Receptacle connector

A receptacle connector includes a body and a cover assembled outside the body. The body defines a receiving space and a pair of beams. The end of each beam stretches backward to form a guiding projection. The bottom of the guiding projection is a cambered surface. The cover is bent downward from the front portion to form a pair of elastic arms. The bottom portion of the elastic arm is bent forward to form a finger portion. While a plug connector is inserted into the receiving space of the receptacle connector, the elastic arms press against the pressing portion of the plug connector. When the plug connector is dragged accidentally, the elastic portion of the plug connector slides downward along the finger portion to the cambered surface of the guiding projections, and then slides out of the receiving space to set the plug and receptacle connector apart.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a receptacle connector, and particularly to a receptacle connector with mechanisms for easily pulling the plug connector out of the receptacle connector.

2. The Related Art

A receptacle connector is commonly used in electronic devices such as network equipments and telephones. The receptacle connector usually includes a terminal module to communicate with a plug connector.

A conventional receptacle connector includes a body and a plurality of terminals fixed in the body. The body defines a receiving space to receive the plug connector. In order to prevent the plug connector apart from the receptacle connector, both the plug and receptacle connector have locking mechanisms. Referring toFIG. 10, a plug connector80is shown. The front portion of the plug connector80protrudes upward to form a basic lump81. The rear edge of the basic lump81stretches backward and forms an elastic portion82. The rear edge of the elastic portion82still stretches backward from the mid thereof and forms a pressing portion83. The rear edge of the elastic portion81separated by the pressing portion83further forms a locking surface84. Accordingly, the traditional receptacle connector defines a pair of locking projections stretching from the top portion of the body into the receiving space to couple with the locking surfaces84of the plug connector80. While the plug connector80is inserted into the receiving space of the receptacle connector, the locking projections of the receptacle connector press against the locking surface84of the plug connector80.

However, while the plug connector80is being pulled out of the receiving space, the pressing portion83of the plug connector80must be pressed firstly to make the locking surfaces82of the plug connector80apart from the locking projections of the receiving connector. That is, while a cable connecting with the plug connector is dragged accidentally, the plug connector80and the receptacle connector can't be separated apart which may lead to a damage of the plug or receptacle connector or a sudden movement of the devices using such receptacle connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector which includes a body, a cover assembled outside the body and a plurality of terminals received in the body. The body defines a receiving space and a pair of side boards. The front portion of the side boards stretch into the receiving space and form a pair of locking beams. A guiding projection is defined in the bottom portion of the locking beam. The top surface of the guiding projection is horizontal. The bottom surface of the guiding projection is a cambered surface. The cambered surface originates from the rear edge of the guiding projection downwardly to the lower side of the locking beam. The lower side of the locking beam could be the bottom edge or just a bottom surface of the guiding projection. Each guiding projection forms a receiving cavity from the top surface. The receiving cavity stretches backward and communicates with the receiving space of the receptacle connector. The front portion of the cover is bent downward to form a pair of elastic arms. The bottom of the elastic arm is bent forward to form a finger portion. The finger portion locates behind the receiving cavity of the guiding projection. While a plug connector is inserted into the receiving space of the receptacle connector, the elastic arms of the cover press against the pressing portion of the plug connector. When the cable connecting with the plug connector is dragged accidentally, the elastic portion of the plug connector slides downward along the finger portion of the cover to the cambered surface of the guiding projections. Guided by the cambered surface, the elastic portion of the plug connector slides out of the receiving space to achieve a quick disengagement between the plug connector and the receptacle connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, showing an embodiment of a receptacle connector1in accordance with the present invention, the receptacle connector1includes a body20defining a receiving space21, a plurality of terminals30received in the body20, a cover further including a bottom cover50and a top cover60coating outside the body20, and a plurality of pressing pins70fixed in the body20and stretch into the receiving space21.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the body20further includes a bottom body22and a top body24. The bottom body22defines a pair of side walls221. Each side wall221defines a trapezoid hole222in the top portion and a oblong hole223behind the trapezoid hole222. Both the trapezoid hole222and the oblong hole223communicate with the receiving space21. The bottom portion of each side wall221defines a pair of fixing lumps224. The side wall221defines a locking lump226on the top of the back portion thereof. The rear of the locking lump226set apart from the side wall221to form a locking channel225. Bellow the locking lump226, a fixing pillar227is formed for fixing in an external printed circuit board (PCB, not shown). The front portion of the bottom body22stretches upward to form a pair of stop boards228. The back of each stop board228forms a fixing channel229(as shown inFIG. 2) between the stop board228and the top surface of the side wall221. The front portion of the side walls221stretch into the receiving space21and form a pair of locking beams230. As shown inFIG. 3, a guiding projection231is defined in the bottom portion of the locking beam230. The upper surface of the guiding projection231is horizontal. The lower surface of the guiding projection231is a cambered surface233. The cambered surface233originates from the rear edge236of the guiding projection231downwardly to the lower side of the locking beam230. The lower side of the locking beam230could be the bottom edge237or just a bottom surface of the guiding projection231. The downward stop point of the cambered surface231on the lower side of the locking beam230could be limited to any point between the rear edge236and the bottom edge237, depending on the design of the releasing requirement while enduring the accident dragging force. Each guiding projection231forms a receiving cavity232from the top surface. The receiving cavity232stretches backward and communicates with the receiving space21of the bottom body22. The back portion of the bottom body22defines a back wall235. The bottom portion of the back wall235defines a plurality of terminal holes234for allowing the terminals35passing through.

Referring toFIG. 1again, the top body24includes a top wall241. The top wall241forms a pair of hooks242on the sides to couple with the locking lumps226of the bottom body22. The mid portion of the top wall241stretches downward and forms a stop wall246to be received in the receiving space21. The stop wall246presses against the back wall235of the bottom body22. The top wall241stretches forward from the front portion to form a pair of fixing arms243. The front portions of the fixing arms243stretch oppositely from the top portion to form a pair of stop arms244. The front portion of each fixing arm243stretches forward from the bottom thereof to form a fixing projection245coupling with the fixing channel229of the bottom body22.

The terminal module30includes a pedestal31and a plurality of terminals35. The terminal35defines a fixing portion351. The front end of the fixing portion351is bent upward to form a contacting portion352slanting backwards. The rear of the fixing portion351is bent up and stretch backward to form a horizontal soldering portion353for being soldered to the external PCB.

The bottom cover50defines a pair of first side boards51. The top portion of each first side board51defines a pair of first fixing hole511. The first side board51of the bottom cover50defines a pressing piece512stretching inward the bottom cover50for coupling with the oblong hole223of the bottom body22. Behind the pressing piece512, the side board51defines a fixing piece513for fixing to the external PCB. Bellow the pressing piece512and the fixing piece513, a pair of second fixing hole514is formed to couple with the fixing lumps224of the bottom body22.

Please continue referring toFIG. 1, the top cover60defines a top board61. The top board61is bent downward from the sides to form a pair of second side boards62. The second side board62defines a pair of locking pieces621coupling with the first fixing hole511. The top board61is bent downward from the front portion to form a pair of elastic arms65. Each elastic arm65is bent forward from the bottom to form a finger portion66. The finger portion66locates behind the receiving cavity232of the bottom body22with a gap and can be received in the receiving cavity232once the elastic arm65is dragged forwardly.

As shown inFIG. 1, the pressing pin70defines a horizontal portion71. The horizontal portion71is bent down and stretches backward from the front portion to form a pressing plane72for pressing the top surface of the plug connector80(shown asFIG. 10).

Further referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 4, while the receptacle connector1is assembled, the terminals35are fixed in the pedestal31to form the terminal module30. The terminal module30is fixed in the back portion of the receiving space21with the soldering portion353stretching out for being soldered to the external PCB. The pressing pins70are fixed in the trapezoid hole222of the bottom body22with the pressing plane72stretching into the receiving space21. Then, the stop wall246of the top body24is inserted into the receiving space21and presses against the back wall235of the bottom body22. The fixing projection245of the top body24is inserted into the fixing channel229of the bottom body22. The hook242of the top body24locks the locking lump226of the bottom body22to achieve the fabrication of the body20. Then, the bottom cover22is fixed outside the bottom body. The pressing pieces512of the bottom cover22stretch into the receiving space21through the oblong hole223of the bottom body22. The second fixing hole514of the bottom cover50is fixed in the fixing lumps224of the bottom body22. Then, the top cover60is fixed. The locking piece621of the top cover60locks the first fixing hole511of the bottom cover50. As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the elastic arm65presses the front surface of the stop arms244of the top body24and locates behind the guiding projection231of the bottom body22.

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 10, while the receptacle connector1is in use, the plug connector80is inserted into the receiving space21of the body20with the metal contactors (not shown) contacting the terminals of the receptacle connector1. The pressing pin70presses the top surface of the plug connector80(as shown inFIG. 5). The pressing piece512of the bottom cover50presses the side surface of the plug connector80. The elastic arms65of the top cover60press against the locking surfaces84of the plug connector80to prevent the plug connector80sliding out of the receiving space21of the receptacle connector1.

Referring toFIG. 8andFIG. 9, when a cable (not shown) connecting with the plug connector80is dragged accidentally, the elastic arm65is pressed and bent forward. The elastic portion82of the plug connector80slides downward along the elastic arm65and the finger portion66received in the receiving cavity232to the cambered surface233of the guiding projections231, via the tangent force introduced by the cambered surface233. Then guided by the cambered surface233, the elastic portion82of the plug connector slides out of the receiving space21to further achieve the quick disengagement between the plug connector80and the receptacle connector1. This mechanism avoids the sudden movement of the devices using such receptacle connector1or the damage of the receptacle connector1.