a of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top view of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the charging terminal in fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view further exploded from fig. 7.

Fig. 9 and 10 are perspective views of two different viewing directions further exploded from fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view further exploded from fig. 9.

Wherein the reference numerals are as follows:

1. an insulating base; 11. a base; 111. a first side surface; 112. a second side surface; 113. a groove; 114. a support portion; 12. a support table; 121. a snap tab.

2. A switch terminal assembly; 21. a switch terminal; 211. a connecting arm; 212. welding a pin; 213. a contact arm; 22. an elastic sheet.

3. A button; 31. a pressing part; 311. an accommodating groove; 312. a clamping groove; 32. an actuating section; 33. a protrusion.

4. A charging terminal; 41. a connecting portion; 42. a contact portion; 421. clamping and fixing the flange; 43. welding the part; 431. an extension arm; 432. welding the arm; 44. a pressing section; 45. a fixed part; 451. a fixed arm; 452. hooking and fixing the arm; 450. a notch; 46. a first limiting part; 47. a second limiting part.

5. A waterproof membrane.

6. And (5) protecting the film.

Detailed Description

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present description is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated.

Thus, a feature indicated in this specification is intended to describe one of the features of an embodiment of the invention and does not imply that every embodiment of the invention must have the described feature. Further, it should be noted that this specification describes many features. Although some features may be combined to show a possible system design, these features may also be used in other combinations not explicitly described. Thus, the combinations illustrated are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified.

In the embodiments shown in the drawings, directional references (such as upper, lower, left, right, front and rear) are used to explain the structure and movement of the various elements of the invention, rather than absolute, and relative. These descriptions are appropriate when the elements are in the positions shown in the drawings. If the description of the positions of these elements changes, the indication of these directions changes accordingly.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5, the electrical connector of the preferred embodiment includes an insulating base 1, a switch terminal assembly 2 installed in the insulating base 1, a button 3 installed on the insulating base 1 movably up and down, two charging terminals 4 fixed on the insulating base 1, a protection film 6 installed at the bottom of the insulating base 1, and a waterproof membrane 5 installed between the button 3 and the switch terminal assembly 2. The electric connector integrates the switching function and the charging function, and is preferably used in small electronic equipment such as hearing aids, Bluetooth earphones and the like.

Referring to fig. 11, the insulating base 1 includes a base 11 having a substantially rectangular shape, four supporting platforms 12 protruding upward from four corners of the base 11, and a space is provided between two adjacent supporting platforms 12. Two opposite first side surfaces 111 of the base 11 are flush with one of the outer side surfaces of the supporting platform 12, and two other opposite second side surfaces 112 of the base 11 slightly exceed the supporting platform 12 outwards to form a small step with the lower part of the supporting platform 12. The upper end surface of the base 11 is concavely provided with a groove 113, and the bottom of the groove 113 is further provided with two separated supporting parts 114, and the two supporting parts 114 slightly protrude upwards from the bottom surface of the groove 113. The upper end of each support 12 protrudes toward the second side 112 to form a locking protrusion 121.

Referring to fig. 3 and fig. 11, the switch terminal assembly 2 includes two switch terminals 21 disposed oppositely and a resilient plate 22 located above the two switch terminals 21.

Each switch terminal 21 includes a connecting arm 211, two welding pins 212 and a contact arm 213. The two welding legs 212 extend from two ends of the connecting arm 211 toward the same side, the two welding legs 212 and the connecting arm 211 are located on the same plane, and the contact arm 213 is bent upward from the middle of the connecting arm 211 and extends in parallel away from the welding legs 212. The contact arms 213 of the two switch terminals 21 are arranged opposite to each other at a distance, and the welding legs 212 of the two switch terminals 21 extend away from each other.

Referring to fig. 3, 9 and 10, the two switch terminals 21 are embedded on the base 11 of the insulating base 1, and preferably formed into an integral structure with the base 11 through a plug-in molding process. As shown in fig. 9, the contact arms 213 of the two switch terminals 21 are exposed in the groove 113 of the base 11, and the surfaces of the contact arms 213 are substantially flush with the bottom surface of the groove 113. As shown in fig. 10, the welding legs 212 and the connecting arms 211 of the two switch terminals 21 are exposed on the bottom surface of the base 11. The end of the soldering pin 212 extends out of the first side 111 of the base 11 for electrically connecting with a corresponding electrical component (e.g., a circuit board) in an electronic device. As shown in fig. 3, the bottom surface of the base 11 is covered by the protective film 6, thereby shielding the soldering leg 212 and the connecting arm 211 from external dust.

Referring to fig. 3, 8 and 11, the elastic sheet 22 is in the shape of a spherical cap, the convex surface of the elastic sheet is upward installed in the groove 113 of the base 11, the edge of the elastic sheet 22 is attached to the supporting portion 114, and the convex surface of the elastic sheet 22 is opposite to the contact arms 213 of the two switch terminals 21. The elastic sheet 22 is made of metal, and when the elastic sheet 22 is pressed by the button 3, the convex surface of the elastic sheet 22 elastically deforms downward to contact the two contact arms 213, so that the two contact arms 213 are conducted, thereby triggering a switch operation. After the external pressure is released, the convex surface of the elastic piece 22 elastically deforms back and forth upward to wait for receiving the next switch operation.

Referring to fig. 3 and 7, the waterproof membrane 5 is covered on the upper end surface of the base 11, and the outline of the waterproof membrane 5 is adapted to the inner surface between the supporting platforms 12, so as to be clamped between the supporting platforms 12. The waterproof membrane 5 seals the elastic sheet 22 and the switch terminal 21 in the base 11, and is isolated from the button 3, so as to prevent external water vapor from entering the inside of the base 11 via the button 3 and further entering the inside of the electronic device, thereby improving the waterproof effect.

Referring to fig. 3, 7 and 10, the button 3 includes a pressing portion 31, an actuating portion 32 protruding downward from a central position of the pressing portion 31, and a plurality of protruding portions 33 protruding outward from a lower end edge of the pressing portion 31 to the pressing portion 31.

The cross section of the pressing portion 31 is racetrack shaped, and two side surfaces corresponding to the straight side of the racetrack shaped are respectively provided with a receiving groove 311. The receiving groove 311 is rectangular, the upper side and the left and right sides of the receiving groove 311 are closed, and the receiving groove 311 penetrates the lower end of the pressing portion 31 downward. Furthermore, the left and right side walls of the receiving slot 311 are recessed to form a fastening slot 312, and the fastening slot 312 and the receiving slot 311 are combined to form a cavity with a narrow outside and a wide inside.

The protruding portion 33 is disposed approximately corresponding to the runway-shaped arc edge of the pressing portion 31 and respectively extends outward beyond the side surfaces corresponding to the two straight edges. The protruding portions 33 are symmetrically distributed at two sides of the receiving slot 311 at intervals, the inner side of the protruding portion 33 is substantially flush with the left side wall or the right side wall of the receiving slot 311, and the other opposite outer side of the protruding portion 33 is substantially flush with the outermost vertex of the runway-shaped arc edge of the pressing portion 31.

The cross-sectional dimension of the actuating portion 32 is much smaller than that of the pressing portion 31, and the actuating portion 32 is substantially cylindrical and has a hemispherical end.

As shown in fig. 3, the pressing portion 31 of the button 3 is located outside the insulating base 1 for pressing by an operator. The protrusion 33 and the actuator 32 extend into the insulating base 1 and can move up and down within a height range defined by the supporting base 12 and the upper end surface of the base 11. The actuating portion 32 is substantially opposite to the center of the elastic sheet 22 of the switch terminal assembly 2, and when the button 3 is pressed, the end of the actuating portion 32 directly contacts the waterproof membrane 5, thereby acting on the elastic sheet 22 to trigger the switch action.

Referring to fig. 1, 3 to 6, the charging terminal 4 is covered on the insulating base 1, and the two charging terminals 4 are disposed opposite to each other. The two charging terminals 4 are arranged at intervals in a direction parallel to the second side surface 112 of the base 11 of the insulating base 1, and the pressing portion 31 of the push button 3 protrudes upward from the interval between the two charging terminals 4 of the insulating base 1.

Referring to fig. 6, the charging terminal 4 is made of metal, and is preferably integrally formed by stamping, bending, and the like from a metal sheet. The charging terminal 4 includes a connecting portion 41, a contact portion 42 bent upward from an inner end of the connecting portion 41 (i.e., an end close to the button 3), a welding portion 43 bent downward from an outer end of the connecting portion 41 (i.e., an end close to the first side 111 of the base 11), and two pressing portions 44 symmetrically extending from both sides of the connecting portion 41. Further, the charging terminal 4 further includes two fixing portions 45 respectively bent out from the ends of the two pressing portions 44 further downward, and two first position-limiting portions 46 respectively extending from the inner sides of the two fixing portions 45. Two second limiting portions 47 extend from two sides of the welding portion 43.

The connecting portion 41, the contact portion 42 and the soldering portion 43 constitute a basic structure for realizing a charging function, the contact portion 42 is used for connecting with an external charger, the soldering portion 43 is used for connecting with an internal electrical component (such as a circuit board) of an electronic device, and the connecting portion 41 serves to electrically conduct the contact portion 42 and the soldering portion 43.

Referring to fig. 1, 3 and 6, the contact portion 42 is perpendicular to the connection portion 41, and the area of the contact portion 42 is preferably larger than that of the connection portion 41 to facilitate connection with an external charger. Preferably, two sides of the inner surface of the contact portion 42 respectively protrude outwards to form a fastening flange 421, so that two sides of the contact portion 42 respectively form a step-like structure. The contact portion 42 is received in the receiving slot 311 of the side surface of the button 3, and the fastening flange 421 is correspondingly received in the fastening slot 312 of the receiving slot 311. When the button 3 moves up and down, the contact portion 42 slides along the receiving groove 311. Preferably, the receiving slot 311 and the fastening slot 312 form a structure with a narrow outside and a wide inside, so that the contact portion 42 can be fastened therein, and the contact portion 42 is prevented from being removed outward. Meanwhile, the cooperation of the contact portion 42 with the receiving slot 311 and the fastening slot 312 can also guide the up-and-down movement of the button 3.

Referring to fig. 1 and 6, the welding portion 43 includes an extension arm 431 bent downward from an outer end of the connection portion 41 and a welding arm 432 bent outward from a lower end of the extension arm 431. The inner surface of the lower end of the extension arm 431 is attached to the first side surface 111 of the base 11. The welding arm 432 is perpendicular to the extension arm 431, and the welding arm 432 protrudes outward from the first side 111 of the base 11.

Still referring to fig. 1 and 6, the two pressing portions 44 respectively extend from two sides of the connecting portion 41 to two second side surfaces 112 of the base 11. The pressing portion 44 is flush with the connecting portion 41 and covers the upper end surface of the insulating base 1, the lower surface of the pressing portion 44 is attached to the upper end surface of the supporting base 12 of the insulating base 1, so that a space for the button 3 to move up and down is formed between the charging terminal 4 and the base 11 of the insulating base 1, and the pressing portion 44 presses the upper side of the protruding portion 33 of the button 3, thereby preventing the button 3 from being pulled out upward.

Referring to fig. 1, 4 and 6, the fixing portion 45 includes a fixing arm 451 bent downward from the end of the pressing portion 44 and a hooking arm 452 extending outward from the lower end of the fixing arm 451. The fixing arm 451 and the hooking arm 452 are in the same plane and substantially parallel to the second side 112 of the base 11, and the hooking arm 452 extends toward the closer first side 111. The width of the fixing arm 451 is smaller than the width of the pressing portion 44, and a gap 450 is defined between the fixing arm 451, the hooking arm 452 and the pressing portion 44, wherein the gap 450 corresponds to the snap protrusion 121 of the insulating base 1. The hooking arm 452 is engaged with the lower portion of the engaging protrusion 121, so that the charging terminal 4 is engaged with and fixed to the insulating base 1 in the vertical direction. The fixing arm 451 abuts on a small step formed between the second side surface 112 of the base 11 and the side surface of the supporting base 12, and limits the abutment of the charging terminal 4 with the insulating base 1 in a direction parallel to the second side surface 112.

As shown in fig. 4, the first position-limiting portion 46 and the fixing portion 45 are on the same plane, the first position-limiting portion 46 extends from the inner side of the fixing arm 451 of the fixing portion 45 and extends in the opposite direction to the hooking arm 452, i.e. the first position-limiting portion 46 and the hooking arm 452 are respectively arranged on two sides of the fixing arm 451. The first position-limiting portion 46 is stopped above the waterproofing membrane 5, and can provide a support for the connection portion 41 to prevent the twisting when the button 3 is pressed down, and can limit the waterproofing membrane 5 in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, the two first position-limiting portions 46 of the charging terminal 4 are parallel and opposite to each other, and stop at the outer sides of the two protruding portions 33 of the push button 3, respectively, and also limit the push button 3 in the horizontal direction.

Referring to fig. 1, 4 and 6, the second position-limiting portion 47 extends outward from two sides of the extension arm 431 of the welding portion 43, the second position-limiting portion 47 and the extension arm 431 are on the same plane and parallel to the first side surface 111 of the base 11, and the second position-limiting portion 47 is approximately located in the interval between the two supporting tables 12. The second stoppers 47 of the two charging terminals 4 face each other and are stopped at the outer sides of both ends of the protrusion 33 of the push button 3, respectively, to thereby cooperate with each other to horizontally restrict the push button 3.

The assembly process of the electrical connector is roughly as follows: the switch terminal 21 is integrally injection-molded with the insulating base 1 by a plug-in molding process, and the spring piece 22 is fixed in the groove 113 of the base 11 of the insulating base 1; covering the waterproof membrane 5 on the base 11 of the insulating base 1; the contact parts 42 of the two charging terminals 4 are respectively clamped in the containing grooves 311 of the button 3, and then the charging terminals 4 and the button 3 are assembled on the insulating base 1 together, so that the charging terminals 4 are covered on the insulating base 1 and fixed together; finally, the protective film 6 is attached to the bottom of the insulating base 1. The button 3 is retained by the charging terminal 4 to allow only limited up and down movement relative to the insulating base 1 to perform a switching function.

According to the above embodiment, when the electrical connector is applied to an electronic device, the welding leg 212 of the switch terminal 21 and the welding arm 432 of the charging terminal 4 are welded to a circuit board of the electronic device, and cooperate with corresponding circuits in the electronic device to implement a switching function and a charging function, respectively. The electrical connector can be used as a switch connector by pressing the button 3 when the electronic device is normally used. When the electronic device needs to be charged, the electrical connector can be used as a charging connector by docking the two charging terminals 4 with another charging plug (not shown) for charging. The electric connector uses the charging terminal 4 as the cover of the insulating base 1, and the button 3 for realizing the switching function is provided with a receiving groove 311, and the receiving groove 311 receives the contact portion 42 of the charging terminal 4 therein, thereby having a compact structure. The electric connector integrates the switching function and the charging function into a whole on the premise of not increasing the overall dimension, and the overall dimension can be controlled within 3mm multiplied by 2.5 mm. The small electronic equipment using the electric connector can save one connector, save application space and cost and facilitate miniaturization of the electronic equipment.

The above-mentioned embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can easily make various changes and modifications according to the main concept and spirit of the present invention, so the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

an insulating base;

a switch terminal assembly installed in the insulating base;

the button is arranged on the insulating base and positioned above the switch terminal assembly, and can be movably pressed against the switch terminal assembly up and down along the insulating base so as to realize the switching function; at least one side surface of the button is provided with an accommodating groove;

at least one charging terminal fixed on the insulating base; each charging terminal comprises a connecting part, a contact part bent upwards from one end of the connecting part and a welding part bent downwards from the other end of the connecting part; wherein the contact portion is exposed and accommodated in the accommodating groove,

wherein, the lower end of the button extends outwards to form at least one protruding part; the charging terminal also comprises at least one pressing part extending from one side of the connecting part, and the pressing part is pressed above the protruding part to prevent the button from falling off upwards.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion is symmetrically disposed on both sides of the button; the at least one pressing part is two in number and is symmetrically arranged on two sides of the connecting part.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the dielectric base projects outwardly from the at least one snap tab; the charging terminal is further bent and extended by the pressing part to form at least one fixing part, and the fixing part is correspondingly clamped with the clamping protrusion part.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the fixing portion comprises a fixing arm bent downward from the pressing portion and a hooking arm horizontally extending outward from a lower end of the fixing arm; the hooking arm is clamped below the buckling protrusion part.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the soldering portion comprises an extension arm extending from the connecting portion and bent downward and a soldering arm extending from a lower end of the extension arm; wherein the extension arm is attached to the outer side surface of the insulating base.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein two sides of the contact portion facing the inner surface of the button are respectively protruded to form a locking protrusion; two opposite side walls of the accommodating groove are respectively recessed to form a clamping groove so as to accommodate the clamping flange in the accommodating groove.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the charging terminal further comprises at least one position-limiting portion, and the position-limiting portion stops at an outer side of the button.

8. The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the dielectric base comprises a base and four support platforms projecting upwardly from four corners of the base; the switch terminal assembly is fixed on the base; the at least one charging terminal cover is arranged on the upper end face of the supporting table and forms a space for the button to move up and down with the base.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the number of the at least one charging terminal is two, and the two opposite side surfaces of the button are respectively provided with one of the receiving grooves; the two charging terminals are oppositely arranged, and the button protrudes upwards from the interval between the two charging terminals.