Adapter connector

An adapter connector has two ends to be mated with a first mating connector and a second mating connector respectively. The adapter connector includes an insulating body and multiple terminals. The insulating body has a first mating section and a second mating section. The first mating section is concavely provided with multiple terminal slots. The second mating section is concavely provided with an insertion space communicated with the terminal slots. The first mating section is mated with the first mating connector. The insertion space accommodates the second mating connector. Each terminal has an elastic contact portion at one end thereof and a flat plate contact portion at the other end thereof. The elastic contact portion is accommodated in a corresponding terminal slot and electrically connected with the first mating connector. The flat plate contact portion is accommodated in the insertion space to be electrically connected with the second mating connector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority to and the benefit of, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), patent application Serial No. CN201810251292.4 filed in China on Mar. 26, 2018. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an adapter connector, and more particularly to an adapter connector capable of converting two different series of connectors.

BACKGROUND

With the development of society and the growth in living standards of people, private cars owned by each family are increasing. Thus, car after-sale services grow increasingly, and modification of car headlights is an important field. Common car headlights include various different series in different specifications. Therefore, a series of headlights cannot match with another series of headlights. For example, receptacles of a 9006 series can only match with plugs of the 9006 series, and receptacles of an h11 series can only match with plugs of the h11 series. However, during modification of the headlights, a consumer generally selects headlights preferably according to performances or personal preferences. Thus, the selected headlights and an own car may be in different series. Because each car is equipped with fixed headlight receptacles, and each series of headlights has uniquely matching plugs and receptacles, it is necessary to replace original receptacles of a car during replacement of other series of headlights, which is inconvenient in operation, and increases the modification cost.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need to design a novel adapter connector exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an adapter connector capable of converting two different series of connectors.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions.

An adapter connector has two ends configured to be mated with a first mating connector and a second mating connector respectively. The adapter connector includes: an insulating body being integrally formed, the insulating body having a first mating section and a second mating section in a front-rear direction, wherein the first mating section is concavely provided with a plurality of terminal slots, the second mating section is concavely provided with an insertion space, the terminal slots are communicated with the insertion space, the first mating section is mated with the first mating connector, and the insertion space accommodates the second mating connector; and a plurality of terminals, each of the terminals having an elastic contact portion at one end thereof and a flat plate contact portion at the other end thereof, wherein the elastic contact portion is accommodated in a corresponding one of the terminal slots and electrically connected with the first mating connector, and the flat plate contact portion is accommodated in the insertion space and configured to be electrically connected with the second mating connector.

In certain embodiments, a top wall and a bottom wall opposite to each other and a first side wall and a second side wall being connected with the top wall and opposite to each other are provided on each of the terminals, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall and the second side wall surroundingly define an insertion opening, and the elastic contact portion of each of the terminals bends backward from the first side wall to extend into the insertion opening.

In certain embodiments, the bottom wall has a first stopping sheet extending into the insertion opening, the top wall has a second stopping sheet extending into the insertion opening, the elastic contact portion is located closer to the second side wall relatively than the first stopping sheet and the second stopping sheet, and the first stopping sheet and the second stopping sheet stop the elastic contact portion from moving away from the second side wall.

In certain embodiments, a projection of at least one of the first stopping sheet and the second stopping sheet in the front-rear direction is located between a projection of the elastic contact portion and a projection of the flat plate contact portion in the front-rear direction.

In certain embodiments, each of the terminal slots has a first inner wall surface corresponding to the first side wall and a second inner wall surface corresponding to the second side wall, the first inner wall surface has a first stopping portion extending inward, the second inner wall surface has a second stopping portion extending inward, the second stopping portion is located behind the first stopping portion, the second side wall has a first position limiting portion, the first side wall has a second position limiting portion extending toward a direction away from the insertion opening, the first stopping portion is mated with the first position limiting portion, and the second stopping portion is mated with the second position limiting portion.

In certain embodiments, the first stopping portion is located in front of the first position limiting portion, and the second stopping portion is located behind the second position limiting portion.

In certain embodiments, an insulating member is accommodated in the insulating body, the insulating member has a third stopping portion, a third position limiting portion extends from the bottom wall, and the third stopping portion is mated with the third position limiting portion and located behind the third position limiting portion.

In certain embodiments, a projection of the third position limiting portion and a projection of the second side wall are partially overlapped in the front-rear direction.

In certain embodiments, the bottom wall has a first reinforcing portion located behind the insertion opening, and the first reinforcing portion further comprises a first opening hole.

In certain embodiments, the insertion space is further provided with an accommodating area extending forward, an insulating member is accommodated in the accommodating area, each of two opposite sides of the insulating member is provided with an engagement block, the engagement block is engaged with a front end surface of the accommodating area, the insulating member is provided with a plurality of grooves corresponding to the terminal slots, and each of the flat plate contact portions penetrates through each of the grooves and enters the insertion space.

In certain embodiments, each of the terminals further has an oblique section provided in front of the flat plate contact portion, and the insulating member has a plurality of guide chamfers corresponding to the oblique sections of the terminals, and each of the guide chamfers is in front of a corresponding one of the grooves.

In certain embodiments, an inner surface of the accommodating area has a horizontal section and a plastic reducing section provided sequentially in the front-rear direction, and the insulating member abuts the horizontal section to form a gap between the insulating member and the plastic reducing section.

In certain embodiments, each of the terminal slots accommodates a corresponding one of the terminals, and the insertion space accommodates the terminals.

Further, another adapter connector is provided, which has a front end and a rear end, the front end of the adapter connector being configured to be mated with a 9006 connector, and the rear end of the adapter connector being configured to be mated with an h11 connector. The adapter connector includes: an insulating body being provided with a first mating section and a second mating section in a front-rear direction, wherein the first mating section is concavely provided with a plurality of terminal slots, the second mating section is concavely provided with an insertion space, the terminal slots are communicated with the insertion space, the first mating section is mated with the 9006 connector, and the insertion space accommodates the h11 connector; and a plurality of terminals, each of the terminals being provided with a first contact portion at a front end thereof and a second contact portion at a rear end thereof, wherein the first contact portion is accommodated in a corresponding one of the terminal slots and electrically connected with the 9006 connector, and the second contact portion is accommodated in the insertion space and configured to be electrically connected with the h11 connector.

In certain embodiments, an intermediate portion is provided between the first mating section and the second mating section, the intermediate portion has at least one buckling arm extending from an outer surface of the intermediate portion to be above the first mating section and not to pass beyond a front end of the first mating section, an outer wall surface of the second mating section has at least one protruding block, and the 9006 connector and the h11 connector are mated with the buckling arm and the protruding block respectively.

In certain embodiments, a waterproof ring is sleeved over the first mating section, and the waterproof ring is located between the first mating section and the buckling arm.

Meanwhile, an adapter connector is provided, configured to be mated with a first mating connector and a second mating connector respectively. The adapter connector includes: a first body having a first mating section, wherein the first mating section is concavely provided with a plurality of terminal slots, and the first mating section is mated with the first mating connector; a second body, wherein a front end of the second body covers a periphery of a rear end of the first body, and a rear end of the second body is forward concavely provided with an insertion space configured to accommodate the second mating connector; and a plurality of terminals, each of the terminals comprising a first contact member and a second contact member, wherein the first contact member is accommodated in a corresponding one of the terminal slots, the first contact member has a first contact portion and a first connecting portion connected with each other and provided sequentially in a front-rear direction, the first contact portion is electrically connected with the first mating connector, the second contact member has a second contact portion and a second connecting portion connected with each other, the second contact portion is accommodated in the insertion space, the second contact portion is electrically connected with the second mating connector, and the second connecting portion enters the corresponding one of the terminal slots and abuts the first connecting portion.

In certain embodiments, a front end of the second body has an accommodating space communicated with the insertion space, and the second connecting portion and the rear end of the first body are accommodated in the accommodating space.

In certain embodiments, at least one protrusion is provided on the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are electrically connected via the protrusion.

In certain embodiments, the first connecting portion has a first portion and a second portion opposite to each other and two third portions connected with the first portion, the first portion and the two third portions surroundingly define a receiving opening, an elastic resisting sheet extends from the second portion into the receiving opening, the second connecting portion has a base and a bending arm extending forward from the base and bending reversely toward the base, the base abuts the elastic resisting sheet, and the bending arm abuts the top wall.

Compared with the related art, certain embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects. During modification of car headlights, if the headlights in different series from original car headlights are selected, the headlights in different series can be converted only by the adapter connector without replacing original car headlight receptacles, such that a series of headlight plugs may easily match with another series of headlight receptacles, thereby providing an easy operation and saving time, and also reducing the modification cost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, “around”, “about” or “approximately” shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the term “around”, “about” or “approximately” can be inferred if not expressly stated. As used herein, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 5, which show an adapter connector100according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The adapter connector100is used to be connected with a first mating connector200and a second mating connector300. In the present embodiment, the first mating connector200is a 9006 connector, and the second mating connector300is an h11 connector. The adapter connector100includes an insulating body1, two terminals2and an insulating member3. In the present embodiment, the adapter connector100is assembled by installing the terminals2into the insulating body1and then installing the insulating member3onto the insulating body1. Referring toFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 5, the insulating body1is an integrally formed structure, and is provided with a first mating section11, an intermediate section12and a second mating section13in a front-rear direction. The first mating section11is used to be mated with the first mating connector200, and the first mating section11is backward concavely provided with a plurality of terminal slots14. The insulating member3is provided with a plurality of grooves311corresponding to the terminal slots14. In the present embodiment, there are two terminal slots14in the insulating body1, and correspondingly, there are two grooves311in the insulating member3. An opening of each terminal slot14is T-shaped. Each terminal slot14has a first inner wall surface141and a second inner wall surface142opposite to each other. The first inner wall surface141has a first stopping portion1411extending into the terminal slot14, and the second inner wall surface142has a second stopping portion1421extending into the terminal slot14. The first stopping portion1411is located in front of the second stopping portion1421, and the first stopping portion1411and the second stopping portion1421are located on different planes. The intermediate section12has an outer surface121, which is concavely provided with two through holes123. Two buckling arms122extend forward from the outer surface121to be above the first mating section11and not to pass beyond a front end of the first mating section11. In the present embodiment, there are two buckling arms122. In other embodiments, there may be one buckling arm. The buckling arms122are used to be mated with the first mating connector200. The second mating section13is used to be mated with the second mating connector300. An outer wall surface131of the second mating section13is provided with four protruding blocks132. In the present embodiment, there are four protruding blocks132. In other embodiments, there may be one protruding block. The protruding blocks132are used to be mated with the second mating connector300for fool proofing. Meanwhile, the second mating section13is forward concavely provided with an insertion space15, and the insertion space15is communicated with the two terminal slots14. When the adapter connector100is mated with the second mating connector300, the insertion space15accommodates the second mating connector300. The insertion space15is further formed with an accommodating area16extending forward. The accommodating area16has a front end surface161. The accommodating area16communicates with the terminal slots14and the insertion space15and is located between the terminal slots14and the insertion space15in the front-rear direction. An inner surface of the accommodating area16are provided with a horizontal section162and a plastic reducing section163respectively. The front end surface161, the horizontal section162and the plastic reducing section163are provided sequentially in the front-rear direction. Thus, the accommodating area16is gradually narrowed from rear to front. The adapter connector100further includes a waterproof ring17, and the waterproof ring17is sleeved over the first mating section11and located between the buckling arms122and the first mating section11.

Referring toFIG. 2toFIG. 5, a top wall21and a bottom wall22opposite to each other and a first side wall23and a second side wall24being connected with the top wall21and opposite to each other are provided on each terminal2. The top wall21, the bottom wall22, the first side wall23and the second side wall24surroundingly define a square-shaped insertion opening25. The first side wall23of each of the terminals2has a first contact portion231bending backward from the first side wall23and extending into the insertion opening25, and a second position limiting portion232extending from the first side wall23toward a direction away from the insertion opening25. In the present embodiment, the first contact portion231is an elastic contact portion. Each first contact portion231is correspondingly accommodated in a corresponding terminal slot14. The first contact portion231is used to be electrically connected with the first mating connector200. The second position limiting portion232is mated with the second stopping portion1421, and the second position limiting portion232is located in front of the second stopping portion1421. The second side wall24is partitioned into two portions by a clearance. A front end of the second side wall24is provided with a first position limiting portion241. The first position limiting portion241is mated with the first stopping portion1411, and the first position limiting portion241is located behind the first stopping portion1411. The top wall21and the bottom wall22have the same structure and are provided symmetrically. The bottom wall22has a first stopping sheet221extending into the insertion opening25, and the top wall21has a second stopping sheet211extending into the insertion opening25. The first contact portion231is located closed to the second side wall24relatively than the first stopping sheet221and the second stopping sheet211, and the first stopping sheet221and the second stopping sheet211stop the first contact portion231from moving away from the second side wall24. In a direction perpendicular to the first side wall23, the bottom wall22has a first reinforcing portion222, and the top wall21has a second reinforcing portion212. The first reinforcing portion222and the second reinforcing portion212are located behind the insertion opening25, and are attached to an inner wall surface of the terminal slot14. The first reinforcing portion222has a first opening hole2221, and the second reinforcing portion212has a second opening hole2121. In addition, the bottom wall22further has a third position limiting portion223, and the top wall21further has a fourth position limiting portion213. The third position limiting portion223and the fourth position limiting portion213are respectively formed by bending the bottom wall22and the top wall21toward each other and are located behind the first reinforcing portion222and the second reinforcing portion212. A projection of the third position limiting portion223and a projection of the fourth position limiting portion213in the front-rear direction are only partially overlapped with the second side wall24. Meanwhile, each terminal2has an oblique section26behind the third position limiting portion223and the fourth position limiting portion213. The oblique section26is accommodated in the accommodating area16, and the height thereof is gradually reduced from front to rear. A second contact portion27is provided behind the rear end of each terminal2, namely behind the oblique section26. The second contact portion27is folded into a flat plate shape. In the present embodiment, the second contact portion27is a flat plate contact portion. The second contact portion27is accommodated in the insertion space15. The two second contact portions27share the insertion space15, and the second contact portions27are used to be electrically connected to the second mating connector300. A projection of the first stopping sheet221and a projection of the second stopping sheet211in the front-rear direction are located between the projection of the first contact portion231and the projection of the second contact portion27in the front-rear direction.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 5, the insulating member3is partially accommodated in the accommodating area16. The insulating member3has a base body31and the two grooves311provided on the base body31. Meanwhile, the insulating member3has a pair of parallel extending arms32extending forward from the base body31out of the accommodating area16, and two guide blocks33protruding forward from the base body31. Each extending arm32abuts the horizontal section162and forms a gap164with the plastic reducing section163. Each extending arm32has a third stopping portion322at the front end thereof and an engagement block321at a side thereof. The third stopping portion322stops the third position limiting portion223and the fourth position limiting portion213, and the third stopping portion322is located behind the third position limiting portion223and the fourth position limiting portion213. The engagement block321is located in the through hole123and engaged with the front end surface161. Each guide block33has a guide chamfer331. During installation of the insulating member3, the guide chamfer331can guide the terminals2to smoothly penetrate through the grooves311, each of the flat plate contact portions27penetrates through each of the grooves311and enters the insertion space15, and after the insulating member3is installed, the guide chamfer331corresponds to the oblique section26.

Referring toFIG. 6toFIG. 8, which show an adapter connector100according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The adapter connector100includes a first body4, a second body5, a first contact member6and a second contact member7. The first body4has a first mating section41at the front end thereof and a protruding portion42at the rear end thereof. The first mating section41is used to be mated with the first mating connector100. The protruding portion42is used to be mated with the second body5. A waterproof ring17is sleeved over the first mating section41. The first mating section41is concavely provided with two terminal slots43. Each terminal slot43penetrates through the first mating section41and the protruding portion42. An outer surface of the protruding portion42is concavely provided with two first fitting holes421. The two fitting holes421are located on two opposite sides of the protruding portion42and communicated with the terminal slots43. A front end of the second body5is backward concavely provided with an accommodating space51, and a rear end of the second body5is forward concavely provided with an insertion space52. Two terminal holes53communicating the accommodating space51and the insertion space52are provided therebetween. Meanwhile, an outer surface of the second body5is provided with two second fitting holes54opposite to each other. The accommodating space51is used to accommodate and cover the protruding portion42. The insertion space52is used to accommodate the second mating connector300. A fourth stopping portion531extends inward from an inner wall surface of each terminal hole53. The second fitting holes54are communicated with the accommodating space51. When the first body4is mated with the second body5, two fixing blocks44penetrate through the first fitting holes421and the second fitting holes54to fix them. The first contact member6has a first contact portion61and a first connecting portion62which are connected with each other and provided sequentially in the front-rear direction. The first contact portion61and the structure between the first contact portion61and the first connecting portion62are the same as the terminal2of the first embodiment, and the difference exists in the structure of the first connecting portion62. The first connecting portion62is formed by bending two opposite sides of the first contact member6outward. Each first connecting portion62has two protrusions621provided on the surface thereof. In other embodiments, there may be one or more protrusions. The second contact member7has a second connecting portion71, a fifth position limiting portion72and a second contact portion73which are connected with each other and provided sequentially in the front-rear direction. The second connecting portion71is formed by bending two opposite sides of the second contact member7outward, and the second connecting portion71is accommodated in the accommodating space51. When the first body4is mated with the second body5, the second connecting portion71enters a corresponding terminal slot43, and abuts and is electrically connected with the first connecting portion62via the protrusions621. In the present embodiment, the protrusions621are provided on the first connecting portion62, and in other embodiments, the protrusions621may be provided on the second connecting portion71. The fifth position limiting portion72is located behind the fourth stopping portion531and is stopped by the fourth stopping portion531. The structure and function of the second contact portion73are the same as those of the second contact portion27in the first embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 9andFIG. 10, which show an adapter connector100according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. A difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment exists in that the first body4and the second body5are fixed via a fixing member45during mating. The fixing member45is injection-molded outside the first body4and the second body5. Another difference exists in the structures of the first connecting portion62and the second connecting portion71. The first connecting portion62has a first portion622and a second portion623opposite to each other, and two third portions624connected with the first portion622. The first portion622, the second portion623and the two third portions624form a receiving opening625. An elastic resisting sheet626extends from the second portion623into the receiving opening625. The second connecting portion71has a base711and a bending arm712extending forward from the base711and bending toward the base711. In the present embodiment, the receiving opening625is located on the first contact member6, and the bending arm712is located on the second contact member7. In other embodiments, the bending arm712may be provided on the first contact member6, and the receiving opening625may be provided on the second contact member7. The base711abuts the elastic resisting sheet626, and the bending arm712abuts the first portion622, so as to implement an electrical connection between the first connecting portion62and the second connecting portion71.

To sum up, the electrical adapter connector100according to certain embodiments of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

1. Functionally, different series of headlights can be converted by the adapter connector100, such that a series (e.g., 9006 series) of headlight plugs may easily match with another series (e.g., h11 series) of headlight receptacles, thereby providing an easy operation and saving time, and reducing the modification cost.

2. Structurally, each terminal2is integral in the first embodiment, which has a simple structure and a simple manufacturing procedure and saves time.

3. The first contact portion231is stopped by the first stopping sheet221and the second stopping sheet211, such that when the adapter connector100is mated with the first mating connector200, the first contact portion231cannot be damaged by excessive deformation.

4. The first reinforcing portion222and the second reinforcing portion212are provided on each of the terminals2, such that the first reinforcing portion222and the second reinforcing portion212are attached to the inner wall surface of the terminal slot14, and are unlikely to shake when the adapter connector100is mated with the first mating connector200and the second mating connector300, thereby ensuring a steady contact. Meanwhile, the weight of each terminal2can be reduced by providing the first opening hole2221and the second opening hole2121, thus meeting the light weight requirement of the terminals2.

5. The first position limiting portion241is stopped by the first stopping portion1411, such that the terminal2can be prevented from deviating forward when the second mating connector300is mated with the adapter connector100, thereby ensuring a steady connection.

6. The second position limiting portion232is stopped by the second stopping portion1421, the third position limiting portion223and the fourth position limiting portion213are stopped by the third stopping portion322, and the engagement block321is engaged with the front end surface161, such that the terminals2can be prevented from deviating backwards when the first mating connector200is mated with the adapter connector100, thereby ensuring a steady connection.

7. The first connecting portion62is provided with the protrusions621, and the first connecting portion62abuts the second connecting portion71via the protrusions621, such that a steady contact between the first connecting portion62and the second connecting portion71can be ensured.

8. The base711abuts the elastic resisting sheet626, and the bending arm712abuts the first portion622, such that the second connecting portion71is in multi-point elastic contact with the first connecting portion62, thereby implementing a steady electrical connection between the first connecting portion62and the second connecting portion71.