Patent ID: 12224525

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

According to a general concept of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly comprising of: a first connector comprising a first housing on which a first latch device is formed; and a second connector comprising a second housing on which a first latch slot and a padlock hole are formed. When the first connector and the second connector are assembled to a pre lock position, the first latch device is locked into the first latch slot and blocked by a padlock locked into the padlock hole to prevent the first connector and the second connector from being further assembled to a final lock position.

According to another general concept of the present invention, there is provided a connector comprising of: a housing; a first latch slot formed on the housing; and a padlock hole formed on the housing. When the connector and a mating connector are assembled to a pre lock position, a first latch device on the mating connector is locked into the first latch slot and blocked by a padlock locked into the padlock hole, to prevent the connector and the mating connector from being further assembled to the final lock position.

FIG.1shows an illustrative perspective view of a first connector1and a second connector2according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first connector1and the second connector2are in a separated state.

As shown inFIG.1, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector assembly mainly includes a first connector1and a second connector2. The first connector1includes a first housing10and a first latch device110and a second latch device120. The first latch device110and the second latch device120are formed on the first housing10. The second connector2includes a second housing20, a first latch slot211aand a raised blocking part221. The first latch slot211aand the raised blocking part221are formed on the second housing20.

FIG.4shows an illustrative perspective view of the first connector1and the second connector2according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the pre lock position;FIG.5shows a cross-sectional view of the first connector1and the second connector2in the pre locked position shown inFIG.4;FIG.6shows a longitudinal sectional view of the first connector1and the second connector2in the pre locked position shown inFIG.4.

As shown inFIGS.1and4-6, in the illustrated embodiment, when the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the pre lock position, the first latch device110is locked into the first latch slot211a, and the second latch device120is blocked by the raised blocking part221to prevent the first connector1and the second connector2from being further assembled to the final lock position.

FIG.8shows an illustrative perspective view of the first connector1and the second connector2according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to a final lock position;FIG.9shows a longitudinal sectional view of the first connector1and the second connector2in the final lock position shown inFIG.8.

As shown inFIGS.1and4-9, in the illustrated embodiment, a second latch slot211bis also formed on the second housing20. When the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the final lock position shown inFIGS.8and9, the first latch device110is locked into the second latch slot211b, and the second latch device120is locked onto the blocking part221to lock the first connector1and the second connector2in the final lock position.

As shown inFIGS.4-6, in the illustrated embodiment, the first connector1and the second connector2can be further assembled from the pre lock position to the final lock position only when the first latch device110is moved separate from the first latch slot211aand the second latch device120is moved to not interfere with the blocking part221. Therefore, the present invention can reliably prevent the first connector1and the second connector2from being accidentally matched together and improve the safety.

FIG.7shows an illustrative perspective view of the first connector1and the second connector2in the pre locked position shown inFIG.4when viewed from the bottom.

As shown inFIGS.4and7, in the illustrated embodiment, a protrusion10ais formed on the bottom of the first housing10. An accommodation slot is formed on the bottom of the second housing20, and a blocking step20ais formed on a side of the accommodation slot. When the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the pre lock position, the protrusion10aon the first housing10enters into the accommodation slot of the second housing20and is engaged with the blocking step20ato prevent the first connector1and the second connector2from being separated from the pre lock position.

FIG.2shows an illustrative exploded view of the first connector1shown inFIG.1;FIG.3shows a partial sectional view of the first connector1shown inFIG.2.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, the first latch device110includes a wing112connected to the side of the first housing10and a first latch111connected to the wing112. The first latch111is adapted to be locked into the first latch slot211aand the second latch slot211b, respectively. The second housing20has a first accommodation part210adapted to accommodate the inserted first latch device110, and the first latch211aand the second latch slot211bare formed on the side wall of the first accommodation part210.

As shown inFIGS.4and7, in the illustrated embodiment, a pre lock limit part211a′ and a final lock limit part211b′ are also formed on the first accommodation part210of the second housing20. The pre lock limit part211a′ and the final lock limit part211b′ are arranged at least partially around the first latch111in the pre lock position and the final lock position respectively to prevent the first latch111from being offset due to accidental force. The pre lock limit part211a′ protrudes outward relative to the final lock limit part211b′ along a radial direction of the second housing20.

As shown inFIGS.4and7, in the illustrated embodiment, when the first latch device110is locked into the first latch slot211a, the first latch111is engaged with a wall surface (or referred to as a first step surface) of the first latch slot211ato maintain the first connector1and the second connector2in the pre lock position and prevent the first connector1and the second connector2from being further assembled to the final lock position.

As shown inFIG.8, in the illustrated embodiment, when the first latch device110is locked into the second latch slot211b, the first latch111is engaged with a wall surface (or referred to as a second step surface) of the second latch slot211bto maintain the first connector1and the second connector2in the final lock position.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, the second latch device120includes: a pair of support walls122connected to the top wall of the first housing10; a second latch121connected between the pair of support walls122; and a top wall123connected to the top of the pair of support walls122. The second housing20has a second accommodation part220suitable for accommodating the inserted second latch device120, the raised blocking part221is formed on the bottom wall of the second accommodation part220, and the second latch121is suitable for locking the raised blocking part221.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, both sides of the second latch121are respectively connected to the pair of support walls122by an elastic connecting part124; The second latch121includes a locking part121aextending forward from the elastic connecting portion124. An opening121cis formed on the locking part121a, and the blocking part221is adapted to be locked into the opening121of the locking part121a.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, the second latch121also includes an unlocking part121bextending backward from the elastic connecting part124, so that the locking part121acan be moved to an unlocking position to separate from and not to interfere with the blocking part221by pressing the unlocking part121b.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, when the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the pre lock position, the front end of the locking part121ais blocked by the blocking part221to prevent the first connector1and the second connector2from being further assembled to the final lock position.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, when the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the final lock position, the blocking part221is locked into the opening121cof the locking part121ato lock the first connector1and the second connector2in the final lock position.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, the first connector1also includes a safety device130, which is inserted into the second latch device120to prevent the locking part121afrom being moved to the unlocking position.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, the safety device130includes an operation part133and an insertion part132extending backward from the operation part133. When the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the final lock position, the insertion part132of the safety device130is inserted below the unlocking part121bto prevent the locking part121afrom being moved to the unlocking position by pressing the unlocking part121b.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, the safety device130also includes a cantilever part131extending forward from the operation portion133. When the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the pre lock position, the cantilever part131is locked into the opening121cof the locking part121ato prevent the insertion part132of the safety device130from being inserted below the unlocking part121b, thereby allowing the locking part121ato be moved to the unlocking position by pressing the unlocking part121b.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, when the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the final lock position, the blocking part221pushes the cantilever part131of the safety device130out of the opening121cof the locking part121ato allow the insertion part132of the safety device130to be inserted below the unlocking part121b.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, a padlock hole212is formed on the second housing20, and the second connector2also includes a padlock213(FIG.4) adapted to be locked into the padlock hole212; When the padlock213is locked into the padlock hole212, the padlock213can prevent the first connector1and the second connector2from being further assembled to the final lock position by blocking the first latch device110.

As shown inFIGS.1to9, in the illustrated embodiment, the first connector1also includes a first terminal11arranged in the first housing10, and the second connector2also includes a second terminal21arranged in the second housing20. When the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the pre lock position, the first terminal11and the second terminal21are electrically separated from each other. When the first connector1and the second connector2are assembled to the final lock position, the first terminal11and the second terminal21are electrically connected with each other.

It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrated, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.

Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.