FOR THE CONNECTOR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector and an electrical connecting piece for the connector.

Background of the Invention

Fig. 1 shows an electrical connecting piece 10 which is a one-piece structure, with one end being provided with a through hole 11 in a thickness direction and the other end being provided with two connecting terminals (12, 13). The two connecting terminals (12, 13) are spaced apart from each other. After the electrical connecting piece 10 is mounted to a housing 20 of the connector, the connecting terminals (12, 13) and the through hole 11 all can be connected to an electrical device, such as a PCB.

A costly special metallic material is plated at the end of the through hole 11 and on the surface of the two connecting terminals (12, 13) to ensure enhanced electrical conduction effect at connections. Due to limitations of production process and the one-piece structure of the electrical connecting piece 10, it is inevitable that upon plating, the surface of the whole electrical connecting piece 10 is plated with the special metallic material. The remaining portions of the electrical connecting piece 10 except for the through hole 11 and the two connecting terminals (12, 13) only need to have a good electrical conduction effect and do not require use of the special metallic material plating. Consequently, the electrical connecting piece 10 shown in Fig. 1 causes high production costs. Besides, a width of the electrical connecting piece is usually greater than a thickness thereof, generally, the width is at least twice the thickness.

Furthermore, since the electrical connecting piece shown in Fig. 1 employs a one-piece design and a specific structure, it is formed by mold pressing and bending. As shown in Fig. 2, before processing, first, a metal piece is cut into a shape shown in Fig. 2, and then bent into the one-piece electrical connecting piece as shown in Fig. 1. When a connection for example used in the field such as ABS imposes a high precision requirement, press forming is liable to deviation of sizes, so the processing difficulty is large. Furthermore, due to limitations of press forming process and structural design of the electrical connecting piece, a lot of metal sheet material is wasted during the press forming process of the electrical connecting piece causing an increase in production cost. Additionally, the thus-formed electrical connecting piece is laid on a supporting surface of the housing in a widthwise direction upon installation. As a result, the electrical connecting piece occupies a larger area on the supporting surface of the housing.

Summary of the Invention

One of objects of the present invention is to provide a connector which can reduce production costs and improve position precision, to overcome drawbacks in the prior art.

To achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical solutions:

A connector, comprising a housing having a supporting surface, and an electrical connecting piece disposed on the supporting surface, characterized in that the electrical connecting piece comprises more than two independently-formed connection segments which are connected to one another.

Preferably, the electrical connecting piece is provided with a butt joint structure for electrical connection to a butt joint member.

Preferably, the electrical connecting piece comprises a first connection segment, a second connection segment and a third connection segment; the first connection segment and the third connection segment are respectively connected to one end of the second connection segment.

Preferably, the first connection segment and the third connection segment are respectively welded to one end of the second connection segment.

Preferably, the second connection segment comprises a second connection segment body and connection sections provided at both ends of the second connection segment body, and the connection sections are arranged bent relative to the second connection segment body. Preferably, one end of the first connection segment is connected to the second connection segment, and the other end thereof is provided with a through hole.

Preferably, one end of the third connection segment is connected to the second connection segment, and the other end thereof is provided with two connecting terminals which are spaced apart from each other.

Preferably, a width of the second connection segment extends from the supporting surface in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface.

Preferably, the second connection segment is a bar-shaped universal profile and comprises one or more second bends.

Preferably, a widthwise direction of the first connection segment is arranged perpendicular to a widthwise direction of the second connection segment; the first connection segment is provided with a through hole in a thickness direction.

Preferably, the third connection segment comprises a connecting terminal which extends in the widthwise direction of the second connection segment.

Preferably, a surface of each of the first connection segment and third connection segment comprises a conductive metallic material plating which is different from the material of the second connection segment.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connecting piece for use in a connector which can reduce production costs and improve position precision, to overcome drawbacks in the prior art.

To achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical solutions:

An electrical connecting piece for use in a connector is characterized by comprising a plurality of independently-formed connection segments which are connected to one another.

Preferably, the electrical connecting piece comprises a first connection segment, a second connection segment and a third connection segment; the first connection segment and the third connection segment are respectively connected to one end of the second connection segment. Preferably, the second connection segment comprises a second connection segment body and connection sections provided at both ends of the second connection segment body, and the connection sections are arranged bent relative to the second connection segment body.

Preferably, the second connection segment is a bar-shaped universal profile and comprises one or more second bends.

Preferably, a widthwise direction of the first connection segment is arranged perpendicular to a widthwise direction of the second connection segment.

Preferably, the third connection segment comprises a connecting terminal which extends in the widthwise direction of the second connection segment.

Preferably, a surface of each of the first connection segment and third connection segment comprises a conductive metallic material plating which is different from the material of the second connection segment.

Preferably, the electrical connecting piece is provided with butt joint structures in different forms for electrical connection to a butt joint member.

The connector and the electrical connecting piece for use in the connector according to the present invention employs a segmented structure, so it is feasible that the special metallic material only needs to be plated on the surface of the first segment and the third segment which function for connection purpose, and the second connection segment is made of a metal having excellent electrical conduction. Therefore, the production costs may be saved, and at least 50% of the production costs will be saved. In the three-segment structure of the electrical connecting piece according to the present invention, all connection segments may be connected to one another by welding. Especially, one or more connection segments of the electrical connecting piece, for example the second connection segment, may be formed by employing a universal profile, thereby avoiding forming by mold pressing and bending and further saving the production costs. Furthermore, the second connection segment may be disposed standing on its side on the supporting surface of the housing, thereby saving the space of the supporting surface of the housing. When the connector according to the present invention is used, the first connection segment, second connection segment and third connection segment may be positioned first and then welded, thereby facilitating welding as well as ensuring precise mounting position.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a structural schematic view of an electrical connecting piece.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a pre-processing state of the electrical connecting piece shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a structural schematic view illustrating that the electrical connecting piece shown in Fig. 1 is mounted on a housing of the connector.

Fig. 4 is a structural schematic view of an electrical connecting piece according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a structural schematic view of a first connection segment.

Fig. 6 is a structural schematic view of a second connection segment.

Fig. 7 is a structural schematic view of a third connection segment.

Fig. 8 is a structural schematic view of a housing of a connector carrying the electrical connecting piece according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention will be further described with reference to embodiments and figures.

As shown in Fig. 4, an electrical connecting piece 30 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of connection segments, for example, a first connection segment 31, a second connection segment 32 and a third connection segment 33. As described in detail below, the plurality of connection segments may be formed individually and then connected to one another. For example, the first connection segment 31 and the third connection segment 33 are respectively welded to both ends of the second connection segment 32. A butt joint structure is provided on the electrical connecting piece 30 for electrical connection to a butt joint member (not shown in the figure). For example, a through hole 313 is provided at an end of the first connection segment 31 of the electrical connecting piece 30, and the third connection segment 33 is provided with a first connecting terminal 331 and a second connecting terminal 332. For different butt joint members, the butt joint structure on the electrical connecting piece 30 may be provided in other forms.

As shown in Fig. 5, the first connection segment 31 of the electrical connecting piece 30 comprises a first connecting segment body 311. At one end of the first connection segment body 311 is provided with a connection section 312 connectable to the second connection segment 32, and at the other end is provided with a through hole 313, the through hole 313 is provided in a thickness direction of the first connection segment 31. As shown in Fig. 5, the first connection segment body 311 may comprise a first bend 315 which may be for example formed at an angle of substantially 90°. The first connection segment 31 may be formed by pressing and bending. A special conductive metallic material is plated on the surface of the first connection segment 31 to ensure excellent electrical conduction effect of the electrical connecting piece 30 and the butt joint member.

As shown in Fig. 6, the second connection segment 32 of the electrical connecting piece 30 comprises a second connection segment body 321. For example, the second connection segment body 321 may be provided in a bar shape. At both ends of the second connection segment body 321, there are provided with a connection section 322a, 322b, respectively, for connection to the first and third connection segments 31, 33, for example by welding. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the connection sections 322a, 322b of the second connection segment body 321 may be arranged bent relative to the second connection segment body 321 to facilitate connection to the first and third connection segments 31, 33 which are arranged in different directions. The second connection segment body 321 may further comprise one or more second bends 325.

Preferably, the second connection segment 32 may employ a universal profile which is bent to form one or more second bends 325. The thus-formed second connection segment 32 does not require a mold or pressing, thereby substantially simplifying production process and cutting the costs. Furthermore, since the second connection segment 32 of the electrical connecting piece 30 is not electrically connected to the butt joint member, the second connection segment 32 needn't be subjected to special surface treatment so that the production costs of the electrical connecting piece 30 may be reduced.

As shown in Fig. 7, the electrical connecting piece 30 may further comprise the third connection segment 33. At one end of the third connection segment 33 is provided with a connection section 333 connectable to the second connection segment 32 for example by welding. A structure electrically connectable to the butt joint member is provided at the other end of the third connection segment 33. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the electrically connectable structure on the third connection segment 33 is provided as a first connection terminal 331 and a second connecting terminal 332. Both of the first connecting terminal 331 and the second connecting terminal 332 are coplanar with the connection section 333. To suit different connection forms, the connection section 333 may be either linear or bent to adapt for the butt joint member arranged at different positions. The first connecting terminal 331 is spaced part from the second connecting terminal 332. The first connecting terminal 331 and the second connecting terminal 332 or the surface of the whole third connection segment 33 are plated with a special conductive metallic material to ensure excellent electrical conduction effect of the electrical connecting piece 30 and the butt joint member.

The first connection segment 31, second connection segment 32 and third connection segment 33 of the electrical connecting piece 30 are mutually connected to form a whole. As shown in Figs.4, 5, 6, and 7, the connection section 312 of the first connection segment 31 is disposed opposite to and connected by welding to the connection section 322a of the second connection segment 32. The connection section 333 of the third connection segment 33 is disposed opposite to and connected by welding to the connection section 322b of the second connection segment 32. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the widthwise direction of the first connection segment 31 is arranged perpendicular to the widthwise direction of the second connection segment 32. According to different positions of the butt joint member, the first connection segment 31, second connection segment 32 and third connection segment 33 of the electrical connecting piece 30 may be connected to one another in multiple positional relationships. Fig. 8 shows a connector according to the present invention, comprising a housing 20 which has a supporting surface 21. On the supporting surface 21, there is provided with an electrical connecting piece 30. The butt joint structure of the electrical connecting piece 30 is provided at a position where it is electrically connectable to the butt joint member (not shown in the figure). For example, the butt joint structure of the first connection segment 31 is electrically connectable to a matching butt joint member. The first connecting terminal 331 and second connecting terminal 332 on the third connection segment 33 may extend from the supporting surface 21 in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface 21, to connect to another matching butt joint member. In another example, the first connecting terminal 331 and second connecting terminal 332 on the third connection segment 33 may be coplanar with the supporting surface 21 (see Fig. 3). The second connection segment 32 of the electrical connecting piece 30 is connected between the first connection segment 31 and the third connection segment 33, for example, connected to the first connection segment 31 and the third connection segment 33 by welding. In the example as shown in Fig. 8, the second connecting segment 32 is disposed standing on its side on the supporting surface 21, i.e., the width of the second connection segment body 321 extends in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface 21, thereby saving the supporting space of the second connection segment 32 on the supporting surface 21.

In the example as shown in the figure, the connector is a mounting housing for an anti-lock brake system. The connector according to the present invention may also be a connector in other forms.

The electrical connecting piece 30 according to the present invention employs a segmented structure, so it is feasible that the special metallic material only needs to be plated on the surface of the first segment and the third segment which function for butt joint purpose, and the second connection segment is made of a metal having excellent electrical conduction. Therefore, the production costs may be saved, and at least 50% of the production costs will be saved. In the segmented structure of the electrical connecting piece according to the present invention, all connection segments may be connected to one another by welding. Especially, one or more connection segments of the electrical connecting piece, for example the second connection segment, may be formed by employing a universal profile, thereby avoiding forming by mold pressing and bending and further saving the production costs. Furthermore, the second connection segment may be disposed standing on its side on the supporting surface of the housing. When the width is greater than the thickness, the space of the supporting surface of the housing may be saved such that the supporting surface may have more space for arranging other parts. When the connector according to the present invention is used, the first connection segment, second connection segment and third connection segment may be positioned first and then welded, thereby facilitating welding as well as ensuring precise mounting position.

Embodiments in the present invention are only intended to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can devise other substantively equivalent substitutions, which all fall within the scope of the present invention.