Patent Publication Number: US-11658434-B2

Title: Electrical connecting assembly and electrical connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Chinese Patent Application Serial Number 202110578640.0, filed on May 26, 2021, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of connector, particularly to an electrical connecting assembly and an electrical connector. 
     Related Art 
     In the technical field of automotive industry, the operation of vehicles would affect the electrical conduction terminals for electrical connections in high-power electrical connector components. The operation of the vehicle would cause resonance of components of the electrical connector connected with male part and female part of the electrical connection. The service life of electrical connectors can be seriously affected by heat generated during electric conduction between the male part and the female part of the electrical connection, or fatigue and wear-deteriorated elastic metal sheets of electrical joints of heavily used vehicles that the electrical connector heads are often affected by heat or cold. Thus, the system stability of the equipment connected with electrical connectors is lowered, the service life of the equipment is shortened, and the risk that the equipment is facing is increased. 
     SUMMARY 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrical connecting assembly and an electrical connector tended to solve the problem that conventional electrical connector heads are affected by cold or heat to cause fatigue and wear-deterioration to the elastic metal sheets, which leads to seriously affected or shortened service life. 
     On the first aspect, the present disclosure provides an electrical connecting assembly, which comprises two electrical connecting parts and a bending part. Each of the electrical connecting assemblies comprises a main body and a securing component. The main body comprises an electrical contacting component. The securing component is disposed at a side edge of the main body. Two bent sides of the bending part are the two electrical connecting parts extending in one direction. The two electrical connecting parts are symmetrically disposed across the bending part. 
     In one embodiment, the securing component is arranged on a side edge of the main body away from the bending part. 
     In one embodiment, the electrical contacting component comprises an orifice part, a plurality of first contacting pieces, and a plurality of second contacting pieces. The plurality of first contacting pieces and the plurality of second contacting pieces are alternately disposed at the orifice part. 
     In one embodiment, the orifice part comprises a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to the first side edge. One ends of the plurality of first contacting pieces are respectively connected with the first side edge at intervals. One ends of the plurality of second contacting pieces are respectively connected with the second side edge at intervals. The plurality of first contacting pieces and the plurality of second contacting pieces are alternately arranged to form a stagger-type component. 
     In one embodiment, one extending ends of the plurality of first contacting pieces comprise a bent contacting part. One extending ends of the plurality of second contacting pieces comprise a bent contacting part. 
     In one embodiment, an acute angle is formed between the plurality of first contacting pieces and a plane of the orifice part. An acute angle is formed between the plurality of second contacting pieces and a plane of the orifice part. 
     In one embodiment, the two electrical connecting parts and the bending part are integrally formed. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of first guiding contact pieces are disposed at a side edge of the main body away from the bending part, the plurality of first guiding contact pieces being disposed at one side having the bending part; wherein the plurality of first guiding contact pieces extend in a direction facing the bending part and away from the main body. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of second guiding contact pieces are disposed at a side edge of the main body away from the bending part. 
     On the second aspect, the present disclosure provides an electrical connector comprising a first electrical connector head. The first electrical connector head comprises an electrical connecting notch and the electrical connecting assembly according to the first aspect. The electrical connecting assembly is assembled to the electrical connecting notch. The securing component is secured to the first electrical connector head. Wherein a second electrical connector head comprises an electrical plugging member assembled in the electrical connecting assembly. Two side surfaces of the electrical plugging member respectively abut against the electrical contacting components of the two electrical connecting parts. 
     In one embodiment, the securing component is a securing buckle. An outer sidewall of the first electrical connector head comprises a securing bump. The securing buckle is buckled to the securing bump. 
     In one embodiment, a plugging end of the electrical plugging member comprises a first side edge and two second side edges adjacent to the first side edge. The electrical plugging member passes through an opening of the electrical connecting assembly away from the bending part to be assembled in the electrical connecting notch in a direction along the first side edge or the second side edge. Wherein the first electrical connector head and the second electrical connector head are in a 180 degrees or 90 degrees assembly. 
     In one embodiment, the electrical connecting assembly further comprises a plurality of first guiding contact pieces and a second guiding contact piece. The plurality of first guiding contact pieces are disposed at two sides of the second guiding contact piece. The electrical plugging member is assembled in the electrical connecting assembly through one side having the plurality of first guiding contact pieces and the second guiding contact piece. The two side surfaces of the electrical plugging member are respectively in contact with the plurality of first guiding contact pieces and the second guiding contact piece. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, by assembling the electrical connector to the first electrical connector head through the electrical connecting assembly and assembling the second electrical connector head to the electrical connecting assembly of first electrical connector head, and through the configuration of the above electrical connecting assembly, when components are interconnected and the system is in operation, it is possible to distribute the heat generated by overloaded electric current to reduce the heat generated by corrosion potential and to improve the overall current overload capacity. Thus, the overall service life for electrical connectors can be increased. Besides, the strength of the connection between the first electrical connector head and the second electrical connector head and the stability of the electrical contact can be enhanced by the structural configuration of the electrical connecting assembly. 
     It should be understood, however, that this summary may not contain all aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, that this summary is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that the disclosure as disclosed herein will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the exemplary embodiments believed to be novel and the elements and/or the steps characteristic of the exemplary embodiments are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The Figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The exemplary embodiments, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of the electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is an internal view of the electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is an external view of the electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view showing the assembly of the electrical connector head to a first electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing the assembly of an electrical connector of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a side view of the electrical connector of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  8    is another perspective view showing the assembly of an electrical connector of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include/including” and “comprise/comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”. “Substantial/substantially” means, within an acceptable error range, the person skilled in the art may solve the technical problem in a certain error range to achieve the basic technical effect. 
     The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the disclosure. This description is made for the purpose of illustration of the general principles of the disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the disclosure is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
     Moreover, the terms “include”, “contain”, and any variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. Therefore, a process, method, object, or device that includes a series of elements not only includes these elements, but also includes other elements not specified expressly, or may include inherent elements of the process, method, object, or device. If no more limitations are made, an element limited by “include a/an . . . ” does not exclude other same elements existing in the process, the method, the article, or the device which includes the element. 
       FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    are perspective view and side view of an electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure. As shown in the figures, in this embodiment, an electrical connecting assembly  1  is provided, which comprises two electrical connecting parts  11  and a bending part  13 . Each of the electrical connecting parts  11  comprises a body  111  and a securing component  112 . The main body  111  comprises an electrical contacting component  113 , and the securing component  112  is disposed at one side of the main body  111 . Two bent sides of the bending part  13  are the two electrical connecting parts  11  extending in one direction. The two electrical connecting parts  11  are symmetrically disposed across the bending part  13 . Wherein, the two electrical connecting parts  11  and the bending part  13  are integrally formed so that the overall configuration of the electrical connecting assembly  1  can be U-shaped. The securing component  112  is disposed at one side of the main body  111  away from the bending part  13 . 
       FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4    are internal view and external view of the electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure. As shown in the figures, in this embodiment, the electrical contacting component  113  comprises an orifice part  1130 , a plurality of first contacting pieces  1131 , and a plurality of second contacting pieces  1132 . The plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  are alternately disposed at the orifice part  1130 . Wherein the orifice part  1130  comprises a first side edge  11301  and a second side edge  11302  opposite to the first side edge  11301 . One ends of the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  are respectively connected with the first side edge  11301  at interval. The plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  extend in a direction from the first side edge  11301  to the second side edge  11302  at one side with the bending part  13 . The extending end of the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  comprises a bent contacting part  11311 . 
     Besides, one ends of the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  are respectively connected with the second side edge  11302  at intervals. The plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  extend in a direction from the second side edge  11302  to the first side edge  11301  at one side with the bending part  13 . The extending end of the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  comprises a bent contacting part  11321 . In this way, the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  would form a stagger-type configuration. 
     The plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  extend from the first side edge  11301  to one side having the bending part  13 . An acute angle A is formed between the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and a plane of the orifice part  1130 . The plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  extend from the second side edge  11302  to one side having the bending part  13 . An acute angle A is formed between the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  and a plane of the orifice part  1130 . When an electrical plugging member is inserted between the electrical contacting components  113  of the two electrical connecting parts  11 , by changing the angle A between the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and the orifice part  1130  and between the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  and the orifice part  1130 , the clamping force of the bent contacting parts  11311  of the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and the clamping force of the bent contacting parts  11321  of the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  can be adjusted. Besides, the plurality of first contacting piece  1131  and the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  are alternately disposed, the clamping force of the electrical connecting assembly  1  clamping the electrical plugging member can be improved. 
     In this embodiment, the electrical connecting assembly  1  further comprises a plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  disposed at one side of the main body  111  away from the bending part  13 . The plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  are disposed at one side having the bending part  13 , wherein the plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  extend in a direction toward the bending part  13  and away from the main body  111 . The extending direction of the plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  and the extending direction of the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  are the same. The plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  can guide the electrical plugging member inserted in the two electrical connecting parts  11  and can be used as auxiliary clamps for securing the electrical plugging member. 
     Besides, electrical connecting assembly  1  further comprises a second guiding contact piece  115  disposed oat one side of the main body  111  away from the bending part  13 . The second guiding contact piece  115  is formed by stamping a sheet metal at one side having the bending part  13  of the main body  111  and is M shaped, which indicates that the second guiding contact piece  115  comprises two abutting parts. In other words, one side of the second guiding contact piece  115  away from the bending part  13  is connected with the main body  111 . The second guiding contact piece  115  works the same as the first guiding contact piece  114 . It should be further explained that the electrical connecting assembly  1  provides a stable auxiliary clamping force when assembling and securing the electrical plugging member through a plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  and the second guiding contact piece  115  to stabilize the connection between the electrical plugging member and itself. 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view showing the assembly of the electrical connector head to a first electrical connecting assembly of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, an electrical connector  2  is provided, which comprises a first electrical connector head  21 . The first electrical connector head  21  comprises an electrical connecting notch  211  and an electrical connecting assembly  1 . The electrical connecting assembly  1  is assembled to the electrical connecting notch  211 . The two electrical connecting parts  11  and the bending part  13  can be accommodated in the electrical connecting notch  211 , and the two electrical connecting parts  11  can be evenly attached to two inner sidewalls of the electrical connecting notch  211 . The electrical contacting components  113  of the electrical connecting part  11  extend toward the center part of the electrical connecting notch  211 . The securing component  112  secures the first electrical connector head  21 , wherein the securing component  112  is a securing buckle  1121 , an outer sidewall of the first electrical connector head  21  comprises a securing bump  212 , and the securing buckle  1121  is buckled to the securing bump  212  to stable the connection between the first electrical connector head  21  and the electrical connecting assembly  1 . 
       FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing the assembly of an electrical connector of the present disclosure.  FIG.  7    is a side view of the electrical connector of the present disclosure. As shown in the figures, in this embodiment, the second electrical connector head  22  comprises an electrical plugging member  221  assembled in the electrical connecting assembly  1 . Two side surfaces of the electrical plugging member  221  respectively abut against an electrical contacting component  113  of two electrical connecting parts  11 . In this embodiment, the electrical connecting assembly  1  abuts against two side surfaces of the electrical plugging member  221  through a bent contacting part  11311  of a plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and the bent contacting part  11321  of a plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  of the electrical contacting component  113 . In this way, a plurality of electric current contacting points can be provided between the electrical plugging member  221  and the electrical connecting notch  211  assembled with the electrical connecting assembly  1  to distribute the heat generated when electric current is overloaded and to lower the heat generated by corrosion potential to improve the overall current capacity, thereby increasing the service life for the electrical connector. 
     Moreover, the electrical connecting assembly  1  assembled to the first electrical connector head  21  comprises an electrical contacting component  113 . Since the bent contacting parts  11311  of the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and the bent contacting parts  11321  of the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  of the electrical contacting component  113  are bent and extended inward, the plurality of first contacting pieces  1131  and the plurality of second contacting pieces  1132  abut against two side surfaces of the electrical plugging member  221  of the second electrical connector head  22 . In this way, the two electrical connecting parts  11  of the electrical connecting assembly  1  could clamp the electrical plugging member  221  to enhance the connection strength and the electrical contacting stability between the first electrical connector head  21  and the second electrical connector head  22 . 
     Besides, the electrical connecting assembly  1  further comprises a plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  and a second guiding contact piece  115 . The plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  are disposed at two sides of the second guiding contact piece  115 . The electrical plugging member  221  is assembled in the electrical connecting assembly  1  through one side having the plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  and the second guiding contact pieces  115 . Two sides of the electrical plugging member  221  are respectively in contact with the plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  and the second guiding contact pieces  115 . In this embodiment, an electrical plugging member  221  is provided along the structural extending direction of the plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  and the second guiding contact piece  115  to be guided and inserted into the electrical connecting notch  211 . Meanwhile, the plurality of first guiding contact pieces  114  and the second guiding contact pieces  115  abut against the two side surfaces of the electrical plugging member  221  to increase the plugging strength of the electrical plugging member  221  inserted in the electrical connecting notch  211 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , in this embodiment, the plugging end of the electrical plugging member  221  comprises a first side edge  2211  and two second side edges  2212  adjacent to the first side edge  2211 . The electrical plugging member  221  is assembled in the electrical connecting notch  211  through an opening of the electrical connecting assembly  1  away from the bending part  13  in a direction along the first side edge  2211 , wherein the first electrical connector head  21  and the second electrical connector head  22  are in a 180 degrees insert-assembly, that is, the first electrical connector head  21  and the second electrical connector head  22  are connected straightly. 
       FIG.  8    is another perspective view showing the assembly of an electrical connector of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the plugging end of the electrical plugging member  221  comprises a first side edge  2211  and two second side edges  2212  adjacent to the first side edge  2211 . The electrical plugging member  221  is assembled in the electrical connecting notch  211  through an opening of the electrical connecting assembly  1  away from the bending part  13  in a direction along the second side edge  2212 , wherein the first electrical connector head  21  and the second electrical connector head  22  are in a 90-degree insert-assembly, which indicates that the second electrical connector head  22  is horizontally configured and one end of the second electrical connector head  22  opposite to the first electrical connector head  21  is moving downward to be connected in a right angle assembly. 
     In this embodiment, the electrical plugging member  221  is limited to be plugged to the electrical connecting notch  211 , but the plugging direction is not limited. In this way, there would be no structural or using restrictions due to the limitlessness of the insertion direction between the electrical plugging member  221  and the electrical connecting notch  211  for a highly flexible user experience. 
     In summary, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrical connecting assembly and an electrical connector. By assembling the electrical connector to the first electrical connector head through the electrical connecting assembly and assembling the second electrical connector head to the electrical connecting assembly of the first electrical connector head, and through the configuration of the above electrical connecting assembly, when components are interconnected and the system is in operation, it is possible to distribute the heat generated by overloaded electric current to reduce the heat generated by corrosion potential and to improve the overall current overload capacity. Thus, the overall service life for electrical connectors can be increased. Besides, the strength of the connection between the first electrical connector head and the second electrical connector head and the stability of the electrical contact can be enhanced by the structural configuration of the electrical connecting assembly. 
     It is to be understood that the term “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variants thereof, is intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device of a series of elements not only comprise those elements but further comprises other elements that are not explicitly listed, or elements that are inherent to such a process, method, article, or device. An element defined by the phrase “comprising a . . . ” does not exclude the presence of the same element in the process, method, article, or device that comprises the element. 
     Although the present disclosure has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it does not intend to limit the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having regard to this present disclosure that other modifications of the exemplary embodiments beyond those embodiments specifically described here may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are considered within the scope of the disclosure as limited solely by the appended claims.