Lug engagement structure for an electrical connector

A lug engagement structure for an electrical connector. The connector includes a plastic base formed with a receiving slot. The structure can engage with a lateral engagement hole of a circuit board inserted into the electrical connector. The structure includes a board removing component pivoted to the base and rotatable within the slot. A push block extending forward and pressing against the circuit board is arranged on a bottom of the component. A pressing portion and an engagement portion extending forward are arranged on a top of the component. The engagement portion engages with the lateral engagement hole of the circuit board, and the pressing portion can be elastically moved up and down and has a resistant plate. The base has an engagement arm elastically engaging with the component. When the pressing portion is pressed down, the resistant plate is caused to push the arm to separate from and disengage with the component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a lug engagement structure for an electrical connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector to be connected to a circuit board includes a plastic base10and a lug engagement structure20. A plurality of terminals (not shown) is arranged on the plastic base10, which is formed with a receiving slot11at each side thereof and two pivotal holes12on two side surfaces of the receiving slot. A pivot21, which is to be pivoted to the pivotal holes12of the receiving slot11of the plastic base10, is provided in and extends over the lug engagement structure20. An engagement portion22, which extends toward the inside of the base, and a pressing portion23, which extends toward the outside of the base, are arranged on the top of the lug engagement structure20. The engagement portion22may engage with a lateral engagement hole28of a circuit board27. A push block24, which extends toward the inside of the base and presses against a side of the bottom of the circuit board27, is arranged on the bottom of the lug engagement structure20.

When the circuit board27is inserted, the circuit board27directly presses the push block24downward. At this time, the lug engagement structure20is rotated counterclockwise, and the engagement portion22engages with the engagement hole28of the circuit board27. When the circuit board27is to be removed, the pressing portion23is pressed down and thus the push block24pushes the circuit board27upward.

The conventional structure, however, still has the following drawbacks. When the lug engagement structure20engages with the circuit board27, only the engagement portion22is utilized to engage with the engagement hole28of the circuit board27, and the lug engagement structure20is only pivoted to the plastic base10without any engagement action therebetween. Thus, the circuit board27may be removed if it is pulled up. Consequently, when the inserted circuit board27encounters the corresponding upward/downward impulses, such as vibrations, the circuit board27may be caused to separate from the lug engagement structure20. In this case, it is difficult to ensure the electrical connection state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lug engagement structure for an electrical connector, wherein when the circuit board may be definitely fastened to the plastic base so that the electrical connection therebetween may be ensured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lug engagement structure for an electrical connector, which can ensure the electrical connection to the circuit board and can be operated conveniently.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the invention provides a lug engagement structure for an electrical connector. The connector includes a plastic base formed with a receiving slot. The structure can engage with a lateral engagement hole of a circuit board inserted into the electrical connector. The structure includes a board removing component pivoted to the base and rotatable within the slot. A push block extending forward and pressing against the circuit board is arranged on a bottom of the component. A pressing portion and an engagement portion extending forward are arranged on a top of the component. The engagement portion engages with the lateral engagement hole of the circuit board, and the pressing portion can be elastically moved up and down and has a resistant plate. The base has an engagement arm elastically engaging with the component. When the pressing portion is pressed down, the resistant plate is caused to push the arm to separate from and disengage with the component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, a lug engagement structure for an electrical connector of the invention is capable of engaging with a lateral engagement hole28of a circuit board27inserted into the electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a plastic base30and terminals arranged on the plastic base, wherein the terminals are not the key features of the invention and are thus not shown. The lug engagement structure includes a board removing component40and an elastic engagement arm50.

A receiving slot31is formed on each of the two sides of the plastic base30. For the sake of simplicity, only one receiving slot31is illustrated. Two pivotal holes32are formed at two sides of the receiving slot31.

The board removing component40has a pivot41pivoted to the pivotal holes32of the plastic base30, and the pivot41may be rotated within the receiving slot31. A push block42extending forward is arranged on the bottom of the board removing component40. The push block42presses against a side of the bottom of the circuit board27. A pressing portion43and an engagement portion44extending forward are arranged on the top of the board removing component40. The engagement portion44engages with a lateral engagement hole28of the circuit board. The pressing portion43is an elastic plate that is one-piece molded and connected to the engagement portion44. The pressing portion43may be moved up and down and has a resistant plate46extending downward. In addition, a through hole47is formed in the upper section of the board removing component40.

The elastic engagement arm50arranged on the plastic base30horizontally and outwardly extends and passes through the through hole47of the board removing component40. The elastic engagement arm50has an upward fastener51at an external end, and the fastener51has a guiding bevel52. The fastener51engages with the middle of the rear end of the board removing component40. When the pressing portion43is pressed down, the resistant plate46may be caused to push the elastic engagement arm50to bend downward and make the fastener51separate from the middle of the rear end of the board removing component40.

As shown inFIG. 4, when the circuit board27is inserted into the plastic base30to engage the engagement portion44of the board removing component40with the lateral engagement hole28of the circuit board, the rear end of the board removing component40is fastened by the fastener51of the elastic engagement arm50and cannot be rotated relative to the plastic base30. Thus, the circuit board27may be firmly fastened. As shown inFIG. 5, when the circuit board27is to be removed, the pressing portion43is pressed down to make the resistant plate46push the elastic engagement arm50to bend downward and disable the fastener51from fastening the rear end of the board removing component40. As shown inFIG. 6, when the board removing component40is not fastened by or engaged with the fastener51, the board removing component40can be rotated relative to the plastic base30. Thus, the push block42can push the circuit board27up.

As mentioned above, it is concluded that the invention has the following advantages.1. After the board removing component40has fastened the circuit board27, it can provide the definite fastening function for the plastic base30. If the board removing component40and the circuit board27are not separated, the board removing component40cannot be rotated relative to the plastic base30. Thus, the electrical connection to the circuit board27can be ensured.2. When the circuit board27is to be removed, the separating operation has to be performed. However, the separating operation is performed by directly pressing the pressing portion43and thus rotating the board removing component40. So, the two operations may be performed by pressing the same portion and almost may be combined into one smooth operation. So, the inconvenience of usage will not be caused owing to the design of the fastener.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, which show a second embodiment of the invention, two elastic engagement arms50are arranged at two sides of the plastic base30. The elastic engagement arm50horizontally extends outwards and has an external end formed with an inward fastener51. The fastener51has a guiding bevel52. As shown inFIG. 9, when the circuit board27is inserted, the two fasteners51respectively fasten two lateral edges of the rear end of the board removing component40. As shown inFIG. 10, when the pressing portion43is pressed down, the resistant plate46thereof presses against the guiding bevel52of the fastener51such that the elastic engagement arm50is elastically and outwardly moved to make the fastener51separate from and disengage with the board removing component40. Therefore, the board removing component40may be rotated and the circuit board27may be raised.

As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, which show a third embodiment of the invention, the board removing component40also has a through hole47at an upper section thereof, and a resistant plate46having a guiding slot48that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Two elastic engagement arms50spaced from each other by a gap are arranged on the middle of a side of the plastic base30. The two elastic engagement arms50horizontally and outwardly extend and pass through the through hole47of the board removing component40. The external end of each arm50has a fastener51extending outwards. The fastener51has a guiding bevel52. The two fasteners51respectively fasten the rear end of the board removing component40. When the pressing portion43is pressed down, the resistant plate46thereof presses against the guiding bevel52of the fastener51such that the elastic engagement arm50is elastically and inwardly moved and separated from and disengaged with the board removing component40.

As shown inFIG. 13, a fourth embodiment of the invention is almost the same as the second embodiment except that an open-type groove36connected to the pivotal holes32of the plastic base30is formed when the plastic base30is formed by way of plastic injection molding and then released from the mold. In addition, the pivot41of the board removing component40is configured to a semi-cylindrical structure in order to facilitate the assembling processes.