Abstract:
A power connector ( 1 ) is connectable with a cable having a number of conductors and matable with a complementary connector for power transmission. The power connector includes an insulative housing ( 2 ) defining a receiving cavity ( 210 ), at least one contact ( 3, 4 ) capable of power transmission. The at least one contact received in the housing and includes a contacting portion ( 31, 41 ) exposed to the receiving cavity and a tail portion ( 32, 42 ) extending beyond the housing. The tail portion is composed of two separated connecting areas ( 320, 420 ) respectively connectable with corresponding conductors of the cable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an electrical connector, particularly to a power connector transmitting power signal.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Power connectors are widely used in the electrical industry to connect power supplies with electrical devices, such as mobile phone, note book. The power connector commonly comprises a dielectric housing, a first contact and a second contact respectively served as a positive pole and a negative pole of a power supply for providing voltage to electrical device connecting to the power connector, and a signal contact provided for signal transmission. When the power supply and the electrical device are spaced apart, the power connector has to connect with a cable to form a power connector assembly connecting with the electrical device and the power supply. The first, second and signal contacts of the power connector generally are soldered to conductors of a cable. However, it is possible that the connection of the contacts and the conductors is unstable or broken because of some drawbacks during soldering process, such as void solder, false solder etc. besides, since the user is used to draw the power connector from the electrical device by directly pulling the cable connected with the power connector, the soldering connection of the contacts and the conductors is prone to be damaged due to unwanted exterior force.  
         [0005]     Hence, an improved power connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a power connector comprising contact, which is capable of power transmission and reliably electrically connects with corresponding conductor of a cable.  
         [0007]     In order to achieve the object set forth, a power connector in accordance with the present invention is connectable with a cable having a plurality of conductors and matable with a complementary connector for power transmission. The power connector comprises an insulative housing defining a receiving cavity, at least one contact capable of power transmission. The at least one contact received in the housing and comprises a contacting portion exposed to the receiving cavity and a tail portion extending beyond the housing. The tail portion is composed of two separated soldering areas respectively solderable with corresponding conductors of the cable.  
         [0008]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a power connector in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, perspective view of the power connector shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, perspective view of the power connector shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2  taken along line  5 - 5 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2  taken along line  6 - 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a power connector  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulating housing  2 , a pair of first and second contacts  3 ,  4  adapted for power transmission, a third contact  5  used for signal transmission. In the preferred embodiment, the power connector  1  further comprises a biasing member  6 , and a screw member  7  lockable to a panel (not shown).  
         [0017]     The insulative housing  2  approximately in the shape of a cubical block defines a front face  201  and a pair of side surfaces perpendicular to the front face  201 . The housing  2  is formed with a first housing  21  defining a center receiving cavity  210  and a cylindrical second housing  22  protruding into the receiving cavity  210  of the first housing  21 . The second housing  22  has a front face (not labeled) flush with the front face  201  and defines a fine receiving groove  220  along a longitudinal axis thereof. A round rim  211  is formed on the front face  201  of the insulative housing  2  along a front fringe of the receiving cavity  210 . The housing  2  comprises a first section  212 , a second section  213  and a third section  214 , which are arranged in turn along a vertical direction of the housing  2 . The first section  212  defines a pair of foursquare recesses  2120  at opposite ends thereof, a first rectangular passage  2121  in the center of the first section  212  along a rear-to-front direction, a pair of first channels  2122  recessed laterally from opposite inner surfaces of the first passage  2121 , and a pair of first latching openings  2123  in communication with the first channels  2122  and located in a middle of the first section  212 . A pair of slits  2124  is defined near bottom surfaces of the corresponding recesses  2120 . The second section  213  defines a second passage  2130  in communication with the receiving groove  220  and a pair of semicircular slots  2131  along inner side surfaces of the second passage  2130  for receiving corresponding portion of the complementary connector. The second section  213  further defines a substantially U-shaped third passage  2132  surrounding the second passage  2130  and communicating with the slits  2124  of the first section  212  at opposite upper ends thereof. A second latching opening  2135  ( FIG. 5 ) is defined in bottom surface of the second passage  2130  for fittingly receiving the first contact  3 . A pair of rectangular expanding channels  2133  is defined at opposite sides of the second passage  2130  and respectively expands from the pair of vertical portions of the U-shaped third passage  2132 . For fittingly receiving the biasing member  6 , the third section  214  defines a fourth passage  2140  in the rear-to-front direction, and the second section  213  defines an extending channel (not labeled) communicating with the fourth passage  2140 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  and in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , the first contact  3  is inserted into the third passage  2132  from a rear side of the housing  2  to serve as a positive pole of the power supply. The first contact  3  is formed with an U-shaped main portion  30 , a pair of elastic contacting portions  31  laterally and forwardly extending from the main portion  30  and a pair of opposite tail portions  32  laterally extending from opposite bottom ends of the main portion  30 . Each of the tail portions  32  defines a retuse U-shaped connecting portion  320  at free end thereof. The main portion  30  forms an upwardly protruding tab  300  snapping into the second latching opening  2135  for positioning purpose. A plurality of bosses  301  is formed on an outer periphery surface of the main portion  30  interferencely engaging with an inner surface of the third passage  2132  for increasing friction force between the first contact  3  and the insulative housing  2 . The contacting portion  31  protrudes into the receiving cavity  210  along the expanding channels  2133  so as to elastically contact with corresponding portion of the complementary connector. The tail portions  32  and the main portion  30  are connected by a pair of bending portions (not labeled) respectively received in the corresponding slits  2124  and the U-shape third passage  2132  with the connecting portions  320  respectively located above the bottom surfaces of the recesses  2120 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  and in conjunction with  FIG. 5 , the second contact  4  is received in the first passage  2121  to serve as a negative pole of the power supply. The second contact  4  comprises a retaining portion  40 , a curved elastic contacting portion  41  forwardly extending from the retaining portion  40  and a rearwardly extending tail portion  42 . The retaining portion  40  forms a pair of upwardly bending latching tabs  400  at opposite sides thereof for elastically received in the pair of first latching openings  2123  communicating with the first passage  212 . The tail portion  42  is formed with two connecting portions  420  spaced apart from each other, each connecting portion  420  defines a through hole  421  in the center thereof for solder material overflowing.  
         [0020]     In the present invention, the first and the second contacts  3 ,  4  each comprises more than one, in the preferred embodiment a pair of, separate connecting portions  320 ,  420  to respectively solder with corresponding conductors of the cable for transmitting the same type signal, thus, once one of the electrical connection between the connecting portions  320 ,  420  and the conductors is broken or unsteady, the power supply will not be impacted due to the unspoiled electrical connection between rest connecting portions  320 ,  420  and the conductors. Therefore, the reliability of the power connector  1  is noticeably increased and thus ensures the running of the electrical device, to which the power connector  1  is connected. It is also acceptable that each tail portion  32 ,  42  define two spaced connecting areas solderable with the conductors but not separate soldering portion  320 ,  420  as depicted above. Also can be acceptable is that the connecting portions  320 ,  420  connect with the conductors of the cable with other means, such as crimping, IDC etc.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , the third contact  5  is received in the second passage  2130  and comprises a fork-shape mating portion  51  exposed to the receiving groove  220 , a securing portion  50  rearwardly extending from the mating portion  51  and a connecting portion  52  upwardly and rearwardly extending from the securing portion  50 . The securing portion  50  forms a plurality of barbs (not labeled) at opposite sides thereof interferencely engaging with inner side surface of the second passage  2130 , thereby securely retaining the third contact  5  in the housing  2 .  
         [0022]     The biasing member  6  comprises a flat positioning portion  60  located in a horizontal surface and a rearwardly bent elastic arm  61  approximate parallel to the positioning portion  60 . The positioning portion  60  is completely received in the forth passage  2140  of the housing  2 , and the elastic arm  61  partially protrudes into the receiving cavity  210  along the extending channel to elastically contact with corresponding portion of the complementary connector so as to increase mating/unmating force exerted to the power connector  1 , when the power connector  1  is mated with or withdrawn from the complementary connector.  
         [0023]     The secure member  7  in the preferred embodiment with substantially elliptical shape defines a through screw hole  72  in the center thereof. The housing  2  also defines an elliptical receiving recess  215  in one side surface thereof to receive the secure member  7  therein. A plurality of ribs  216  are formed in inner surface of the receiving recess  215  for interferentially engaging with the secure member  7 . In application, the power connector  1  is secured to the panel by engagement of the secure member  7  and a screw (not shown). That is, the power connector  1  is secured to the panel in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction thereof. In addition, the secure member  7  is received in the first housing  21  with outer surface thereof flush with one side surface of the first housing  21 . The secure member  7  also could be configured in other shapes and assembled to the panel by other ways. Besides, since the first and second contacts  3 ,  4  are used for power transmission in the preferred embodiment, the first and second contacts  3 ,  4  respectively define two separate connecting portions or connecting areas to increase stability of the power transmission system. However, in some specific application, the third contact  5  also could define two soldering portions or soldering areas to ensure signal transmission.  
         [0024]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.