Patent Publication Number: US-9905960-B2

Title: Electrical connector

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF THE RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/CN 2016/071045, filed on Jan. 15, 2016, claiming priority to Chinese patent application No. 201510304995.5, filed on Jun. 4, 2015 and with the title of “electrical connector”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector used in an electric car. 
     BACKGROUND ARTS 
     A conventional electrical connector assembly used for an electric car includes a plug and a receptacle mating with each other, the plug has a mating portion, and the receptacle has a receiving space for receiving the mating portion of the plug. To realize a waterproof property, the electrical connector assembly defines a sealing member between the mating portion and the receiving space. The sealing member is usually fixed by a bolt or a plastic locking member, to achieve a firm sealing effect. However, the two configurations of fixation are required additional elements to achieve the fixation of the sealing member. 
     Hence, an improved sealing member of the electrical connector is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
     SUMMARY 
     One objective of the present application is to provide an electrical connector having a self-positioning sealing member without any auxiliary element for better waterproof purpose. 
     To realize the above objective, the present application provides an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a mating cavity and a plurality of passageways, a plurality of electrical contacts received in the corresponding passageways and a sealing member received in the mating cavity. The insulative housing defines a front face and a mounting wall, the mating cavity is formed between the front face and the mounting wall for accommodating the complementary connector. The passageways are penetrating through the mounting wall along a mating direction. Each electrical contact comprises a contacting portion, a tail portion, and a main portion connecting the contacting portion with the tail portion each main portion defines a plurality of barbs on both sides thereof for interferentially engaging with the corresponding passageway. The sealing member has a base portion and at least one opening defined in the base portion for tail portions of electrical contacts passing through. At least one electrical contact defines a wing on one side thereof, and the sealing member is restricted between the wing and the mounting wall. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an insulative housing of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of two electrical contacts as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a sealing member shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded, perspective view of the electrical connector as shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an insulative housing shown in  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like of similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
     Please referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to an electrical connector  100  mounting to a printed circuit board (not shown) for mating with complementary connector (not shown). The electrical connector  100  comprises an insulative housing  10 , a plurality of electrical contacts  20  received in the insulative housing  10 , and a sealing member  30  received in the insulative housing  10 , the sealing member  30  is retained between the insulative housing  10  and the electrical contacts  20  to provide a better waterproof performance. 
     Please referring to  FIGS. 3-4  and conjunction with  FIG. 2 , the insulative housing  10  defines a front face  11  for mating with the complementary connector, a mounting wall  12  opposite to the front face  11 , a plurality of passageways  13  extending from the front face  11  to the mounting wall  12 . The passageways  13  penetrate through the front face  11  and the mounting wall  12  along a mating direction. 
     A mating cavity  14  is formed between the front face  11  and the mounting wall  12  for accommodating the complementary connector, furthermore, the mating cavity  14  is extending through the front face  11  and communicated with the passageways  13 , for the electrical contacts  20  electrically connected with the complementary connector therein. The insulative housing  10  comprises a top wall  101 , a bottom wall  102  opposite to the top wall  101 , a left side wall  103  and a right side wall  104  connecting the top wall  101  with the bottom wall  102  to form the mating cavity  14 . 
     Three protrusions  15  are extending towards the bottom wall  102  from an inner face of the top wall  101 , a retaining portion  16  is disposed between every two neighboring protrusions  15 , and the retaining portion  16  extends along a direction same as the protrusion  15 . The retaining portion  16  has a thickness less than that of the protrusion  15  along a height direction of the electrical connector  100 , the protrusions  15  and the retaining portions  16  could contact with the complementary connector, to establish a stable combination between the electrical connector  100  and the complementary connector. Each protrusion  15  defines an aperture  151  recessed backwards from the front face  11 , to provide a function of buffering while the electrical connector  100  mating with the complementary connector. 
     The insulative housing  10  also has a beam  17  located behind the protrusions  15 , the beam  17  is connected the protrusions  15  and the mounting wall  12 . A group of limiting slots  18  are defined in a conjunction area between the mounting wall  12  and a lower surface of the beam  17 , thus the limiting slots  18  are located below the protrusions  15  and recessed backwards from the mounting wall  12 . Another group of limiting slots  18  are defined in a conjunction area between the bottom wall  102  and the mounting wall  12 , and the two groups of limiting slots  18  are opposite to each other. In other selectable embodiment, the insulative housing  10  also can be defined without the protrusions  15 , the retaining portions  16  and the beam  17 , meanwhile, the limiting slots  18  could be disposed in a conjunction area between the mounting wall  12  and the top wall  101 , and a conjunction area between the mounting wall  12  and the bottom wall  102 . 
     The bottom wall  102  defines a plurality of grooves  105  recessed backwards from the front face  11 , and the grooves  105  are communicated with the mating cavity  14  for matching with the complementary connector. Each of the left side wall  103  and the right side wall  104  defines an ear portion  19  on an outer surface thereof, for installing the electrical connector  100  on the printed circuit board. The ear portion  19  on the left side wall  103  and the ear portion  19  on the right side wall  104  are offset along the mating direction, furthermore, the two ear portions  19  are disposed diagonally on both sides of the insulative housing  10 . Each ear portion  19  defines a through hole  191  extending along the height direction, for a bolt (not shown) being inserted into to fasten the electrical connector  100  with the printed circuit board. 
     The passageways  13  are defined through the mounting wall  12 , and divided into two rows along the height direction. The mounting wall  12  defines a plurality of ribs  121  aligned with the corresponding passageway  13 , the ribs  121  are extending forwards into the mating cavity  14 , and each rib  121  is divided into three segments by two relative passageways  13  along the height direction of the insulative housing  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5  and conjunction with  FIGS. 3-4 , the electrical contacts  20  are received in the passageways  13  and soldering with the printed circuit board. Each electrical contact  20  comprises a contacting portion  21  for electrically connected with the complementary connector, a tail portion  23  electrically connected with the printed circuit board, and a main portion  22  connecting the contacting portion  21  with the tail portion  23 . The contacting portions  21  are inserted into the corresponding passageways  13  and exposed in the mating cavity  14  for mating with the complementary connector. The main portion  22  and the tail portion  23  are extending beyond the corresponding passageway  13 . 
     The main portion  22  each has a pair of wings  221  on both sides thereof. However, the pair of wings  221  are not necessary for the main portion  22  of every contact  20 , according to actual requirements, the wings  221  can be only defined on the contacts  20  located on two sides and in the middle of a group of the electrical contacts  20 , as long as the sealing member  30  can be remained in the mating cavity  14  stably. The main portion  22  having the wings  221  has a larger width than the corresponding passageway  13 , thus the wings  221  can be positioned in the mating cavity  14 . The main portion  22  each also has a plurality of barbs  222  on two sides thereof, and the barbs  222  are located behind the wings  221  for interferentially engaging with the passageways  13 . 
     The contacts  20  are divided into a group of first contacts  201  on an upper row and a group of second contacts  202  on a lower row. The first contact  201  has a configuration approximately same as the second contact  202 , and difference between the first contact  201  and the second contact  202  is: the second contact  202  has a smaller size of the main portion  22  and the tail portion  23  than the first contact  201 , thus the first contacts  201  and the second contacts  202  are arranged with stepped distribution, for the tail portions  23  soldering to the printed circuit board conveniently. The tail portions  23  of the first contacts  201  and the second contacts  202  are extending and exposed out of the passageways  13 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7  and conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the sealing member  30  are received in the mating cavity  14  and fixed between the wings  221  and the mounting wall  12 . The sealing member  30  comprises a base portion  31 , a plurality of openings  32  defined in the base portion  31  for the tail portions  23  passing through, and a plurality of spacing portions  33 , each spacing portions  33  is defined between the two neighboring openings  32 . The base portion  31  is of frame shaped and surrounding the ribs  121 . The opening  32  has a smaller width than the main portion  22  having the wings  221 , for the wings  221  abutting against the corresponding spacing portion  33 . Each spacing portion  33  is restricted by two neighboring ribs  121  and finally clamped between the wings  221  and the mounting wall  12 . The base portion  31  defines a plurality of tabs  34  on both of a top edge and a bottom edge, and the tabs  34  are received in the corresponding limiting slots  18 , to ensure the sealing member  30  fixed in the mating cavity  14  stably. 
     In assembly, the sealing member  30  is abutting against a front surface of the mounting wall  12 , and the base portion  31  is encircling the ribs  121 , the spacing portions  33  are restricted by corresponding two neighboring ribs  121 , the tabs  34  are received in the corresponding limiting slots  18 . Then the tail portions  23  are inserted into the corresponding openings  32  and passageways  13 , and the spacing portions  33  are limited between the wings  221  and the mounting wall  12 . Finally, tail portions  23  are bent at right angles to solder with the printed circuit board, thus the electrical connector  100  is assembled. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in  FIG. 8 , in this embodiment, the electrical connector  100 ′ has a similar configuration as the electrical connector  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , and difference therebetween is a manner of a sealing member  30 ′ assembling to an insulative housing  10 ′. Therefore, detailed description about the similar configuration is omitted here. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , The insulative housing  10 ′ has a rib  121 ′ extending forwards into a mating cavity  14 ′ from a mounting wall  12 ′, and two rows of passageways  13 ′ are defined in the rib  121 ′. A pair of T-shaped slits  122  are defined on both sides of the rib  121 ′, and the slits  122  are located between the two rows of passageways  13 ′ along the height direction. 
     Each electrical contact  20 ′ has a similar structure as the electrical contact  20 , similarly, not every electrical contact  20 ′ has a pair of wings  221  on both sides of the main portion  22 , for example, only the two electrical contacts  20 ′ on lateral sides each has a pair of wings  221  on the main portion  22 , or the two electrical contacts  20 ′ on lateral sides each has a wing  221  only on one side neighboring to a sealing member  30 ′. 
     The sealing member  30 ′ is received in a mating cavity  14 ′ and fixed between the wings  221  and the mounting wall  12 ′. The sealing member  30 ′ comprises a base portion  31 ′, an opening  32 ′ defined in the base portion  31 ′ for the tail portions  23  passing through, and a plurality of tabs  34 ′ on both of a top edge and a bottom edge, and the tabs  34 ′ are received in the corresponding limiting slots  18 , to ensure the sealing member  30 ′ fixed in the mating cavity  14 ′ stably. The base portion  31 ′ is in a frame shape and surrounding the rib  121 ′. The rib  121 ′ is accommodated in the opening  32 ′, for tail portions  23  passing through the passageways  13 ′. The base portion  31 ′ also defines a pair of locking portions  35  on both sides of the opening  32 ′, and the locking portions  35  are extending towards each other to match with the corresponding wings  221 . Each locking portion  35  is thinner than the base portion  31 ′ for abutting against the corresponding wing  221 . 
     The electrical connector  100 ′ also has a pair of stop blocks  40  for limiting the sealing member  30 ′, each stop block  40  defines a strip shaped body  41  and an extension portion  42  extending rearwards from the middle of body  41 , thus the stop block  40  has a T-shaped configuration. The stop blocks  40  are received in the corresponding slits  122 , and one end of each body  41  is abutting against the neighboring locking portion  35 , thus the sealing member  30 ′ is latched between the wings  221  and the mounting wall  12 ′. 
     During assembling, the sealing member  30 ′ is abutting against a front surface of the mounting wall  12 ′, and the base portion  31 ′ is encircling the rib  121 ′, the tabs  34 ′ are received in the corresponding limiting slots  18 . Then the tail portions  23  are inserted into the corresponding passageways  13 ′, and the locking portions  35  are positioned between the wings  221  and the mounting wall  12 ′. Then the stop blocks  40  are inserted into the corresponding slits  122 , to make sure the locking portions  35  fixed between the body  41  and the mounting wall  12 ′. Furthermore, tail portions  23  are bent at right angles to solder with the printed circuit board, thus the electrical connector  100 ′ is assembled. 
     With contrast to current technology, the electrical connector  100 ,  100 ′ defines a wing  221  on at least one side of the main portion  22  of one electrical contact  20 ,  20 ′, thereby the sealing member  30 ,  30 ′ being received in the mating cavity  14 ,  14 ′ and limited between the wing  221  and the mounting wall  12 ,  12 ′. The sealing member  30 ,  30 ′ of the electrical connector  100 ,  100 ′ could be fixed in the mating cavity  14 ,  14 ′ without any auxiliary element, and have a better waterproof performance. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.