Connector

A connector comprises a connector module including an insulation body in which a chamber and a wire hole are formed, a contact received in the chamber, and an elastic clip disposed in the chamber. The elastic clip is adapted to press a conductor of a wire inserted into the chamber through the wire hole against the contact. The conductor of the wire electrically contacts the contact.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Chinese Patent Application No. 201820719244.9, filed on May 15, 2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector and, more particularly, to a connector with an insulation body and a contact received in the insulation body.

BACKGROUND

A connector for connecting a wire generally includes an insulation housing and a contact received in the insulation housing. The contact is usually crimped on a conductor of the wire to electrically connect the conductor of the wire. However, it is time-consuming to crimp the contact onto the conductor of the wire, and it is difficult to replace the wire after the contact is crimped on the conductor of the wire.

SUMMARY

A connector comprises a connector module including an insulation body in which a chamber and a wire hole are formed, a contact received in the chamber, and an elastic clip disposed in the chamber. The elastic clip is adapted to press a conductor of a wire inserted into the chamber through the wire hole against the contact. The conductor of the wire electrically contacts the contact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

As shown in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the connector comprises at least one connector module100. Each connector module100comprises an insulation body110, a contact130, and an elastic clip140. A chamber112is formed in the insulation body110, and a wire hole117is formed in the wall of the chamber112of the insulation body110. The contact130is received in the chamber112of the insulation body110. The elastic clip140is provided in the chamber112.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, a wire300can be inserted into the connector. The elastic clip140is adapted to press a conductor310of the wire300, which is inserted into the chamber112through the wire hole117, against the contact130, so that the conductor310of the wire300electrically contacts the contact130.

As shown in the embodiments ofFIGS. 6-7, a tool hole118, through which an external tool400is inserted into the chamber112, is formed in the insulation body110. The elastic clip140may be pushed by the inserted external tool400to a releasing position to release the wire300and allow the wire300to be pulled out from the connector. In this way, it is convenient to replace the wire300.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, the contact130has a stationary fixed arm131,132and the elastic clip140has a movable elastic arm141,142. The conductor310of the wire300is adapted to be clamped and held between the elastic arm141,142and the fixed arm131,132.

The fixed arm131,132of the contact130has a first fixed arm131and a second fixed arm132. As shown in the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 5, an angle between the first fixed arm131and the second fixed arm132of the contact130is substantially equal to 90 degrees, so that the contact130is configured to have an L-shape.

The elastic arm141,142of the elastic clip140has a first elastic arm141and a second elastic arm142. As shown in the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 5, an angle between the first elastic arm141and the second elastic arm142of the elastic clip140is less than 90 degrees, so that the elastic clip140is configured to have a symmetrical V-shape.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, the wire hole117includes a first wire hole117and a second wire hole117′. A first wire300inserted through the first wire hole117is clamped and held between the first elastic arm141and the first fixed arm131, a second wire300′ inserted through the second wire hole117′ is clamped and held between the second elastic arm142and the second fixed arm132.

As shown in the embodiment ofFIGS. 6 and 7, the tool hole118includes a first tool hole118and a second tool hole118′. The first elastic arm141of the elastic clip140is pushed by the external tool400inserted through the first tool hole118to a releasing position to release the first wire300and allow the first wire300to be pulled out from the connector. The second elastic arm142of the elastic clip140is pushed by the external tool400inserted through the second tool hole118′ to a releasing position to release the second wire300′ and allow the second wire300′ to be pulled out from the connector.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5-7, the first wire hole117and the first tool hole118are located at a first outer side wall of the insulation body110, and the second wire hole117′ and the second tool hole118′ are located at a second outer side wall of the insulation body110adjacent to and perpendicular to the first outer side wall.

As shown inFIGS. 1-3 and 6, in some embodiments, the connector further comprises an elastic seal120adapted to seal both the wire hole117and the tool hole118. The elastic seal120includes a first elastic seal120adapted to seal both the first wire hole117and the first tool hole118and a second elastic seal120′ adapted to seal both the second wire hole117′ and the second tool hole118′.

As shown inFIG. 1, a recess111is formed on an outer wall of the insulation body110. The elastic seal120is adapted to be embedded in the recess111. A hole121ato be aligned to the wire hole117is formed in the elastic seal120, as shown inFIG. 2, and the wire300is adapted to pass through the hole121awith interference fit. An outer port of the tool hole118is located in the recess111and is adapted to be covered and sealed by the elastic seal120embedded in the recess111. In this way, the elastic seal120may seal the wire hole117and the tool hole118.

Each elastic seal120, as shown inFIG. 2, has a first part121corresponding to the wire hole117, a second part122corresponding to the tool hole118, and a neck-like part connected between the first part121and the second part122. In the shown embodiment, the first part121and the wire hole117are configured to have a circular shape, and the second part122and the tool hole118are configured to have a rectangular shape.

As shown inFIGS. 2, 5, and 7, in some embodiments, the insulation body110of each connector module100has a closed bottom and a top opening, and both the contact130and the elastic clip140are assembled into the chamber112through the top opening.

As shown inFIG. 4, a post116is formed on an outer wall of the bottom of the insulation body110. An installation hole115is formed in an end wall of the top opening of the insulation body110. The post116is adapted to be fitted into the installation hole115. As shown inFIGS. 1-6, in an embodiment, the connector comprises a plurality of connector modules100. The plurality of connector modules100may be assembled together by fitting the post116of one connector module100into the installation hole115of another connector module100.

The connector, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, further comprises a cover200. The cover200is adapted to be mounted on the top opening of the insulation body110of an outermost connector module100of the connector, so as to cover the top opening of the outermost connector module100. A post216corresponding to the installation hole115of the connector module is formed on the cover200. The post216on the cover200is adapted to be fitted into the installation hole115of the outermost connector module100, so as to mount the cover200on the top opening of the outermost connector module100.

The connector, as shown inFIG. 4, further comprises elastic gaskets150. An elastic gasket150is provided between any two adjacent connector modules100to seal a mating interface between the two adjacent connector modules100; the mating interface between the bottom wall of one of the two adjacent connector modules100and the top opening of the other of the two adjacent connector modules100is sealed by the elastic gaskets150. Similarly, an elastic gasket150is provided between the cover200and the outmost connector module100to seal a mating interface between the cover200and the top opening of the outmost connector module100. A wall recess113is formed on the end wall of the top opening of the insulation body110of the connector module100, and the elastic gasket150is fitted in the wall recess113with interference fit.

As shown inFIG. 2, a positioning convex part114is formed in the chamber112. A positioning slot is defined between the positioning convex part114and an inner side wall of the chamber112. A base part143of the elastic clip140is held in the positioning slot.

As shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 2, the positioning convex part114is triangular and has a first blocking side114afacing the first elastic arm141and a second blocking side114bfacing the second elastic arm142. The first blocking side114ais configured to limit an elastic deformation of the first elastic arm141and prevent excessive deformation of the first elastic arm141, the second blocking side114bis configured to limit an elastic deformation of the second elastic arm142and prevent excessive deformation of the second elastic arm142. In this way, when the first elastic arm141or the second elastic arm142are pushed by the inserted external tool400, the first elastic arm141or the second elastic arm142will be pressed against the first blocking side114aor the second blocking side114bby the inserted external tool400.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, each connector module100is formed with a plurality of installation holes115and a plurality of posts116corresponding to the plurality of installation holes115, respectively. One of the plurality of installation holes115is formed in the positioning convex part114, a hole155corresponding to the installation hole115of the positioning convex part114is formed in the elastic gasket150. The post116of the insulation body100and the post216of the cover200are adapted to pass through the hole155of the elastic gasket150with interference fit.

It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrated, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle. Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.