1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector assembly capable of ensuring reliable electrical connection between a receptacle connector and a plug connector thereof.
2. The Related Art
A conventional receptacle and plug connector assembly includes a receptacle connector having a first housing and a plurality of terminals received in the first housing, and a plug connector having a second housing and a plurality of contacts disposed in the second housing. When the receptacle connector is mated with the plug connector, the terminals are electrically connected with the contacts to transmit signals between the receptacle connector and the plug connector.
However, the terminal of the receptacle connector contacts one side of the contact of the plug connector to achieve electrical connection therebetween. Although the connection structure between the terminal of the receptacle connector and the contact of the plug connector is simple, the connection therebetween is unsteady, so that the terminal of the receptacle connector and the contact of the plug connector would likely be disconnected with each other when the connector assembly suffers an outside force. Therefore the connector assembly cannot transmit the signals stably and reliably.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly capable of ensuring a stable electrical connection between a receptacle connector and a plug connector thereof.
In order to achieve the object, the receptacle connector has a first housing with a plurality of first terminals received therein. The plug connector matched with the receptacle connector has a second housing with a plurality of second terminals fixed therein. Each of the first terminals has a first base portion and a first contact portion extending from the first base portion. A first elastic arm extends from the first base portion and a first propping portion is formed at a free end of the first elastic arm. Each of the second terminals has a second base portion and a second contact portion extending from the second base portion. A second elastic arm extends from the second base portion and a second propping portion is formed at a free end of the second elastic arm. The first propping portion is against the second contact portion and the second propping portion is against the first contact portion.
As described above, because the first propping portions of the first terminals are against the second contact portions of the second terminals, while the second propping portions of the second terminals are against the first contact portions of the first terminals, the connection between the first terminals of the receptacle connector and the second terminals of the plug connector is double and more stably, which avoids the first terminals being disconnected with the second terminals when the connector assembly suffers from an outside force.
The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Referring to
Referring to
The first housing 110 has a substantially rectangular base 111 and a tongue portion 112 extending forward from a front surface of the base 111. The base 111 defines two recesses 113 at the junction of a top and rear surface thereof and adjacent to bilateral sides of the base 111. The first housing 110 defines two rows of first grooves 114 in a top and bottom portion of the tongue portion 112 and respectively extending to penetrate through the base 111.
Each of the first group of the first terminals 120 has a substantially rectangular first base portion 121, a substantially plate shaped first contact portion 125 extending forward from a front end of the first base portion 121 and a first solder portion 126 extending downward and then extending rearward from a rear end of the first base portion 121. The first base portion 121 defines a first through slot 122 and a first elastic arm 123 extending frontward into the first through slot 122 from a rear edge of the first through slot 122. A free end of the first elastic arm 123 extends upward and then extends downward to form a first propping portion 124 protruding out of the first through slot 122. The first propping portion 124 shows a substantially inverted V shape. The second group of the first terminals 120 has a similar structure to the first group, the difference is that the first propping portions 124 of the second group extend downward and then extend upward to show a substantial V shape.
The two groups of the first terminals 120 are respectively fixed in the first grooves 114 of the first housing 110, wherein the first group are positioned in the first grooves 114 defined in the top portion of the tongue portion 112, and the second group are positioned in the first grooves 114 defined in the bottom portion of the tongue portion 112. The first propping portions 124 are exposed out of the first grooves 114. The solder portions 126 extend out from the first housing 110 for being soldered to a PCB (not shown).
The shell 140 has a top wall 141, a bottom wall 142 and two sidewalls 143, all of which collectively define a receiving space 150 for holding the first housing 110 therein. The shell 140 defines two pressure pieces 144 extending inward from the sidewalls 143 to the top wall 141 and then extending frontward and inclining downward. Free ends of the pressure pieces 144 are sunken downward and protrude into the receiving space 150. The top wall 141 defines two hook pieces 145 extending towards the bottom wall 142 at a rear end thereof and respectively adjacent to the sidewalls 143. The hook pieces 145 are engaged with the recesses 113 of the first housing 110. The bottom wall 142 of the shell 140 apart defines two elastic pieces 146 projecting into the receiving space 150.
Referring to
The second housing 210 has a substantially rectangular body 211 and an extending portion 212 extending rearward from a rear surface of the body 211. A top of the body 211 defines a trough 213 passing therethrough. A wedge-shaped lump 214 projects upward at a middle portion of a bottom of the trough 213. The extending portion 212 defines a receiving cavity 215 therein. A top and bottom of the receiving cavity 215 respectively define a plurality of second grooves 216 penetrating through the extending portion 212 and the body 211. The body 211 defines two first slots 217 penetrating therethrough and adjacent to two sides thereof.
The second terminal 220 has a second base portion 221 disposed horizontally, a weld portion 225 extending forward from a front end of the second base portion 221 and a fixed portion 226 extending rearward from a rear end of the second base portion 221. A middle portion of the fixed portion 226 is arched upward to form a second contact portion 227 showing a substantial plate shape. The second base portion 221 is slit from one side thereof and then folded upward and rearward to form a second elastic arm 222. A free end of the second elastic arm 222 is arched upward to form a substantially inverted V shaped second propping portion 223. The second base portion 221 defines an opening 224 at a place corresponding to the free end of the second elastic arm 222 for avoiding the free end of the second elastic arm 222 contacting the second base portion 221 when the second elastic arm 222 is pressed.
The cover 230 is of cuboid shape and defines two rows of location channels 231 apart from each other and penetrating through an upper and lower portion thereof. The cover 230 further defines two second slots 232 penetrating therethrough and adjacent to two sides thereof.
The shield 240 has a hollow receiving portion 241 for receiving the extending portion 212 of the second housing 210. A top of the receiving portion 241 defines two fixing holes 242. A mantle layer 243 extends forward from a front end of the top of the receiving portion 241 and defines a location hole 244 at the middle portion thereof for engaging with the wedge-shaped lump 214 of the second housing 210. The receiving portion 241 has two extending arms 245 extending forward from two sides thereof.
In assembly of the plug connector 20, the cover 230 is attached to the body 211 of the second housing 210. In this case, the second grooves 216 communicate with the location channels 231 and the first slots 217 communicate with the second slots 232 correspondingly. The second terminals 220 that are divided into two groups one of which is inversely disposed beneath the other one are received in the second grooves 216. The weld portions 225 pass through the second grooves 216 and are disposed in the location channels 231. The fixed portions 226 are fixed in rear ends of the second grooves 216 and the second contact portions 227 are exposed out of the second grooves 216. The second propping portions 223 extend into the receiving cavity 215. The shield 240 receives the second housing 210. The mantle layer 243 is located in the trough 213. The wedge-shaped lump 214 is jammed into the location hole 244 for mating the shield 240 with the second housing 210 firmly. The extending arms 245 pass through the first slots 217 and the second slots 232 for locating the second housing 210 and the cover 230 together.
Referring to
As described above, because the first propping portions 124 of the first terminals 120 are against the second contact portions 227 of the second terminals 220, while the second propping portions 223 of the second terminals 220 are against the first contact portions 125 of the first terminals 120, the connection between the first terminals 120 of the receptacle connector 10 and the second terminals 220 of the plug connector 20 is double and more stable, which avoids the first terminals 120 being disconnected with the second terminals 220 when the connector assembly 100 suffers an outside force, so that signals can be transmitted reliably between the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 20.
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
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