Abstract:
A securely latched power connector assembly includes a male connector and a female connector connected with a first leading wire and a second leading wire, respectively. A first conductive terminal of the male connector has a first buckle portion for retaining a core of the first leading wire. A second conductive terminal of the female connector has a second buckle portion for retaining a core of the second leading wire. When the connectors are combined, a hollow plug of the male connector is inserted into a hollow socket of the female connector, and the first coupling structures of the male connector and the second coupling structures of the female connector are firmly coupled, while the second pin of the second conductive terminal being inserted into the hollow plug to contact with the first pin of the first conductive terminal, thereby achieving electrical connection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly, to a securely latched power connector assembly that is especially suitable for high power connection. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Connector assemblies have nowadays been widely used in various industries and diverse mechanical and electrical devices for allowing rapid transmission of data, signals and electrical power as desired. Introduction of such connector assemblies not only has brought information transmission to an unprecedented level, but also has made people experience enhanced convenience in daily life. 
     As mentioned above, connector assemblies can be used in a broad range of applications. Thus, for different applications, connector assemblies may be significantly distinguishing in their design concepts and function emphases. As to a power connector assembly designed for transmission of electricity, it is important to ensure firm and stable combination between the casings of its male and female connectors, reliable connection between the conductive terminals of its male and female connectors, and sound installation of the input and output leading wires in each of its male and female connectors, without the risk of temporarily, or even permanently, loosing under consecutive or intermittent exotic vibration. This would be an invariable challenge to research and development of power connector assemblies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the attempt to answer to the foregoing challenge, the present invention provides a securely latched power connector assembly that primarily includes a male connector and a female connector. The male connector and the female connector are connected with at lease one first leading wire and at lease one second leading wire, respectively. Each of the first leading wire and the second leading wire has a core and an insulating jacket. The male connector includes a first insulating casing, a second insulating casing, and at least one first conductive terminal. The first insulating casing has a first opening formed at a rear end thereof for allowing the core of the first leading wire to be inserted thereinto. The first insulating casing also has a second opening formed at a front end thereof and intercommunicating with the first opening. Each said first conductive terminal is accommodated in the second opening. The first conductive terminal has a first bottom plate that is bent upward near the first opening to form a first inclined portion. The first inclined portion has a first through hole for allowing the core of the first leading wire to pierce therethrough. The first inclined portion is bent downward at an upper end thereof to form a first buckle portion for retaining the core of the first leading wire. The first bottom plate has an end distant from the first through hole extending outward to form a first pin. The second insulating casing has a third opening formed at a rear end thereof for allowing the front end of the first insulating casing to be inserted thereinto. The second insulating casing has a front end extending outward to form a hollow plug for accommodating the first pin of the first conductive terminal therein. The second insulating casing has its upper and lower surfaces each formed with a first coupling structure. The female connector includes a third insulating casing, a fourth insulating casing, and a second conductive terminal. The third insulating casing has a fourth opening formed at a front end thereof for allowing the core of the second leading wire to be inserted thereinto. The third insulating casing has a fifth opening formed at a rear end thereof and intercommunicating with the fourth opening. The second conductive terminal is accommodated in the fifth opening. The second conductive terminal has a second bottom plate that is bent upward near the fourth opening to form a second inclined portion. The second inclined portion has a second through hole for allowing the core of the second leading wire to pierce therethrough. The second inclined portion is bent downward at an upper end thereof to form a second buckle portion for retaining the core of the second leading wire. The second bottom plate has an end distant from the second through hole extending outward to form a second pin. The fourth insulating casing has a sixth opening formed at a front end thereof for allowing the rear end of the third insulating casing to be inserted thereinto. The fourth insulating casing has a rear end extending outward to form at least one hollow socket for accommodating the second pin of the second conductive terminal therein. The fourth insulating casing has its upper and lower surfaces each formed with a second coupling structure for fittingly coupled with one corresponding said first coupling structure of the male connector. Thereby, when the male connector and the female connector are combined, the hollow plug of the male connector is accommodated in the hollow socket of the female connector, and the first coupling structures of the male connector and the second coupling structures of the female connector are firmly coupled, while the second pin of the second conductive terminal is inserted into the hollow plug and gets contacted with the first pin of the first conductive terminal, thereby achieving electrical connection. 
     Hence, one objective of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned securely latched power connector assembly, wherein the male connector has the hollow plug inserted into the hollow socket of the female connector, thus achieving improved combination between the male and female connectors. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned securely latched power connector assembly, wherein the male connector has the first coupling structures coupled with the second coupling structures of the female connector, thus achieving improved combination between the male and female connectors. 
     Still another objective of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned securely latched power connector assembly, wherein the male connector utilizes the first buckle portion provided on the first conductive terminal to retain the core of the first leading wire, thus providing an improved wire coupling effect. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned securely latched power connector assembly, wherein the female connector utilizes the second buckle portion provided on the second conductive terminal to retain the core of the second leading wire, thus providing an improved wire coupling effect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a securely latched power connector assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a lateral sectional view of a male connector in a securely latched power connector assembly according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a lateral sectional view of a female connector according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic drawing of a first conductive terminal according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic drawing of a second conductive terminal according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a lateral sectional view of the male and female connectors latched with each other according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic drawing of a second insulating casing according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic drawing of a fourth insulating casing according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4C  is a lateral sectional view the fourth insulating casing according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic drawing of a second insulating casing according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic drawing of a fourth insulating casing according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5C  is a lateral sectional view the fourth insulating casing according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the present invention provides a securely latched power connector assembly, the principle of electrical conduction and the principle of waterproof structure used therein have been appreciated by people of ordinary skill in the art, and need not to be described in any length herewith. Meantime, since the accompanying drawings provided herewith are intended to illustrate the structural characteristics related to the present invention, they need not to be, and are not, drawn in scale. 
     First, please refer to  FIG. 1  for an exploded view of a securely latched power connector assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The power connector assembly primarily comprises a male connector  1  and a female connector  2 , each having a first leading wire  3  or a second leading wire  4 . Each of the first and second leading wires  3 ,  4  has a core  31  or  41 , and an insulating jacket  32  or  42 . The male connector  1  includes a first insulating casing  11 , a second insulating casing  12 , and a first conductive terminal  13 . The female connector  2  includes a third insulating casing  21 , a fourth insulating casing  22 , and a second conductive terminal  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 2A , the first insulating casing  11  has a first opening  101  formed at a rear end thereof for allowing the core  31  of the first leading wire  3  to be inserted thereinto. The first insulating casing  11  also has a second opening  102  formed at a front end thereof and intercommunicating with the first opening  101 . The second insulating casing  12  has a third opening  103  formed at a rear end thereof for allowing the front end of the first insulating casing  11  to be inserted thereinto. The second insulating casing  12  has a front end extending outward as a hollow plug  121 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 2B , the third insulating casing  21  has a fourth opening  201  formed at a front end thereof for allowing the core  41  of the second leading wire  4  to be inserted thereinto. The third insulating casing  21  also has a fifth opening  202  formed at a rear end thereof and intercommunicating with the fourth opening  201 . The fourth insulating casing  22  has a sixth opening  203  formed at a front end thereof for allowing the rear end of the third insulating casing  21  to be inserted thereinto. The fourth insulating casing  22  has a rear end extending outward as a hollow socket  221 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 3A , the first conductive terminal  13  can be accommodated in the second opening  102 . The first conductive terminal  13  has a first bottom plate  131  formed with a first groove  1311  for accommodating the core  31  of the first leading wire  3 . The first bottom plate  131  is bent upward near the first opening  101  to form a first inclined portion  132 . The first inclined portion  132  has a first through hole  1321  for allowing the core  31  of the first leading wire  3  to pierce therethrough. The first inclined portion  132  is bent downward at an upper end thereof to form a first buckle portion  1322 . The first buckle portion  1322  may be further provided with a first notch  1323  for facilitating holding the core  31  of the first leading wire  3  with improved firmness. In addition, the first bottom plate  131  has an end distant from the first through hole  1321  extending outward to form a first pin  133 , which is to be inserted into the hollow plug  121  of the second insulating casing  12 . The first pin  133  may be bent to form a first claw  1331 . Therein, the first pin  133  has a width W 2  smaller than a width W 1  of the first bottom plate  131 . Moreover, the male connector  1  further includes a first resilient plate  134  located between the second insulating casing  12  and the first inclined portion  132  of the first conductive terminal  13 , for helping the first buckle portion  1322  to hold the core  31  of the first leading wire  3  with improved firmness. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2B and 3B , the second conductive terminal  23  can be accommodated in the fifth opening  202 . The second conductive terminal  23  has a second bottom plate  231  formed with a second groove  2311  for accommodating the core  41  of the second leading wire  4 . In the second conductive terminal  23 , the second bottom plate  231  is bent upward near the fourth opening  201  to form a second inclined portion  232 . The second inclined portion  232  has a second through hole  2321  for allowing the core  41  of the second leading wire  4  to pierce therethrough. Meantime, the second inclined portion  232  is bent downward at an upper end thereof to form a second buckle portion  2322 . The second buckle portion  2322  may be further provided with a second notch  2323  for facilitating holding the core  41  of the second leading wire  4  with improved firmness. The second bottom plate  231  has an end distant from the second through hole  2321  extending outward to form a second pin  233 , which is to be inserted into the hollow socket  221  of the fourth insulating casing  22 . The second pin  233  may be further bent to form a second claw  2331 . Therein, the second pin  233  has a width W 4  smaller than a width W 3  of the second bottom plate  231 . Moreover, the female connector  2  further includes at least one second resilient plate  234  located between the fourth insulating casing  22  and the second inclined portion  232  of the second conductive terminal  23 , for helping the second buckle portion  2322  to hold the core  41  of the second leading wire  4  with improved firmness. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3C . The second claw  2331  contacts with the first pin  133  of the first conductive terminal  13 , thereby achieving electrical connection therebetween. Further, the second claw  2331  contacts with the first claw  1331  of the first pin  133 , thereby achieving better electrical connection. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , in the present embodiment, the second insulating casing  12  has its upper and lower surfaces each formed with a first coupling structure  122 . The first coupling structure  122  includes a pair of facing walls  1220 . Each said wall  1220  has a first flange  1221  extending toward the other said wall  1220 . The first flange  1221  and the second insulating casing  12  jointly define a seventh opening  104 . In addition, a first wedge  1222  is provided between each said flange  1221  and the second insulating casing  12  facing the seventh opening  104  so as to give the seventh opening  104  a tapered shape. Therein, the seventh opening  104  has a minimum opening height h 1 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 4B and 4C . The fourth insulating casing  22  has its upper and lower surfaces each formed with a second coupling structure  222  for fittingly coupled with a corresponding said first coupling structure  122  of the male connector  1 . Therein, each said second coupling structure  222  is a flat arm  2221  to be inserted into a corresponding said seventh opening  104  of the first coupling structure  122 . The flat arm  2221  has a front end formed with a second wedge  2222  so that the flat arm  2221  has a thickness h 3  gradually reduced from its rear end to its front end and becoming h 2  at the front end. Therefore, upon combination of the male connector  1  and the female connector  2 , the hollow plug  121  of the male connector  1  is accommodated in the hollow socket  221  of the female connector  2 . At this time, the first coupling structures  122  of the male connector  1  and the second coupling structures  222  of the female connector  2  are coupled mutually. By the joint guidance of the first wedges  1222  and the second wedges  2222 , the seventh opening  104  of the first coupling structure  122  performs elastic deformation, so as to allow the flat arms  2221  of the second coupling structure  222  to be inserted therein. After the insertion of the flat arms  2221 , since the minimum height h 1  of the seventh openings  104  is smaller than the thickness h 2  of the front ends of the flat arms  2221 , the flat arms  2221  of the second coupling structures  222  are retained from leaving the seventh openings  104 , thereby ensuring the firmer combination between the male connector  1  and the female connector  2 . 
     Please additionally refer to  FIG. 5A . According to a second embodiment of the present invention, each said second coupling structure  222  of the female connector  2  includes a pair of facing walls  2220 . Each said wall  2220  has a second flange  2223  extending toward the other said wall  2220 . In each said second coupling structure  222 , the second flanges  2223  and the fourth insulating casing  22  jointly define an eighth opening  204 . Please see  FIGS. 5B and 5C . Each said first coupling structure  122  of the male connector  1  is a flat arm  1223 . Third wedges  224  are provided in the eighth opening  204  defined by the second flange  2223  and the fourth insulating casing  22  so as to give the eighth opening  204  a tapered shape with a minimum height h 4 . In addition, each said flat arm  1223  of the first coupling structure  122  has a front end formed with a fourth wedge  1224  so that the flat arm  1223  has a thickness h 6  gradually reduced from its rear end to its front end and has a front end thickness h 5 . Therein, the minimum height h 4  of the eighth opening  204  is smaller than the front-end thickness h 5  of the flat arm  1223 . Therefore, upon combination of the male connector  1  and the female connector  2 , the first coupling structures  122  of the male connector  1  are coupled with the second coupling structures  222  of the female connector  2 . By the joint guidance of the third wedges  2224  and the fourth wedges  1224 , the eighth opening  204  performs elastic deformation, so as to allow the flat arms  1223  to be inserted therein. After the insertion of the flat arms  1223 , since the minimum height h 4  of the eighth openings  204  is smaller than the front end thickness h 5  of the flat arms  1223 , the flat arms  1223  are retained from leaving the eighth openings  204 , thereby ensuring the firmer combination between the male connector  1  and the female connector  2 . 
     In the above embodiment, the hollow plug  121  of the second insulating casing  12  of the male connector  1  has a downward narrowing shape while the hollow socket  221  of the fourth insulating casing  22  of the female connector  2  is of a matching downward narrowing shape, so as to prevent one of the hollow plug  121  of the male connector  1  and the hollow socket  221  of the female connector  2  from assembling to the other in an upside-down manner, in turn preventing miswiring. 
     The embodiments described above are intended only to demonstrate the technical concept and features of the present invention so as to enable a person skilled in the art to understand and implement the contents disclosed herein. It is understood that the disclosed embodiments are not to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent changes or modifications based on the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.