CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No.201720804700.5 filed on July 5, 2017 in the State Intellectual Property Office of China, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a connector and a connector assembly.

Description of the Related Art

In the related art, a pair of connectors are adapted to be mated with each other are often used to realize transmission of an electric power or an electrical signal between two electrical devices. One of the pair of connectors is generally referred as a male connector, and the other is generally referred as a female connector.

Generally, the male connector and the female connector each comprises an insulation body and a contact provided in the insulation body. When the male connector and the female connector are mated with each other, the contact of the male connector brings into electrical contact with the contact of the female connector, so as to realize the electrical connection therebetween.

However, the male connector and the female connector are different in structure.

Thereby, it requires two different molds to manufacture the male connector and the female connector, which will increase the manufacturing cost and reduce the manufacturing efficiency. In addition, during operation, it is also necessary to distinguish the male connector and the female connector, which is inconvenient in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure has been made to overcome or alleviate at least one aspect of the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector, comprising: an insulation body; and at least one contact provided in the insulation body. The connector is adapted to be mated with another connector, which is exactly the same as the connector, and when two connectors comprising the connector and the another connector are mated with each other, the contacts of the two connectors are adapted to electrically contact with each other.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each contact comprises a first pin at an end thereof and an elastic arm connected to the first pin; when the two connectors are mated with each other, the first pin of one of the two connectors is inserted and clamped between the first pin and the elastic arm of the other of the two connectors, so that the contacts of the two connectors electrically contact with each other.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a slot is formed in the insulation body, the elastic arm is received in the slot, and the first pin is located in the slot and extends out of the slot.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the two connectors are mated with each other, the first pin of one of the two connectors is inserted into the slot of the other of the two connectors and clamped between the first pin and the elastic arm of the other of the two connectors.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic arm is bent from one side toward the other side of the first pin, so as to form an insertion channel between the first pin and the elastic arm; and when the two connectors are mated with each other, a tip end of the first pin of one of the two connectors is inserted into the insertion channel of the other of the two connectors and clamped between the first pin and the elastic arm of the other of the two connectors.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an alignment protrusion is formed on one side of the insulation body, and an alignment recess is formed on the other side of the insulation body. When the two connectors are mated with each other, the alignment protrusion of one of the two connectors is embed into the alignment recess of the other of the two connectors.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each contact further comprises a second pin at the other end thereof, the second pin extending out of the insulation body.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each contact further comprises a fixation part located between the first pin and the second pin and adapted to be fixed to the insulation body.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector assembly comprising the above two connectors adapted to be mated with each other.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector assembly, comprising: the above two connectors adapted to be mated with each other; a first circuit board formed with a first hole; and a second circuit board formed with a second hole. The second pin of one of the two connectors is inserted into the first hole of the first circuit board, and the second pin of the other of the two connectors is inserted into the second hole of the second circuit board.

In the above various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, two connectors which are exactly identical to each other are adapted to mate with each other. Thereby, it does not need to produce a male connector and a female connector different from the male connector when electrically connecting two electric devices, which reduces the manufacturing cost, and improves the production efficiency.

In addition, in the above various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, two connectors are adapted to be mated with each other. Thereby, when operating, it does not need to distinguish the male connector and the female connector, which is convenient in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.l is an illustrative perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from one side of the connector;

Fig.2 is an illustrative perspective view of the connector of Fig. l when viewed from the other side of the connector;

Fig.3 is an illustrative perspective view of a contact of the connector of Fig.l;

Fig.4 is an illustrative perspective view of contacts of two connectors comprising the connector and another connector, which is the same as the connector, mated with each other;

Fig.5 is an illustrative perspective view of the two connectors before being mated with each other;

Fig.6 is an illustrative perspective view of the two connectors after being mated with each other;

Fig.7 is an illustrative perspective view of the two connectors of Fig.6 and two circuit boards to be electrically connected to the two connectors, respectively; and

Fig.8 is an illustrative perspective view of the same connectors of Fig.6 electrically connected to the two circuit boards, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE IVENTION

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 disclosure, there is provided a connector, comprising: an insulation body; and at least one contact provided in the insulation body. The connector is adapted to be mated with another connector, which is exactly the same as the connector, and when two connectors comprising the connector and the another connector are mated with each other, the contacts of the two connectors are adapted to electrically contact with each other.

Fig.l is an illustrative perspective view of a connector 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from one side of the connector 10; and Fig.2 is an illustrative perspective view of the connector 10 of Fig.l when viewed from the other side of the connector 10.

As shown in Figs.1-2, in an embodiment, the connector mainly comprises an insulation body 100 and at least one contact 200 provided in the insulation body 100.

Fig.3 is an illustrative perspective view of a contact 200 of the connector 10 of Fig. l;

Fig.4 is an illustrative perspective view of contacts 200 of two connectors comprising the connector 10 and another connector 10, which is the same as the connector 10, mated with each other; Fig.5 is an illustrative perspective view of the two connectors 10, 10 before being mated with each other; Fig.6 is an illustrative perspective view of the two connectors 10, 10 after being mated with each other.

As shown in Figs.5-6, in an embodiment, another connector 10 is exactly the same as the connector 10 shown in Figs.1-2 and adapted to be mated with the connector 10, so that the connector 10 and the another connector 10 may be exchanged.

As shown in Figs.3-4, in an embodiment, when the two connectors 10, 10 comprising the connector 10 and the another connector 10 are mated with each other, the contacts 200 of the two connectors 10, 10 are adapted to electrically contact with each other.

As shown in Figs.3-4, in an embodiment, each contact 200 comprises a first pin 210 at an end thereof and an elastic arm 240 connected to the first pin 210. When the connector and the another connector are mated with each other, the first pin 210 of one of the two connectors 10, 10 is inserted and clamped between the first pin 210 and the elastic arm 240 of the other of the two connectors 10, 10, so that the contacts 200 of the connector and the another connector (the two connectors 10, 10) electrically contact with each other.

As shown in Figs.1-6, in an embodiment, a slot 110 is formed in the insulation body 100, the elastic arm 240 is received in the slot 110. The first pin 210 is located in the slot 110 and extends out of the slot 110.

As shown in Figs.1-6, in an embodiment, when the connector and the another connector are mated with each other, the first pin 210 of one of the two connectors 10, 10 is inserted into the slot 110 of the other of the two connectors 10, 10 and clamped between the first pin 210 and the elastic arm 240 of the other of the two connectors 10, 10.

As shown in Figs.1-6, in an embodiment, the elastic arm 240 is bent from one side toward the other side of the first pin 210 above a surface of the elastic arm, so as to form an insertion channel 201 between the first pin 210 and the elastic arm 240. When the two connectors 10, 10 are mated with each other, a tip end 210a of the first pin 210 of one of the two connectors 10, 10 is inserted into the insertion channel 201 of the other of the two connectors 10, 10 and clamped between the first pin 210 and the elastic arm 240 of the other of the two connectors 10, 10.

As shown in Figs.1-6, in an embodiment, an alignment protrusion 101 is formed on one side of the insulation body 100, and an alignment recess 102 is formed on the other side of the insulation body 100. When the two connectors 10, 10 are mated with each other, the alignment protrusion 101 of one of the two connectors 10, 10 is embed into the alignment recess 102 of the other of the two connectors 10, 10.

As shown in Figs.1-6, in an embodiment, each contact 200 further comprises a second pin 220 at the other end thereof. The second pin 220 extends out of the insulation body 100.

As shown in Figs.1-6, in an embodiment, each contact 200 further comprises a fixation part 230 located between the first pin 210 and the second pin 220 and adapted to be fixed to the insulation body 100 to held the contact 200 in the insulation body 100.

As shown in Fig.6, in an embodiment, there is also provided a connector assembly comprising two connectors 10, 10 as set forth in any one of the above embodiments, which are exactly the same as each other, i.e. the connector and the another connector shown in Figs.1-2, and adapted to be mated with each other.

Fig.7 is an illustrative perspective view of the two connectors 10, 10 of Fig.6 and two circuit boards 1, 2 to be electrically connected to the two connectors 10, 10, respectively; and Fig.8 is an illustrative perspective view of the two connectors 10, 10 of Fig.6 electrically connected to the two circuit boards 1, 2, respectively.

As shown in Figs.6-8, in an embodiment, the connector assembly mainly comprises two connectors 10, 10 as shown in Figs.1-2, a first circuit board 1, and a second circuit board 2.

As shown in Figs.6-8, in an embodiment, the two connectors 10, 10 are adapted to be mated with each other. The first circuit board 1 is formed with a first hole la. The second circuit board 2 is formed with a second hole 2a. The second pin 220 of one of the two connectors 10, 10 is inserted into the first hole la of the first circuit board 1, and the second pin 220 of the other of the two connectors 10, 10 is inserted into the second hole 2a of the second circuit board 2.

In this way, the first circuit board 1 is electrically connected to the second circuit board 2 by the two connectors 10, 10.

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 disclosure 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.