Electric Motor

1 . An electric motor comprising:

a bobbin having a rotor receiving portion, and a first winding supporting portion, and at least one second winding supporting portion at or adjacent to the rotor receiving portion;

a rotor rotatably received in the rotor receiving portion;

a plurality of core lamination units respectively mounted to the first and second winding supporting portions;

a plurality of winding respectively mounted about the first and second winding supporting portions; and

an electrical connector having a connector body and at least one electrically-conductive element associated therewith, the connector body being integrally formed with the first winding supporting portion of the bobbin.

2 . The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connector body of the electrical connector is spaced apart from the rotor receiving portion along an axis of rotation of the rotor.

3 . The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second winding supporting portions comprises a member body which extends from the rotor receiving portion and an end cap at a distal end of the member body, the stator windings being correspondingly wound around the member bodies of the first and second winding supporting portions.

4 . The electric motor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the member body comprises a receiving aperture therethrough within which at least part of the corresponding one of the core lamination unit is receivable.

5 . The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is positioned at a distalmost end of the first winding supporting portion relative to the rotor receiving portion.

6 . The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector projects beyond the core lamination unit when engaged with the first winding supporting portion.

7 . The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically-conductive element extends from the electrical connector in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the first winding supporting portion.

8 . The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second winding supporting portions are angularly equi-positioned about the rotor receiving portion.

9 . An actuator comprising:

an electric motor as claimed in claim 1 ; and

a motor housing which supports at least the bobbin.

10 . The actuator as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising at least one output gear mountable within the motor housing.

11 . The actuator as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the bobbin is directly mounted to the motor housing.

12 . The actuator as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the motor housing is a two-part enclosure.

13 . A bobbin for an electric motor, comprising:

a rotor receiving portion,

a plurality of winding supporting portions at or adjacent to the rotor receiving portion, and

an electrical connector having a connector body and at least one electrically conductive element associated therewith, the connector body being integrally formed with one of the winding supporting portions.

14 . A method of assembling an electric motor, the method comprising the steps of:

a] providing a bobbin as claimed in claim 13 ;

b] winding a plurality of stator windings around an outer surface of the supporting portions, correspondingly;

c] connecting the stator winding to the electrically-conductive element of the electrical connector to form an electrically-functional bobbin; and

d] engaging a plurality of core lamination units with the supporting portions and a rotor with the rotor receiving portion to form an electric motor.