PLUG CONNECTOR BUCKLE RELEASE MECHANISM AND THE MATCHING SOCKET CONNECTOR

A plug connector buckle release mechanism and the matching socket connector are disclosed. When the plug connector is inserted into the socket connector to form an electrical connection, hook portions of two arms of the plug connector buckle release mechanism are snapped into respective positioning snap holes of the socket connector to form positioning. When unlocking, pull the pull strap of the plug connector buckle release mechanism to elastically deform two elastic members, causing the stepped push portions of the two arms to resist the push portions of the casing of the plug connector buckle release mechanism to elastically deflect downwards. At this time, the hook portions are detached from the positioning snap holes and lowered into respective through holes of the casing, so that the connector of the plug connector buckle release mechanism can be easily detached from the electrical connection of the socket connector.

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan patent application number 112208178, filed on Aug. 2, 2023.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a plug connector buckle release mechanism, and in particular to a plug connector provided with a buckle device and a casing for releasing on a corresponding socket connector through a pull strap to form a stable docking and easy separation operation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Nowadays, computer technology is developing at a rapid pace, and the development trend of computers is also moving towards strong computing power, fast speed and small size, and the number of computer communication ports is also reduced. This kind of communication ports can also be used with other devices with the same specifications, such as car audio, car computers, charging devices, satellite navigation, communication devices, etc. However, these devices contain communication port plugs, so the future development of such plugs with communication ports is also on the rise. However, with the improvement of technology in recent years, the size of plugs has become smaller and smaller. In terms of overall structural configuration, how to use good structural design to prevent the plug from directly pulling on the internal cable when plugging and unplugging, and to avoid the plug and socket connector being too small and easily damaged. In addition, without any support or fixed structure for the plug, it is easy for the plug to be pulled and fallen off after being inserted into the socket, thus affecting the signal transmission. Therefore, from the above detailed description, it can be found that when designing the plug, the main consideration can be to ensure the stability of the plug when docking with the socket connector. During the use of the plug, it should be avoided pulling on the wire to cause the plug to detach. Therefore, in view of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned conventional designs, it is necessary for relevant industries to conduct additional research and development to improve the shortcomings of the conventional designs.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems and deficiencies, the inventor collected relevant information, evaluated and considered many aspects, and used his many years of experience in this industry to design this kind of plug connector buckle release mechanism and the matching socket connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a plug connector buckle release mechanism comprising a connector, a buckle device and a casing. The connector comprises a base block and a mating terminal set mounted in the base block. The base block comprises a docking portion formed on a front side thereof and a mounting surface formed on an upper surface thereof at a rear side relative to the docking portion. The buckle device comprises a base slidingly installed on the mounting surface, two arms located on two opposite lateral sides of the base and extending in the same direction toward the docking portion. Each arm comprises a hook portion protruding upward from a suspended distal end thereof remote from the base, and a stepped push portion located on a top side thereof. The elastic portions with narrow longitudinal width are provided on the two sides of the base toward the front where the two arms are connected, two resisting portions bilaterally located on a bottom side of the base, and a pull strap combined with the base. The casing covers the base block. The casing comprises two through holes bilaterally located on a top surface thereof corresponding to the docking portion, two push portions bilaterally provided on an inner wall thereof and extending to a rear side of the stepped push portions, a beveled guide surface provided on the bottom of the push portions, and two elastic members respectively and integrally formed on the inner wall of the casing toward a rear side and extending downward and then obliquely bent toward the two opposite lateral sides of the casing. When pulling the pull strap, the buckle device makes the resisting portions displace and push against the elastic members to form elastic deformation, causing the stepped push portions of the two arms can be laterally limited by the push portions to elastically deflect downwards, so that the hook portions of the two arms are linked to elastically deflect downwards at the through holes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a plug connector buckle release mechanism and a matching socket connector. The plug connector buckle release mechanism comprises a connector, a buckle device and a casing. The connector comprises a base block and a mating terminal set mounted in the base block. The base block comprises a docking portion formed on a front side thereof and a mounting surface formed on an upper surface thereof at a rear side relative to the docking portion. The buckle device comprises a base slidingly installed on the mounting surface, two arms located on two opposite lateral sides of the base and extending in the same direction toward the docking portion. Each arm comprises a hook portion protruding upward from a suspended distal end thereof remote from the base, and a stepped push portion located on a top side thereof. The elastic portions with narrow longitudinal width are provided on the two sides of the base toward the front where the two arms are connected, two resisting portions bilaterally located on a bottom side of the base, and a pull strap combined with the base. The casing covers the base block. The casing comprises two through holes bilaterally located on a top surface thereof corresponding to the docking portion, two push portions bilaterally provided on an inner wall thereof and extending to a rear side of the stepped push portions, a beveled guide surface provided on the bottom of the push portions, and two elastic members respectively and integrally formed on the inner wall of the casing toward a rear side and extending downward and then obliquely bent toward the two opposite lateral sides of the casing. When the docking portion of the connector of the present invention is inserted into the socket portion of the matching socket connector to form an electrical connection, the stepped push portions of the two arms are located on the front side of the push portions of the casing, and the hook portions of the two arms are maintained in an elastic pre-forced state and snap into respective positioning snap holes of the matching socket connector to form positioning. When pulling the pull strap to unlock, the buckle device makes the resisting portions displace and push against the elastic members to form elastic deformation, causing the stepped push portions of the two arms can be laterally limited by the push portions to elastically deflect downwards. At this time, the two hook portions are detached from the positioning snap holes of the matching socket connector and lowered into the through holes of the casing, so that the connector of the plug connector buckle release mechanism of the present invention can be easily detached from the electrical connection of the matching socket connector.

Still another object of the plug connector buckle release mechanism of the present invention is that the inner side of the casing is provided with the push portions on both lateral sides that extend forward to the rear side of the stepped push portions and then bend downward at an angle, and a curved surface is formed at the bottom of each push portion. When the pull strap is pulled to unlock, the stepped push portions of the two arms can be laterally limited by the push portions and move over the push portions along the curved surfaces to be placed under the push portions to form downward elastic deformation, so that the hook portions of the two arms are linked to elastically deflect downward at the through holes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to achieve the above objects and effects, the technical means and structures adopted by the present invention are described in detail below with respect to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in companying with the drawings, so as to facilitate a complete understanding.

Please refer toFIGS.1-5, which are three-dimensional appearance view of the present invention, three-dimensional appearance view of the connector of the present invention before docking, three-dimensional exploded view of the present invention, three-dimensional exploded view of the present invention from another perspective and three-dimensional appearance view of the casing of the present invention from another perspective. The plug connector buckle release mechanism and the matching socket connector of the present invention mainly comprises a connector1, a buckle device2and a casing3.

The connector1comprises a base block11, and a mating terminal set12equipped with a circuit board5and welded with wires13is mounted in the base block11. The base block11comprises a docking portion111formed on the front side thereof, a mounting surface110provided on the upper surface thereof and extending from the docking portion111toward the rear side thereof, two mounting structures112respectively formed on the two opposite lateral sides of the mounting surface110. Each mounting structure112is provided with a buckling portion1121and a first positioning portion1122protruded sequentially from the docking portion111toward the rear side, at least one second positioning portion113provided at a top edge of the base block11at a front side of the mounting surface110, and two grooves114respectively provided on the two opposite lateral sides of the base block11at a front side of the mounting surface110and on the rear side of the docking portion111.

The buckle device2comprises a base21slidably mounted on the mounting surface110, two arms22respectively located on the two opposite lateral sides of the base21and extending in the same direction toward the docking portion111. Each arm22comprises a hook portion221protruding upward from the suspended distal end thereof remote from the base21, an elastic portion222with a narrow longitudinal width are provided on the two sides of the base21toward the front where the two arms22are connected, and a stepped push portion223located on the top side of the each arm22between the rear side of the hook portion221and the front side of the elastic portion222. Two resisting portions23respectively located on the opposite side of the bottom side of the base21, an opening24provided on the base21, and a pull strap25combined with the opening24.

The casing3covers the base block11. The casing3comprises two through holes31respectively located on the top surface thereof corresponding to the two opposite lateral sides of the docking portion111, two limiting portions32respectively formed on the two opposite lateral sides thereof, a buckling portion321bent at an angle toward an inner side located on the bottom side of each limiting portion32, a first positioning hole322provided on the lateral side of each two limiting portion32facing backward, at least one second positioning hole33provided on the top edge of the casing3facing forward, two push portions34bilaterally provided on the inner wall of the casing3and extending in direction toward each other and respectively placed behind the stepped push portions223, a beveled guide surface341provided on one end of the bottom side of the front side of each push portion34, and two elastic members35respectively and integrally formed on the inner wall of the casing3facing the rear side and extending downward and then obliquely bent toward the two opposite lateral sides of the casing3.

Furthermore, when constructing the present invention, the pull strap25is first wound and fixed at the opening24of the buckle device2, and then the base21of the buckle device2is placed on the mounting surface110of the base block11, so that the two arms22are respectively installed on both sides of the base block11, and the stepped push portions223of the two arms22are transversely aligned with the grooves114of the base block11, and then the casing3is covered on the top side of the base block11. At this time, each buckling portion321of the casing3is fastened to the buckling portions1121of the base block11to form positioning, the first positioning holes322are respectively fastened to the first positioning portion1122to form positioning, the second positioning hole33is fastened to the second positioning portion113to form positioning, so that the casing3is firmly positioned on the top side of the buckle device2and the base block11. At the same time, the push portions34of the casing3respectively extend into the grooves114of the base block11and are located behind the stepped push portions223of the two arms22, and the suspended ends of the integrated elastic members35of the casing3are respectively pressed against the resisting portions23of the buckle device2, so that the two hook portions221are located on both sides of the base block11and pass through the through holes31on the top surface of the casing3, thereby completing the overall structure of the plug connector of the present invention.

Please continue to refer toFIGS.1and2, which are three-dimensional appearance view of the present invention and three-dimensional appearance view of the connector of the present invention before docking. As shown in the drawings, it can be clearly seen that the matching socket connector4is welded on a circuit board5, comprising a socket portion41and two positioning snap holes42bilaterally located on the top surface of the socket portion41for the hook portions221of the two arms22to nap into the positioning snap holes42respectively.

Please continue to refer toFIGS.1and2, which are three-dimensional appearance view of the present invention and three-dimensional appearance view of the connector of the present invention before docking. As shown in the drawings, it can be clearly seen that when locking the present invention, the docking portion111of the connector1of the present invention is first inserted into the socket portion41of the matching socket connector4to make an electrical connection. At this time, the hook portions221of the two arms22are in an elastic holding state, and respectively snap into the positioning snap holes42to form positioning.

Please continue to refer toFIGS.1,2,6and7, which are three-dimensional appearance view of the present invention, three-dimensional appearance view of the connector of the present invention before docking, side cross-sectional view of the present invention, showing the hook portion of the buckle device hooked in the respective hook hole of the socket portion of the socket connector and top cross-sectional view of the elastic members of the casing of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, it can be clearly seen that when unlocking the present invention, the pull strap25at the opening24is pulled to cause the displacement of the resisting portions23of the buckle device2to push against the suspended ends of the elastic members35of the casing3to produce squeezed elastic deformation on the mounting surface110, and to make the stepped push portions223of the two arms22of the buckle device2touch the front edges of the push portions34of the casing3to form a lateral limit, so that the stepped push portions223are moved over the push portions34along the beveled guide surfaces341and placed under the push portions34to form a downward deflection, so that the two arms22of the buckle device2can be elastically deflected downward by a distance on both sides of the base block11by using the elastic portions222as the fulcrum. Thus, the two arms22link the hook portions221to elastically deflect downward by a distance, so that the hook portions221can be separated from the positioning snap holes42of the socket portion41of the matching socket connector4, and can descend into the through holes31of the casing3. This method can also make the connector1easily disconnected from the electrical connection of the matching socket connector4.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, two elastic members35are respectively and integrally formed on the inner wall of the casing3toward the rear side and extending downwards and are obliquely bent toward the two lateral sides of the casing3. However, the number of the elastic members35can be set to at least one. The casing3can use the elastic members35with elastic displacement to make the buckle device2form a limited slip state. The elastic members35extending obliquely can also be a continuously bent shape. Therefore, the elastic members35only need to be in a state of the elastic deformation and reset function. Such simple equivalent changes and modifications do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention, and are hereby stated.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the center of the docking portion111of the connector1is a circuit board-type mating terminal set12, so that the mating terminal set12can be used as an electrical connection with the matching socket connector4. Therefore, the mating terminal set12in the docking portion111of the connector1is not necessarily designed in the type of a circuit board5, but can also be designed as a cable-connected plug or socket in the form of other a plurality of terminals or conductive sheets. Such simple equivalent changes and modifications do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Such simple equivalent changes and modifications should still be included in the patent scope covered by the present invention.

Please continue to refer toFIGS.8to10, which are three-dimensional exploded view of a second embodiment of the present invention, three-dimensional exploded view from another perspective of the second embodiment of the present invention and side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the hook portion of the buckle device hooked in the respective hook hole of the socket portion of the socket connector. As shown in the drawings, it can be clearly seen that the main difference between the aforesaid first embodiment and this second embodiment of the present invention is that the casing3comprises two push portions34respectively and bilaterally formed on the inner wall and extending forward to the rear side of the stepped push portions223and then bent downward at an angle, and a curved surface342is formed at the bottom of the front side of each push portion34. When unlocking the second embodiment of the present invention, the pull strap25at the opening24is pulled to cause the displacement of the resisting portions23of the buckle device2to push against the suspended ends of the elastic members35of the casing3to produce squeezed elastic deformation on the mounting surface110, and to make the stepped push portions223of the two arms22of the buckle device2touch the front edges of the push portions34of the casing3to form a lateral limit, so that the stepped push portions223are moved over the push portions34along the curved surfaces342and placed under the push portions34to form a downward deflection, so that the two arms22of the buckle device2can be elastically deflected downward by a distance on both sides of the base block11by using the elastic portions222as the fulcrum. Thus, the two hook portions221can be separated from the positioning snap holes42of the socket portion41of the matching socket connector4, and can descend into the through holes31of the casing3. This method can also make the connector1easily disconnected from the electrical connection of the matching socket connector4.

In addition, the push portions34of the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention extend into the grooves114for the stepped push portions223of the two arms22to touch and move over the push portions34to be placed below the push portions34, so that the two arms22of the buckle device2are elastically deflected downward by a distance on both sides of the base block11through the elastic portions222as the fulcrum. The push portions34can also be protrusions formed on the inner wall of the casing3and extending into the grooves114, or protrusions can be protrusions on the two sides of the base block11and protruding from the stepped push portions223of the two arms22to provide the designs of the elastic deformation and reset function for the stepped push portions223of the two arms22. Moreover, by extending the push portions34into the grooves114, the contact area of the stepped push portions223is increased, so as to prevent the two arms22from being skewed during operation to cause inaccurate movement. Therefore, the push portions34do not necessarily need the design of the grooves114, and can also be directly pressed against the two lateral side surfaces of the base block11. Such simple equivalent changes and modifications do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Such simple equivalent changes and modifications should still be included in the patent scope covered by the present invention.

In addition, the stepped push portions223are provided between the hook portions221and the elastic portions222of the buckle device2and at the top side of the two arms22. The stepped push portions223can also be in the form of protrusions or inclines, so that when actuating, they resist the push portions34to link the two arms22to produce displacement, so that the two arms22form the elastic deformation and reset function. Moreover, the elastic portions222with narrow longitudinal width are provided on the two sides of the base21toward the front where the two arms22are connected. The elastic portions222can also be set in a lateral bending or other forms to make the two arms22can elastically deflect downward by a distance on both sides of the base block11through the elastic portions222as a fulcrum, so that the two arms22can form the elastic deformation and reset function. Such simple equivalent changes and modifications do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Such simple equivalent changes and modifications should still be included in the patent scope covered by the present invention.

In addition, when the first and second embodiments of the present invention are unlocked multiple times, if the pull strap25is detached or broken at the joint, a flat preset hand tool or any preset tools can be used and inserted into the opening24and pushed backward, the same unlocking action as pulling the pull strap25can be produced to separate the connector1from the electrical connection of the matching socket connector4.

In addition, the present invention is mainly aimed at pulling the pull strap25, so that the two arms22of the buckle device2can move over the push portions34of the casing3to produce a downward elastic deflection, and the hook portions221of the two arms22can be elastically deflected downward by a distance, which is a main feature of the present invention. This achieves the effect of the base block11of the connector1forming a stable connection with the matching socket connector4and ensuring accurate action.

The above description is only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Therefore, all simple modifications and equivalent structural changes made by using the description and drawings of the present invention shall be included in the patent scope of the present invention and shall be clearly stated.

To sum up, when the plug connector buckle release mechanism and the matching socket connector of the present invention are used, they can indeed achieve their effects and purposes. Therefore, the present invention is truly an invention with excellent practicality. In order to meet the application requirements for an invention patent, I filed the application in accordance with the law and hope that the review committee will approve the case as soon as possible to protect the inventor's hard work. If the review committee has any doubts, please feel free to send us a letter for instructions. The inventor will do our best to cooperate. We sincerely appreciate it.