Patent Publication Number: US-2023163513-A1

Title: Terminal position assurance and connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2021229177005 filed Nov. 25, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of connectors and, in particular, to a terminal position assurance and a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A terminal position assurance (TPA) is used for the secondary locking of terminals in a connector, and the terminal position assurance is fixed on a socket of the connector. 
     In the related art, the terminal position assurance adopts a single-row snap design, that is to say, the terminal position assurance is designed with merely one group of snaps, resulting in the poor stability of the terminal position assurance fixed in the socket. During the transportation and transshipment of the connector, the terminal position assurance is easy to loosen and fall off. As a result, the terminal position assurance is easy to separate from the socket, resulting in that the normal use of the terminal position assurance is affected and potential safety hazards may also be caused in severe cases. 
     Therefore, there is an urgent need to design the terminal position assurance which can be stably fixed on the socket. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a terminal position assurance and a connector. The terminal position assurance can be stably fixed on a socket, thereby ensuring the normal use of the terminal position assurance and reducing the possibility of potential safety hazards. 
     As conceived above, the present disclosure provides the technical solutions described below. 
     A terminal position assurance includes a positioning body, an upper-row snap, a limiting member, and a lower-row snap. 
     The positioning body extends along a first direction. 
     Two upper-row snaps are provided, fixedly connected to the positioning body separately, and disposed opposite to each other. 
     The limiting member is connected to one side of the positioning body and extends along a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     Two lower-row snaps are provided, fixedly connected to the limiting member separately, and disposed opposite to each other. The two lower-row snaps extend along the second direction. 
     In an embodiment, the upper-row snap extends along the first direction and has a semi-circular cross-section, and a planar side surface of the upper-row snap is fixedly connected to the positioning body. 
     In an embodiment, the positioning body includes two positioning blocks disposed opposite to each other, and each positioning block extends along the first direction and is fixedly connected to a respective upper-row snap. 
     In an embodiment, the positioning body further includes a connection block connected between the two positioning blocks. 
     In an embodiment, the limiting member is connected to the middle of the positioning body, and the upper-row snap is fixedly connected to one end of the positioning body. 
     In an embodiment, the two lower-row snaps are respectively connected to two ends of the limiting member in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction separately. 
     In an embodiment, the lower-row snap includes a connection rod portion and a hook portion connected to one end of the connection rod portion, the hook portion on one connection rod portion extends towards the other connection rod portion, and the other end of the connection rod portion is fixedly connected to the limiting member. 
     In an embodiment, the terminal position assurance is an integrally formed structure. 
     A connector includes a socket and any terminal position assurance described above, where the upper-row snap and the lower-row snap of the terminal position assurance snap into the socket separately. 
     In an embodiment, the socket includes a first block, a second block, and a third block, the second block is connected to one side of the first block in the second direction, fixing snap grooves are respectively disposed on two sides of the second block in the third direction, the two upper-row snaps snap into two fixing snap grooves respectively, the third block is connected to the other side of the first block in the second direction, fixing hook grooves are disposed on parts of two sides of the third block in the third direction, and the two lower-row snaps are hooked in the fixing hook grooves respectively. 
     In an embodiment, two pre-locking snap grooves are further respectively disposed on the two sides of the second block in the third direction, each pre-locking snap groove is located on the side of a respective fixing snap groove facing away from the first block, and the two upper-row snaps are capable of snapping into the two pre-locking snap grooves respectively. 
     Two Pre-locking hook grooves are further respectively disposed on the two sides of the third block in the third direction, each of the pre-locking hook grooves is located on the side of a respective fixing hook groove facing towards the first block, the two lower-row snaps are capable of being hooked in the pre-locking hook grooves respectively. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is structure view one of a terminal position assurance according to embodiment one of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is structure view two of the terminal position assurance according to embodiment one of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a structure view of a connector according to embodiment two of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded view of the connector according to embodiment two of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged view of portion A in  FIG.  4    according to embodiment two of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic view of a terminal position assurance in a pre-locked state according to embodiment two of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a sectional view of the terminal position assurance in the pre-locked state according to embodiment two of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic view of the terminal position assurance in a locked state according to embodiment two of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  9    is a sectional view of the terminal position assurance in the locked state according to embodiment two of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE LIST 
     
         
           1  positioning body 
           11  positioning block 
           12  connection block 
           2  upper-row snap 
           3  limiting member 
           4  lower-row snap 
           41  connection rod portion 
           42  hook portion 
           10  socket 
           101  first block 
           102  second block 
           1021  fixing snap groove 
           1022  pre-locking snap groove 
           103  third block 
           1031  fixing hook groove 
           1032  pre-locking hook groove 
           104  inserting groove 
           20  terminal position assurance 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To make the solved technical problems, adopted technical solutions, and achieved technical effects of the present disclosure more apparent, the technical solutions of the present disclosure are further described hereinafter in conjunction with drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are intended to merely illustrate and not to limit the present disclosure. Additionally, it is to be noted that for ease of description, merely a part, not all, related to the present disclosure is illustrated in the drawings. 
     In the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, terms “connected to each other”, “connected”, and “fixed” are to be understood in a broad sense. For example, the term “connected” may refer to “fixedly connected”, “detachably connected”, or “integrated”, may refer to “mechanically connected” or “electrically connected”, may refer to “directly connected to each other” or “indirectly connected to each other via an intermediary”, or may refer to “internally connected between two components” or “an interactive relationship between two components”. For those of ordinary skill in the art, specific meanings of the preceding terms in the present disclosure may be understood based on specific situations. 
     In the present disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, when a first feature is described as “on” or “below” a second feature, the first feature and the second feature may be in direct contact or be in contact via another feature between the two features instead of being in direct contact. Moreover, when the first feature is described as “on”, “above”, or “over” the second feature, the first feature is right on, above, or over the second feature, the first feature is obliquely on, above, or over the second feature, or the first feature is simply at a higher level than the second feature. When the first feature is described as “under”, “below” or “underneath” the second feature, the first feature is right under, below or underneath the second feature, the first feature is obliquely under, below or underneath the second feature, or the first feature is simply at a lower level than the second feature. 
     In the description of the embodiment, orientations or position relations indicated by terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “right”, and the like are based on orientations or position relations shown in the drawings. These orientations or position relations are intended merely to facilitate and simplify the description of the present disclosure, and not to indicate or imply that a device or element referred to must have such specific orientations or must be configured or operated in such specific orientations. Therefore, these orientations or position relations are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are used merely to distinguish between descriptions and have no special meaning. 
     Embodiment One 
     This embodiment provides a terminal position assurance which can be stably fixed on a socket and does not easily loosen or fall off, thereby ensuring the normal use of the terminal position assurance. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , a terminal position assurance  20  includes a positioning body  1 , an upper-row snap  2 , a limiting member  3 , and a lower-row snap  4 . 
     The positioning body  1  extends along a first direction Z. Two upper-row snaps  2  are provided, fixedly connected to the positioning body  1  separately, and disposed opposite to each other. Each upper-row snap  2  can snap into a fixing snap groove  1021  of a socket  10  and the two upper-row snaps  2  can snap onto the socket  10  at the same time so that the terminal position assurance  20  can be positioned on the socket  10 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  1   , the limiting member  3  is vertically connected to one side of the positioning body  1  and extends along a second direction Y. The limiting member  3  is configured to be inserted into an inserting groove  104  of the socket  10  so that the limiting member  3  is positioned in the first direction Z through the inserting groove  104 . Thus, the positioning body  1  is positioned in the first direction Z. In this embodiment, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction Z. 
     Two lower-row snaps  4  are provided, fixedly connected to the limiting member  3  separately, and disposed opposite to each other. The two lower-row snaps  4  extend along the second direction Y. Each lower-row snap  4  is configured to snap into a fixing hook groove  1031  of the socket  10  so as to assist the upper-row snap  2  in making the terminal position assurance  20  snap onto the socket  10 . It is to be noted that the upper-row snaps  2  and the lower-row snaps  4  each limit the terminal position assurance  20  in the second direction Y, and the upper-row snaps  2  and the lower-row snaps  4  can also limit the terminal position assurance  20  in the third direction X, where the third direction X is perpendicular to the first direction Z and the second direction Y separately. 
     In the terminal position assurance  20  provided in this embodiment, the limiting member  3  is provided so that the terminal position assurance  20  can be limited on the socket  10  in the first direction Z. In addition, the upper-row snap  2  and the lower-row snap  4  are provided so that the terminal position assurance  20  can be limited on the socket  10  in the second direction Y and the third direction X. Thus, the terminal position assurance  20  is limited in multiple directions and the multiple limitations can reduce the probability of loosening and falling of the terminal position assurance  20  so that the terminal position assurance  20  can be stably fixed on the socket  10 , thereby ensuring the normal use of the terminal position assurance  20  and reducing the possibility of potential safety hazards. 
     Optionally, as shown in  FIG.  1   , the upper-row snap  2  extends along the first direction Z and has a semi-circular cross-section, that is, the upper-row snap  2  has a semi-cylindrical shape. Correspondingly, the fixing snap groove  1021  of the socket  10  may have the shape of a circular arc so as to facilitate mating with the upper-row snap  2 . The upper-row snap  2  has a planar side surface which is fixedly connected to the positioning body  1 . The upper-row snap  2  has a curved side surface which is used for snapping into the fixing snap groove  1021 . In this embodiment, the surface of the positioning body  1  for disposing the upper-row snap  2  is planar. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the positioning body  1  includes two positioning blocks  11  disposed opposite to each other. Each positioning block  11  extends along the first direction Z. One upper-row snap  2  is fixedly connected to each positioning block  11 . Specifically, the upper-row snap  2  on one positioning block  11  is located on the side surface of the one positioning block  11  facing towards the other positioning block  11 . For example, the positioning body  1  has a cuboid shape. Edges of the positioning body  1  are chamfered to avoid scratching the socket  10  or a structure on the socket  10 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the length of the upper-row snap  2  is less than half the length of a positioning block  11 . 
     Further, the positioning body  1  also includes a connection block  12  connected between the two positioning blocks  11 . The connection block is used for connecting the two positioning blocks  11  so as to define the distance between the two positioning blocks  11 . In some embodiments, the connection block can snap into the inserting groove  104 . 
     Optionally, with continued reference to  FIG.  1   , the upper-row snap  2  is fixedly connected to one end of the positioning block  11 . In addition, the top surface of the upper-row snap  2  is coplanar with the top surface of the positioning block  11 . The limiting member  3  is connected to the middle of the positioning block  11 . In some embodiments, the limiting member  3  is close to the other end of the positioning block  11 . In this embodiment, the limiting member  3  is connected to the connection block  12  and the positioning block  11 . The thickness of the limiting member  3  is equal to the thickness of the connection block  12 . In some embodiments, specifically, the limiting member  3  is a block-like structure. The dimension of the limiting member  3  in the third direction X is equal to the length of the positioning body  1  in the third direction X. The upper-row snap  2  is disposed at one end of the positioning block  11  and the lower-row snap  4  is disposed close to the other end of the positioning block  11  so that two ends of the positioning block  11  in the extending direction of the positioning block  11  can be limited, thereby further improving the fixing effects of the positioning body  1  and the terminal position assurance  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the two lower-row snaps  4  are respectively connected to two ends of the limiting member  3  in the third direction X, that is, the two lower-row snaps  4  are spaced apart in the third direction X. Thus, the two lower-row snaps  4  can hold the third block  103  of the socket  10 . 
     Optionally, as shown in  FIG.  1    or  FIG.  2   , each lower-row snap  4  includes a connection rod portion  41  and a hook portion  42  connected to one end of the connection rod portion  41 . The hook portion  42  on one connection rod portion  41  extends towards the other connection rod portion  41 , that is, both two hook portions  42  are disposed towards the center of the limiting member  3 . The other end of the connection rod portion  41  is fixedly connected to the limiting member  3 . 
     In some embodiments, the terminal position assurance  20  is an integrally formed structure, that is, the positioning body  1 , the upper-row snap  2 , the limiting member  3 , and the lower-row snap  4  can be formed in a single manufacturing process to have high strength and not easily break. In other embodiments, the terminal position assurance  20  may also be a split structure, which is not limited in this embodiment. 
     Embodiment Two 
     This embodiment provides a connector. As shown in  FIGS.  3  to  9   , the connector includes the terminal position assurance  20  in embodiment one and a socket  10 . The upper-row snap  2  and the lower-row snap  4  of the terminal position assurance  20  snap into the socket  10  separately. The limiting member  3  is limited in the inserting groove  104  of the socket  10 . It is to be understood that the connector further includes other structures such as a connector body. For details, reference may be made to the related art. The other structures will not be described in this embodiment. 
     In the connector provided by this embodiment, the terminal position assurance  20  can be firmly fixed on the socket  10  so that the terminal position assurance  20  does not easily loosen or fall off during the transportation of the connector, thereby improving the reliability of the connector. 
     Optionally, as shown in  FIGS.  3  to  5   , the socket  10  includes a first block  101 , a second block  102 , and a third block  103 . The second block  102  is connected to one side of the first block  101  in the second direction Y. Two fixing snap grooves  1021  are respectively disposed on two sides of the second block  102  in the third direction X. The two upper-row snaps  2  can snap into the two fixing snap grooves  1021  respectively so as to position one end of the terminal position assurance  20  on the socket  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the third block  103  is connected to the other side of the first block  101  in the second direction Y. Two fixing hook grooves  1031  are disposed on two sides of the third block  103  in the third direction X. The two lower-row snaps  4  can be hooked in the two fixing hook grooves  1031  respectively so as to position the other end of the terminal position assurance  20  on the socket  10 . 
     Further, with continued reference to  FIG.  5   , two pre-locking snap grooves  1022  are further respectively disposed on the two sides of the second block  102  in the third direction X. Each pre-locking snap groove  1022  is located on the side of a respective fixing snap groove  1021  facing away from the first block  101 . The two upper-row snaps  2  can also snap into the two fixing snap grooves  1021  respectively so as to implement the pre-locking of the terminal position assurance  20 . 
     Similarly, two pre-locking hook grooves  1032  are further respectively disposed on the two sides of the third block  103  in the third direction X. Each pre-locking hook groove  1032  is located on the side of a respective fixing hook groove  1031  facing towards the first block  101 . The two lower-row snaps  4  can also be hooked in the two pre-locking hook grooves  1032  respectively so as to implement the pre-locking of the terminal position assurance  20 . 
       FIGS.  6  and  7    show schematic views of the terminal position assurance  20  in a pre-locked state. In this case, the two upper-row snaps  2  snap into the two pre-locking snap grooves  1022  respectively, the two lower-row snaps  4  snap into the two pre-locking hook grooves  1032  respectively, and the limiting member  3  is located in the inserting groove  104 . When the terminal position assurance  20  is moved from the pre-locked state to a locked state, the terminal position assurance  20  is pushed along a preset direction so that the upper-row snaps  2  slide out of the pre-locking snap grooves  1022  and then enter the fixing snap grooves  1021 . At the same time, the lower-row snaps  4  slide out of the pre-locking hook grooves  1032  and then enter the fixing hook grooves  1031 . In this case, the terminal position assurance  20  and the socket  10  are in the state as shown in  FIGS.  8  and  9   . The preset direction is the direction in which the second block  102  points to the third block  103 . 
     The preceding embodiments illustrate only the basic principles and features of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the preceding embodiments. Various modifications and variations may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. These modifications and variations fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.