Abstract:
An electric connector includes a dielectric connector body ( 1 ), an insulative partition frame ( 2 ), a plurality of signal terminals ( 4 ) received in the connector body and the partition frame, a conductive positioning terminal ( 3 ) located in the connector body and the partition frame, a metal shell ( 5 ) positioned to the connector body, and a pair of plug elements ( 6 ) and rivet elements ( 7 ) cooperative to secure the partition frame to the connector body. The positioning terminal comprises a first flat coupling wall ( 31 ) and a second flat coupling wall ( 32 ) which defines a locating notch ( 322 ) at a bottom edge thereof. A locating block ( 213 ) raise from the partition frame into the locating notch, thereby fixing the positioning terminal in position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electric connector, and more particularly to such an electric connector, which comprises a connector body and a partition frame fastened together to hold a set of signal terminals, and an angled positioning terminal coupled between the connector body and the partition frame to secure the connector body and the partition frame in position. The positioning terminal comprises hooked retaining arms respectively hooked in a locating hole at the connector body, two mounting legs respectively inserted through respective locating holes at the partition frame, and a locating notch engaged with a locating block at the partition frame. 
     FIG. 6 shows an electric connector with angled terminals according to Taiwan Patent Publication No. 308375. This structure of electric connector comprises a connector body holding a set of terminals, a metal shell covered on the connector body at the front side, a partition frame fastened to the connector body at the back side to support the terminals, a fastening device fastened to the connector body and the partition frame for grounding. The fastening device secures the connector body and the partition frame together. This structure of electric connector is still not satisfactory in function. Because the fastening device has a complicated structure, its manufacturing cost is high. Further, the coupling structure between the fastening device and the partition frame is complicated. It takes much time to fasten the fastening device to the partition frame and the connector body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished to provide an electric connector, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the electric connector comprises a connector body having rows of terminal slots and a locating slot, a partition frame coupled to the connector body, a set of signal terminals respectively mounted in the terminal slots at the connector body and respective insertion slots at the partition frame, and a positioning terminal fastened to the locating slot at the connector body to hold down the partition frame, wherein the locating slot of said connector body comprises a sloping guide wall portion at a rear end thereof and a retaining wall portion at a front end thereof; the positioning terminal comprises a first flat coupling wall and a second flat coupling wall connected at right angles, two sloping edges respectively provided at top and bottom sides of the first flat coupling wall and stopped at the sloping guide wall portion in the locating slot at the connector body, two springy retaining arms forwardly extended from the sloping edges at the first flat coupling wall and inserted into the locating slot at the connector body, the retaining arms each having a hooked portion respectively hooked on the retaining wall portion in the locating slot at the connector body, and two elongated clamping strips forwardly extended from the first flat coupling wall between the retaining arms. By using a tool to squeeze the hooked portions of the retaining arms toward each other, the positioning terminal can easily be disconnected from the locating hole at the connector body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the partition frame comprises two locating holes and a locating block disposed between the locating holes, the positioning terminal comprises two mounting legs downwardly extended from the second flat coupling wall thereof and respectively mounted in the locating holes at the partition frame, and a locating notch disposed at the bottom side of the second flat coupling wall and forced into engagement with the locating block at the partition frame. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electric connector according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but showing the signal terminals installed in the terminal slots at the base of the connector body. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the present invention, showing the relationship between the connector body and the positioning terminal. 
     FIG. 3A is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the retaining arms of the positioning terminal inserted into the rear end of the locating slot at the base of the connector body. 
     FIG. 3B is similar to FIG. 3A but showing the retaining arms of the positioning terminal forced inwards by the sloping guide wall portion. 
     FIG. 3C is similar to FIG. 3B but showing the sloping edges of the positioning terminal moved to the sloping guide wall portion in the locating slot at the base of the connector body. 
     FIG. 3D is similar to FIG. 3C but showing the hooked portion of each retaining arm hooked on the retaining wall portion in the locating slot at the base of the connector body. 
     FIG. 3E is a sectional view of a part of the present invention, showing the relationship between the positioning terminal at the connector body and the partition frame. 
     FIG. 3F is similar to FIG. 3E but showing the mounting legs of the positioning terminal inserted into the locating holes at the partition frame. 
     FIG. 3G is similar to FIG. 3F but showing the mounting legs of the positioning terminal passed through the locating holes at the partition frame, the locating block at the partition frame partially engaged into the locating notch at the positioning terminal. 
     FIG. 3H is similar to FIG. 3G but showing the locating block at the partition frame engaged with the locating notch at the positioning terminal. 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the present invention, showing the electric connector assembled. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view in section of the present invention, showing the electric connector assembled. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an electric connector according to the prior art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , an electrical connector is shown comprised of a connector body  1 , a partition frame  2 , a positioning terminal  3 , a set of signal terminals  4 , a metal shell  5 , two plug elements  6 , and two rivet elements  7 . 
     The connector body  1  is an electrically insulative member comprising a substantially rectangular base  11 , and two mounting blocks  12  symmetrically formed integral with two opposite lateral side walls of the base  11  and disposed in flush with the back side wall of the base  11 . The base  11  comprises rows of terminal slots  111  and an elongated locating slot  112  through front and backside walls thereof, and two bottom notches  113  bilaterally provided at a bottom sidewall thereof. The locating slot  112  has a sloping guide wall portion  1121  at a rear end thereof for guiding the positioning terminal  3  into position, and a retaining wall portion  1122  at a front end thereof for engagement with the positioning terminal  3  (see FIG.  3 ). The mounting blocks  12  each comprise a substantially rectangular positioning recess  122 , a through hole  121  through the positioning recess  122 , and two locating notches  123  at the top and bottom sides. 
     The partition frame  2  is a substantially U-shaped frame comprising a flat board  21 , and two substantially L-shaped mounting plates  22  formed integrally with two distal ends of the flat board  21 . The flat board  21  comprises rows of insertion slots  211  corresponding to the terminal slots  111  at the connector body  1 , two locating holes  212  disposed near one mounting plate  22 , a locating bock  213  raised from a top side wall thereof between the locating holes  212 , and two protruding blocks  214  bilaterally extending forwardly from the front edge thereof adjacent to the L-shaped mounting plates  22 . The locating block  213  is aligned with the locating holes  212  in a direction transverse to the flat board  21 . The L-shaped mounting plates  22  each comprise a through hole  221  at a vertical wall thereof corresponding to the through hole  121  at each mounting block  12  of the connector body  1 , and a locating hole  222  at the horizontal wall thereof transverse to the vertical wall. 
     The positioning terminal  3  is a flat member comprising a first flat coupling wall  31  and a second flat coupling wall  32  connected at an right angle, two sloping edges  311  at top and bottom sides of the first flat coupling wall  31 , two retaining arms  312  forwardly extended from the sloping edges  311  at the first flat coupling wall  31  and terminated at hooked portions  3121 , two elongated clamping strips  313  forwardly extended from the first flat coupling wall  31  between the retaining arms  312 , two mounting legs  321  downwardly extended from the second flat coupling wall  32  corresponding to the two locating holes  212  at the flat board  21  of the partition frame  2 , and a locating notch  322  provided at the bottom edge of the second flat coupling wall  32  between the mounting legs  321  corresponding to the locating block  213  at the flat board  21  of the partition frame  2 . 
     The signal terminals  4  are shaped like a tuning fork, each comprising a forked clamping portion  41  at one end, an elongated mounting portion  42  at an opposite end, and a hooked portion  421  on the middle for positioning in one terminal slot  111  at the connector body  1 . 
     The metal shell  5  comprises a receiving chamber  50 , which receives the base  11  of the connector body  1 , two through holes  51  at two opposite lateral sides corresponding to the through hole  121  at each of the mounting blocks  12  of the connector body  1 , and two pairs of mounting lugs  52  respectively disposed adjacent to the through hole  51  corresponding to the locating notches  123  at the mounting blocks  12  of the connector body  1 . 
     The plug elements  6  are flat, each comprising a through hole  61  near a top side thereof, a bottom mounting leg  62 , and a shoulder  621  between the through hole  61  and the bottom mounting leg  62  for positioning the plug element  6  in the locating hole  222  at a corresponding mounting plate  22  of the partition frame  2 . 
     The rivet elements  7  each comprise a head  71  at one end for positioning in the positioning recess  122  at one mounting block  12  of the connector body  1 , a shank  72  extended from the head  71  for insertion through the through hole  121  at one mounting block  12  of the connector body  1 , the through hole  221  at one mounting plate  22  of the partition frame  2  and the through hole  61  at one mounting element  6 , and a screw hole  70  through the shank  72  and the head  71 . 
     The assembly process of the present invention is outlined hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3A through 5. The signal terminals  4  are respectively inserted into the terminal slots  111  at the connector body  1 , permitting the forked clamping portion  41  and hooked portion  421  of each signal terminal  4  to be respectively positioned in the terminal slots  111  at the connector body  1 , then the elongated mounting portion  42  of each signal terminal  4  is respectively downwardly bent, and then the positioning terminal  3  is inserted into the locating slot  112  at the base  11  of the connector body  1 , permitting the hooked portion  3121  of each of the retaining arms  312  to be hooked on the retaining wall portion  1122  in corresponding locating slot  112  and the sloping edge  311  to be stopped at the sloping guide wall portion  1121  in corresponding locating slot  112  (see Figures from  3 A through  3 D). Thereafter, the partition frame  2  is attached to the connector body  1  to engage the protruding blocks  214  into the bottom notches  113  at the connector body  1 , permitting the angled mounting portions  42  of the signal terminals  4  to be respectively inserted through the insertion slots  211  at the flat board  21  of the partition frame  2 , the mounting legs  321  of the positioning terminal  3  to be respectively inserted through the locating holes  212  at the flat board  21  of the partition frame  2 , and the locating block  213  of the partition frame  2  to be forced into engagement with the locating notch  322  at the positioning terminal  3  (see Figures from  3 E through  3 H). Then, the flat plug elements  6  are respectively inserted through the locating holes  222  at the mounting plates  22  of the partition frame  2 , so that the shoulders  621  are respectively firmly fitted into the locating holes  22  at the mounting plates  22  of the partition frame  2 . After installation of the plug elements  6 , the rivet elements  7  are installed to secure the connector body  1 , the plug elements  6  and the partition frame  2  together by: inserting the shank  72  of one rivet element  7  through the through hole  121  at one mounting block  12  of the connector body  1 , the through hole  221  at one mounting plate  22  of the partition frame  2  and the through hole  61  at one plug element  6 , for enabling the head  71  of one rivet element  7  to be positioned in the positioning recess  122  at one mounting block  12  of the connector body  1 , and then hammered down the end of the shank  72  of each rivet element  7  to form another head (see FIGS.  4  and  5 ). After installation of the rivet elements  7 , the metal shell  5  is covered on the connector body  1  to insert the mounting lugs  52  through the locating notches  123  at the mounting blocks  12  of the connector body  1 , and then the mounting lugs  52  are respectively bent inwards and closely attached to the back sidewall of each of the mounting blocks  12  of the connector body  1  (see FIGS.  4  and  5 ). After installation of the metal shell  5 , the base  11  of the connector body  1  is received inside the receiving chamber  50 , and the through holes  51  of the metal shell  5  are respectively aligned with the screw holes  70  at the rivet elements  7 . Screws (not shown) can then be threaded into respective screw holes  70  to fixedly secure the electric connector to a casing of an apparatus (for example, the mainframe of a computer, or a switch box). 
     Because the hooked portions  3121  of the retaining arms  312  of the positioning terminal  3  are hooked on the retaining wall portions  1122  in corresponding locating slot  112  and the sloping edges  311  are abutted against the sloping guide wall portions  1121  in corresponding locating slot  112 , the positioning terminal  3  is firmly secured to the locating slot  112  in the base  11  of the connector body  1 , and prohibited from displacement. When disconnecting the positioning terminal  3  from the connector body  1 , a tool is used to force the retaining arms  312  to move inwards, enabling the hooked portion  3121  of each retaining arm  312  to be disengaged from corresponding retaining wall portion  1122 . 
     Further, because the mounting legs  321  of the positioning terminal  3  are respectively inserted through the locating holes  212  at the partition frame  2  and the locating notch  322  of the positioning terminal  3  is engaged with the locating block  213  at the partition frame  2 , and because the protruding blocks  214  of the partition frame  2  are respectively engaged into the bottom notches  113  at the connector body  1 , the connector body  1 , the positioning terminal  3  and the partition frame  2  are firmly retained together against vibration. 
     As indicated above, when the connector body  1 , the partition frame  2  and the plug elements  6  are assembled together, the through hole  121  at each mounting block  12 , the through hole  61  at each plug element  6  and the through hole  221  at each L-shaped mounting plate  22  are respectively aligned for quick insertion of the shank  72  of each rivet element  7 , enabling the head  71  of each rivet element  7  to be respectively and positively positioned in the rectangular positioning recess  122  at each mounting block  12 , so that the connector body  1 , the plug elements  6  and the partition frame  2  can be firmly secured together by hammering down the free end of the shank  72  of each rivet element  7  to form a respective head. 
     As indicated, the metal shell  5  is covered on the connector body  1 , enabling the rectangular base  11  of the connector body  1  to be received in the receiving chamber  50 , and the mounting lugs  52  to be respectively inserted through the locating notches  123  at the mounting blocks  12  at the connector body  1 , and then the mounting lugs  52  are respectively bent inwards and closely attached to the back sidewall of each of the mounting blocks  12  of the connector body  1  (see FIGS. 4 and 5) to secure the metal shell  5  and the connector body  1  firmly together. After installation of the metal shell  5 , the through holes  51  of the metal shell  5  are respectively aligned with the screw hole  70  at each rivet element  7  for securing to the casing of an apparatus (for example, the mainframe of a computer, or a switch box) by screw means. 
     While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modification and changes could be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.