Power connector structure

A power connector structure is provided. The present invention includes a cable having a plurality of cores and each core provided with a terminal electrically connected thereto, an inner holder structure configured for fixing those cores and providing electricity isolation among those terminals, an inner case, a strain relief structure, and an external cover. The inner case has a main body and a plurality of out-extending positioned protrusions extending outwards from the edge of a side opening of the main body and towards the cable, wherein the out-extending positioned protrusions are disposed between those cores to separate those cores from each other. The strain relief structure is set on the side opening and substantially filled with the gap within the side opening, wherein the strain relief structure covers the out-extending positioned protrusions and a portion of the cable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power connector structure and more particularly to a power connector structure with good reliability.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Information electronic products become indispensable in daily life due to the prosperous development in multimedia industry, the rapid development of electronic technologies and the popularization of personal computers. The power of a general portable electronic device (e.g. a notebook) is supplied via a power cord and a power connector. Therefore, producers and developers pay much attention to the development of power connectors.

A conventional power connector has inner components including an inner case, an inner holder structure, terminals, and an external cover covering the inner components. An intersection between a power cord and the inner case is covered by a strain relief bushing to provide the electricity isolation. However, the inner case of the conventional power connector is merely a cap body, which means that the bonding force between the power cord and the inner case is weak; thereby a pulling test of the conventional power connector is usually failed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a power connector structure. Utilizing out-extending positioned protrusions to enhance the bonding force between the inner case and the strain relief structure to improve the reliability of the product.

To achieve these advantages and the purpose of the invention, an embodiment of the power connector structure includes a cable, an inner holder structure, an inner case, a strain relief structure and an external cover. The cable has a plurality of cores, wherein the cores extend from a line end of the cable and each core is provided with a terminal electrically connected thereto. The inner holder structure is disposed at the line end for fixing the cores and providing electricity isolation among the terminals. The inner case is configured for containing the cores extending from the line end and the terminals, wherein the inner case including: a main body having a containing space with two side openings at both sides of the main body to receive the inner holder structure and the terminals; and a plurality of out-extending positioned protrusions disposed on the opening near the line end and extending outwards from the edge of the side opening and towards the cable, wherein the out-extending positioned protrusions are disposed between the cores to separate the cores from each other. The strain relief structure is set on the side opening near the line end and substantially filled with the gap within the side opening, wherein the out-extending positioned protrusions are covered by the strain relief structure. The external cover houses the inner case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Assembling diagrams schematically illustrating a power connector structure according to one embodiment of the present invention are shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 2,FIG. 3,FIG. 4,FIG. 5andFIG. 6. Referring toFIG. 1first, a cable110includes a plurality of cores112, wherein the cores112extend from a line end111of the cable110and each core112is provided with a terminal120electrically connected to each core112. Each core112is covered by an insulating material while a portion of each core112about to be electrically connected to other components is excluded, such as a conducting wire113of the core112. Each conducting wire113of the core112is electrically connected to an inner contact122of each terminal120. As shown inFIG. 2, an inner holder structure130is disposed at the line end111of the cable110for fixing the cores112and providing electricity isolation among the terminals120.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, an inner case140is configured for containing a partial of the cores112extending from the line end111of the cable110, the terminals120and the inner holder structure130, and an arrow inFIG. 3indicates the assembling direction of the inner case140covering the terminals120and the inner holder structure130. The inner case140includes a main body142and a plurality of out-extending positioned protrusions146. As shown inFIG. 3, the main body142has a containing space with two side openings143,144at both sides of the main body142, wherein the inner holder structure130with the cores112and the terminals120disposed thereon is contained within the containing space. Inner contacts122of the terminals120are exposed to the side opening144of the main body142. As shown inFIG. 3, the plurality of out-extending positioned protrusions146are disposed on the side opening143and extend outwards from the edge of the side opening143and towards the cable110, wherein the out-extending positioned protrusions146are disposed between the cores112to separate the cores112from each other.

Still referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the embodiment according to the present invention further includes a plurality of positioned spaces148arranged on the side opening143, wherein the positioned spaces148are separated from each other by each out-extending positioned protrusion146for containing the cores112and constraining the movement of the cores112. In one embodiment, the inner holder structure130is engaged with the inner case140. In another embodiment, the quantity of the positioned spaces148is more than or equal to that of the cores112. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, there are four positioned spaces148substantially arranged in cross shape. It should be understood that the quantity of the positioned spaces148may be equal to that of the cores112in order to contain the cores112.

Referring toFIG. 5, a strain relief structure150is set on the side opening143of the inner case140via an appropriate method, such as insert molding, and substantially filled with the gap within the side opening143. The out-extending positioned protrusions146and a portion of the cable110are covered by the strain relief structure150. In one embodiment, the strain relief structure150is made of insulating materials. Referring toFIG. 6, an external cover160houses the inner case140by inserting the external cover160from the side opening144of the inner case140where the terminals120exposed, such as the direction of an arrow shown inFIG. 6. In another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 7, the power connector structure further includes an engaging ring170, wherein the engaging ring170and the external cover160are engaged together to enclose the inner case140, and an arrow inFIG. 7indicates the assembling direction of the engaging ring170engaging with the external cover160. In one embodiment, the inner case140can be, but not limited to further include a rough surface or an embossment formed on each out-extending positioned protrusion146for increasing the friction force between the inner case140and the strain relief structure150. It should be understood that the shape or size of the out-extending positioned protrusions146may be variable within the principles of the invention.

Accordingly, the out-extending positioned protrusions formed in the inner case result in enhancing the bonding force between the inner case and the strain relief structure. Besides, the configuration of the out-extending positioned protrusions and the positioned spaces may prevent the cores from dislocation, and the quantity of the positioned spaces may be more than or equal to that of the cores.

In summary, the present invention provides a power connector structure utilizing the out-extending positioned protrusions to enhance the bonding force between the inner case and the strain relief structure to improve the reliability of the product.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific example thereof has been shown in the drawings and is herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.