INSULATING HOUSING AND WIRE-END CONNECTOR

Abstract

An insulating housing and a wire-end connector including the insulating housing are provided. The insulating housing includes a body portion, a power mating portion, a signal mating portion, and a snap-fit member. The body portion has a first surface and a second surface that are oppositely disposed, and a third surface and a fourth surface that are oppositely disposed. A plurality of first channels are formed along a first direction inside the body portion in a horizontal and parallel arrangement. The power mating portion is disposed on the second surface and includes a plurality of pillars, and the first channels penetrate the plurality of pillars, respectively. The signal mating portion is disposed on the third surface and has a fifth surface and a sixth surface that are oppositely disposed, and a plurality of second channels are formed therein along the first direction.

Claims

1. An insulating housing for a wire-end connector, comprising: a body portion having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other, and a third surface and a fourth surface disposed opposite to each other, wherein the first surface and the second surface are connected between the third surface and the fourth surface, and a plurality of first channels are formed inside the body portion in a first direction; a power mating portion disposed on the second surface, wherein the power mating portion includes a plurality of column bodies, each of the plurality of column bodies has a first end and a second end, and the first end is connected to the second surface, wherein the plurality of first channels respectively penetrate the plurality of column bodies, and wherein in each of the first channels, two first openings are formed on the first surface and the second end of a corresponding one of the column bodies, respectively; a signal mating portion disposed on the third surface, wherein the signal mating portion has a fifth surface and a sixth surface disposed opposite to each other, wherein a plurality of second channels are formed inside the signal mating portion in the first direction, and in each of the second channels, two second openings are formed on the fifth surface and the sixth surface, respectively; and a snap-fit member disposed on the fourth surface, wherein the snap-fit member includes a press portion and a snap-fit portion, wherein a projection area of the press portion projected onto the fourth surface at least partially overlaps with a projection area of the signal mating portion projected onto the fourth surface.

2. The insulating housing according to claim 1, wherein the fifth surface is flush with the first surface.

3. The insulating housing according to claim 1, wherein a fillet is formed at a junction between the first surface and the third surface, and the fillet has a radius of curvature between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

4. The insulating housing according to claim 1, wherein the press portion includes a convex portion, the convex portion is a protruding portion formed on one side of the snap-fit member near one side of the first surface, and a projection area of the convex portion projected onto the fourth surface overlaps with the projection area of the signal mating portion projected onto the fourth surface.

5. The insulating housing according to claim 4, wherein the first surface and the fifth surface are spaced apart by a first horizontal distance in the first direction, the convex portion has an inclined surface and a horizontal surface, a junction between the horizontal surface and the inclined surface is spaced apart from the first surface by a second horizontal distance, and the first horizontal distance is less than the second horizontal distance.

6. The insulating housing according to claim 1, wherein the snap-fit member includes a fan-shaped portion, and the fan-shaped portion is connected between the snap-fit portion and the press portion.

7. The insulating housing according to claim 6, wherein the press portion has a first width and the snap-fit portion has a second width, and the first width is at least 1.5 times the second width.

8. The insulating housing according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of recesses are formed at positions on the third surface corresponding to positions of the plurality of second openings on the fifth surface.

9. A wire-end connector, comprising: a body portion having a plurality of first channels formed therein; a power mating portion disposed on one side of the body portion, wherein the power mating portion includes a plurality of column bodies, wherein the plurality of first channels respectively penetrate the plurality of column bodies in a first direction; a signal mating portion disposed on one surface of the body portion, wherein a plurality of second channels are formed inside the signal mating portion in the first direction; a plurality of power wire-end terminals disposed in the plurality of first channels, respectively; a plurality of signal wire-end terminals disposed in the plurality of second channels, respectively; and a snap-fit member disposed on another surface of the body portion opposite to the one surface of the body portion, wherein the snap-fit member includes a press portion and a snap-fit portion, and a projection area of the press portion projected onto the another surface at least partially overlaps with a projection area of the signal mating portion projected onto the another surface.

10. The wire-end connector according to claim 9, wherein a length of an overlapping projection area in the first direction of the press portion and the signal mating portion projected onto the surface is greater than or equal to half of a length of the projection area in the first direction of the press portion projected onto the surface.

11. The wire-end connector according to claim 9, wherein the press portion further includes a convex portion, and a projection area of the convex portion projected onto the surface at least partially overlaps with a projection area of the signal mating portion projected onto the surface.

12. The wire-end connector according to claim 9, wherein the press portion has a first width and the snap-fit portion has a second width, and the first width is at least 1.5 times the second width.

13. The wire-end connector according to claim 9, wherein the first width is greater than or equal to 6 mm.

14. The wire-end connector according to claim 9, wherein one side of the body portion is flush with one side of the signal mating portion.

15. The wire-end connector according to claim 9, wherein a fillet is formed at an edge corner of the body portion near the signal mating portion, and the fillet has a radius of curvature between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

16. The wire-end connector according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of recesses are formed at the edge corner of the body portion near the signal mating portion and at positions corresponding to positions of the plurality of second channels.

17. A wire-end connector, comprising: a body portion having a plurality of first channels formed therein; a power mating portion disposed on one side of the body portion; a signal mating portion disposed on one surface of the body portion; a plurality of power wire-end terminals inserted inside the body portion and the power mating portion in one direction; a plurality of signal wire-end terminals inserted inside the signal mating portion in the one direction; and a snap-fit member disposed on another surface of the body portion opposite to the one surface of the body portion, wherein the snap-fit member includes a press portion and a snap-fit portion, and a projection area of the press portion projected onto the another surface at least partially overlaps with a projection area of the signal mating portion projected onto the another surface.

18. The wire-end connector according to claim 17, wherein one side of the body portion is flush with one side of the signal mating portion.

19. The wire-end connector according to claim 17, wherein the snap-fit member includes a fan-shaped portion.

20. The wire-end connector according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of recesses are formed at positions on the one surface corresponding to positions of the plurality of signal wire-end terminals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The described embodiments may be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulating housing according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the insulating housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3 is side view of the insulating housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a wire-end connector and a board-end connector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 5 is an assembly view of the wire-end connector and the board-end connector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a front view of an insulating housing according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an insulating housing according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the insulating housing according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an insulating housing according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0023] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the insulating housing according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on”. Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.

[0025] The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first”, “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.

First Embodiment

[0026] Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulating housing according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the insulating housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the insulating housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The first embodiment of the present disclosure provides an insulating housing A for wire-end connectors, and the insulating housing A includes a body portion 1, a power mating portion 2, a signal mating portion 3, and a snap-fit member 4.

[0027] The body portion 1 has a first surface 11, a second surface 12, a third surface 13, and a fourth surface 14. The first surface 11 is disposed opposite to the second surface 12, the third surface 13 is disposed opposite to the fourth surface 14, and the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 are connected between the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14. A plurality of first channels 10 are formed inside the body portion 1 in a first direction (Y-axis direction). The plurality of first channels 10 are arranged in at least one row, and the plurality of first channels 10 are exemplified as being arranged in two horizontal and parallel rows in this embodiment.

[0028] The power mating portion 2 is disposed on the second surface 12 on one side of the body portion 1. The power mating portion 2 includes a plurality of column bodies 21 that are in horizontal and parallel arrangements. Each of the plurality of column bodies 21 has a first end 211 and a second end 212. The first end 211 is connected to the second surface 12. Because the plurality of column bodies 21 are connected to the body portion 1, the plurality of first channels 10 respectively penetrate the plurality of column bodies 21, and in each of the first channels 10, two first openings 101 are formed on the first surface 11 and the second end 212 of a corresponding one of the column bodies 21, respectively.

[0029] The signal mating portion 3 is disposed on the third surface 13, and the signal mating portion 3 has a fifth surface 31 and a sixth surface 32 disposed opposite to each other. A plurality of second channels 30 are formed inside the signal mating portion 3 in the first direction, and in each of the second channels 30, two second openings 301 are formed on the fifth surface 31 and the sixth surface 32, respectively. The sixth surface 32 of the signal mating portion 3 is a mating interface for mating with a signal mating socket B3 (referring to FIG. 4). The mating interface may be a square interface. Two sides of the portion of the signal mating portion 3 connected to the third surface 13 can further respectively have two support portions 33 formed thereon to enhance the structural strength. Since each of the support portions 33 is a beveled surface, the fifth surface 31 is trapezoidal when viewed from the positive Y-axis of FIG. 1. The snap-fit member 4 is disposed on the fourth surface 14. The snap-fit member 4 includes a press portion 41 and a snap-fit portion 42. Further, the snap-fit member 4 also includes a connection portion 43. The connection portion 43 is connected to the fourth surface 14. The press portion 41 is located on a rear side of a junction 431 between the connection portion 43 and the fourth surface 14 (i.e., a side of the snap-fit member 4 that extends in the negative Y-axis direction). The snap-fit portion 42 is located on a front side of the junction 431 (i.e., a side of the snap-fit member 4 that extends in the positive Y-axis direction) between the connection portion 43 and the fourth surface 14. A projection area of the press portion 41 projected onto the fourth surface 14 (or the third surface 13) at least partially overlaps with a projection area of the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the fourth surface 14. Preferably, a length of an overlapping projection area of the press portion 41 and the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the fourth surface 14 (or the third surface 13) in the first direction is equal to or greater than half of a length of the projection area of the press portion 41 projected onto the fourth surface 14 in the first direction.

[0030] Furthermore, the press portion 41 includes a convex portion 411, and the convex portion 411 has an inclined surface 41A and a horizontal surface 41B. Mainly, the convex portion 411 is a protruding portion formed on one side of the snap-fit member 4 near the first surface. As seen in FIG. 3, a projection area of the convex portion 411 projected onto the fourth surface 14 at least partially overlaps with a projection area of the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the fourth surface 14. More precisely, the inclined surface 41A of the convex portion 411 overlaps with the projection area of the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the fourth surface 14. Preferably, both the inclined surface 41A and the horizontal surface 41B of the convex portion 411 overlap with the projection area of the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the fourth surface 14.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in this embodiment, the first surface 11 and the fifth surface 31 are spaced apart by a first horizontal distance H1 in the first direction, and a junction between the inclined surface 41A and the horizontal surface 41B of the press portion 41 is spaced apart from the first surface 11 in a second horizontal distance H2 in the first direction. The first horizontal distance H1 is equal to or smaller than the second horizontal distance H2. Further, a fillet is formed at a junction between the first surface 11 and the third surface 13, that is, an edge corner of the body portion 1 near the signal mating portion 3 is rounded. Preferably, the fillet has a radius of curvature R between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0032] Reference is made to FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a wire-end connector and a board-end connector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is an assembly view of the wire-end connector and the board-end connector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The present disclosure further provides a wire-end connector M, and the wire-end connector M includes the above-mentioned insulating housing A, a plurality of power wire-end terminals, and a plurality of signal wire-end terminals. The plurality of power wire-end terminals are inserted into (the plurality of first channels 10 of) the body portion 1 and the power mating portion 2 through the plurality of first openings 101 of the first surface 11, respectively. A plurality of signal wire-end terminals are inserted into the signal mating portion 3. In the embodiment, the plurality of signal wire-end terminals are inserted into (the plurality of second channels 30 of) the signal mating portion 3 through the plurality of second openings 301 of the fifth surface 31, respectively. When the wire-end connector M is assembled with the board-end connector B, a hook B1 of the board-end connector B will engage to the snap-fit portion 42 of the wire-end connector M. The power mating portion 2 of the wire-end connector M is mated into a plurality of power mating sockets B2 of the board-end connector B through the plurality of column bodies 21 of the power mating portion 2, and power board-end terminals (not shown in the drawings) in the power mating sockets B2 are in electrical contact with the plurality of power wire-end terminals through the first opening 101 of the second end 212 of each of the column bodies 21. Similarly, when the wire-end connector M is assembled with the board-end connector B, the signal mating portion 3 of the wire-end connector M is inserted in the signal mating socket B3 of the board-end connector B through the signal mating portion 3, and a plurality of signal board-end terminals (not shown in the drawings) in the signal mating socket B3 are in electrical contact with a plurality of signal wire-end terminals by being inserted in the plurality of second channels 30 through the plurality of second openings 301 of the sixth surface 32 of the signal mating portion 3. Therefore, the plurality of signal board-end terminals may transmit at least a portion of the following signals to the plurality of signal wire-end terminals, said signals indicating the following information: power supply status, voltage status, maximum power supply value, overcurrent protection, over temperature protection, emergency termination of power supply, etc. Then, the wire-end connector M is electrically connected to the circuit board C that is connected to the board-end connector B by being assembled to the board-end connector B. It is worth mentioning that, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, one of the second channels 30 can be filled so as to be used as a fool-proof device in the present disclosure. In other words, the plurality of signal board-end terminals have two or more different terminal spacings (pitch) therebetween to provide a fool-proof effect.

[0033] As mentioned above, when the wire-end connector M and the board-end connector B are assembled or separated, the inclined surface 41A of the press portion 41 overlaps with a projection area of the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the fourth surface 14, and the first horizontal distance H1 is smaller than the second horizontal distance H2. Therefore, when the user takes the wire-end connector M, fingers of the user can be in contact with the press portion 41 and the signal mating portion 3 at two sides of the insulating housing A, respectively. The finger of a user will press on a position of the signal mating portion 3 instead of pressing the signal wire (not shown in the drawings). In addition, even if the user inadvertently presses the signal wire, since a fillet is formed at the junction between the first surface 11 and the third surface 13, that is, an edge corner of the body portion 1 near the signal mating portion 3 is rounded, the signal wire is subjected to a smaller cross-cutting force at the junction so as to avoid being broken or damaged.

[0034] It is worth mentioning that, in other embodiments, one side of the body portion 1 is flush with one side of the signal mating portion 3 (i.e., the first surface 11 is flush with the fifth surface 31), that is, the first horizontal distance H1 is equal to 0. In this case, when the user takes the wire-end connector M in hand, the fingers of the user can press on the position of the signal mating portion 3 instead of pressing the signal wire, so that there is no need to worry about the signal wire being broken by the cross-cutting force exerted by the edge corners of the body portion 1.

Second Embodiment

[0035] Reference is made to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a front view of an insulating housing according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The insulating housing A provided in this embodiment has a similar structure compared with the insulating housing A provided in the first embodiment, and the similarities therebetween are not repeated. The difference between the insulating housing A of this embodiment and the insulating housing A of the first embodiment resides in that, the signal mating portion 3 of the insulating housing A has two rows of the second channels 30 in an upper and a lower arrangement. That is, the signal mating portion 3 of the insulating housing A has the plurality of second channels 30 in a horizontal and parallel arrangement, while the signal mating portion 3 of the insulating housing A of the first embodiment has only one row of the second channels 30. However, this disclosure is not limited by a number of the second channels 30.

Third Embodiment

[0036] Reference is made to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an insulating housing according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the insulating housing according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The insulating housing A provided in this embodiment has a similar structure compared with the insulating housing A provided in the first embodiment, and the similarities therebetween are not repeated. The difference between the insulating housing A of this embodiment and the insulating housing A of the first embodiment resides in that, the snap-fit member 4 has a different shape and the first surface 11 has a plurality of recesses 111. In this embodiment, the snap-fit member 4 also includes a fan-shaped portion 44, and the fan-shaped portion 44 is connected between the snap-fit portion 42 and the press portion 41. More precisely, the fan-shaped portion 44 is the part of the snap-fit member 4 having a variable width between the snap-fit portion 42 and the press portion 41. The press portion 41 has a first width W1 and the snap-fit portion 42 has a second width W2, and the first width W1 is at least 1.5 times the second width W2. Preferably, the first width W1 is equal to or greater than 6 mm. In the present disclosure, by the design of the first width W1 being at least 1.5 times the second width W2, a surface area of a surface for being pressed on the snap-fit member 4 is widened to facilitate the application of force by the user. The plurality of recesses 111 are formed at positions on the third surface 13 that correspond to positions of the second openings 301 on the fifth surface 31 (i.e., the edge corner of the body portion 1 near the signal mating portion 3 corresponding to the positions of the plurality of signal wire-end terminals), and the plurality of recesses 111 can accommodate the wires of the signal wire-end terminal that extend from the second channels 30 of the signal mating portion 3.

Fourth Embodiment

[0037] Reference is made to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an insulating housing according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the insulating housing according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The insulating housing A provided in this embodiment has a similar structure compared with the insulating housing A provided in the third embodiment, and the similarities therebetween are not repeated. The difference between the insulating housing A of this embodiment and the insulating housing A of the third embodiment resides in that, the press portion 41 further includes a convex portion 411, and the convex portion 411 is formed on an upper surface of the press portion 41. A projection area of the convex portion 411 projected onto the fourth surface 14 at least partially overlaps with the projection area of the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the fourth surface 14.

Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments

[0038] In conclusion, one of the beneficial effects of the present disclosure is that, in the insulating housing A and the wire-end connector M provided by the present disclosure, by virtue of the projection area of the press portion 41 projected onto the surface of the body portion 1 at least partially being overlapped with the projection area of the signal mating portion 3 projected onto the surface of the body portion 1, the issue of a user inadvertently pressing on a signal wire at sides of a housing when mating/demating a wire-end connector M to a board-end connector B and causing the signal wire to be bent or loosened can be avoided.

[0039] Furthermore, in the insulating housing A and the wire-end connector M provided by the present disclosure, by the design of the first horizontal distance H1 being smaller than the second horizontal distance H2, and a fillet being formed at the junction between the first surface 11 and the third surface 13, when the user takes the wire-end connector M, fingers of the user can be in contact with the press portion 41 and the signal mating portion 3 at two sides of the insulating housing A, respectively. The finger of a user will press on a position of the signal mating portion 3 instead of pressing on the signal wire (not shown in the drawings). In addition, even if the user inadvertently presses the signal wire, since the junction between the first surface 11 and the third surface 13 is a fillet, the signal wire is subjected to a smaller cross-cutting force at the junction and avoids being broken.

[0040] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

[0041] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.