IP Library Granted Patent US 12,494,605
Granted Patent B2
US 12,494,605 · App. 17/743,625 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Connector and connector assembly

Inventors: Xinlei (Tony) Li (Shanghai, CN); Fengping (Alex) Xu (Shanghai, CN); Junya Tsuji (Kawasaki, JP)
Assignees: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
H01R13/6273H01R13/405H01R13/502H01R13/629
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,494,605
App. No.
17/743,625
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A housing of a connector includes a body and a guiding structure. The body has a first end and a second end opposite the first end in a length direction. The guiding structure has a guiding groove at the first end of the body and extending perpendicular to the body and a guiding post at the second end of the body. The guiding groove is complementary to the guiding post and has a shape corresponding to and shaped to receive the guiding post.

Claims (28)

1 . A housing of a connector, comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end in a length direction;

a guiding structure including a first guiding groove and a second guiding groove at the first end of the body and extending perpendicular to the body and a first guiding post and a second guiding post at the second end of the body, each guiding groove is complementary to one guiding post and has a shape corresponding to one guiding post; and

a second connecting portion between a sidewall of the first guiding groove and a sidewall of the second guiding groove, the second connecting portion is complementary to a connecting portion opening between a sidewall of the first guiding post and a sidewall of the second guiding post and has a shape corresponding to the connecting portion opening.

2 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove are arranged in a width direction of the body.

3 . The housing of claim 2 , wherein a projection of a central axis of the first guiding groove in the length direction and a projection of a central axis of the second guiding groove in the length direction are staggered from each other.

4 . The housing of claim 3 , wherein the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove are elongated holes, a longitudinal direction of each of the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove is parallel to the width direction.

5 . The housing of claim 4 , wherein the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove are different in structure.

6 . The housing of claim 5 , wherein the first guiding groove has a cross-section of a U-shape open toward the body.

7 . The housing of claim 6 , wherein the second guiding groove has a cross-section of a U-shape opening away from the body.

8 . The housing of claim 1 , further comprising a first connecting portion between the guiding post and the body.

9 . The housing of claim 8 , wherein an opening shaped to receive the first connecting portion is formed on a side of the guiding groove adjacent to the body.

10 . The housing of claim 8 , wherein a size of the first connecting portion is smaller than a size of the second guiding post in a width direction of the body.

11 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the body is integrally formed with the guiding structure.

12 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein one of the first guiding groove or the second guiding groove is a circular hole and the other is a square hole.

13 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the first guiding groove and the second guiding groove are elongated holes both extending through the body of the housing.

14 . A connector, comprising:

a housing including a body, a guiding structure, and a second connecting portion, the body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end in a length direction, the guiding structure including a first guiding groove and a second guiding groove at the first end of the body and extending perpendicular to the body and a first guiding post and a second guiding post at the second end of the body, each guiding groove is complementary to one guiding post and has a shape corresponding to one guiding post, the second connecting portion is between a sidewall of the first guiding groove and a sidewall of the second guiding groove, the second connecting portion is complementary to a connecting portion opening between a sidewall of the first guiding post and a sidewall of the second guiding post and has a shape corresponding to the connecting portion opening; and

a terminal held in the housing.

15 . A connector assembly, comprising:

a connector including a housing having a body, a guiding structure, and a second connecting portion, the body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end in a length direction, the guiding structure including a first guiding groove and a second guiding groove at the first end of the body and extending perpendicular to the body and a first guiding post and a second guiding post at the second end of the body each guiding groove is complementary to one guiding post and has a shape corresponding to one guiding post, the second connecting portion is between a sidewall of the first guiding groove and a sidewall of the second guiding groove, the second connecting portion is complementary to a connecting portion opening between a sidewall of the first guiding post and a sidewall of the second guiding post and has a shape corresponding to the connecting portion opening.

16 . The connector assembly of claim 15 , further comprising another connector identical to the connector and to be mated with the connector.

17 . The connector assembly of claim 16 , wherein, when the connector is mated with the another connector, the guiding post of the connector engages the guiding groove of the another connector.

18 . The connector assembly of claim 17 , wherein, when the connector is mated with the another connector, the guiding post of the another connector engages the guiding groove of the connector.

19 . The connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the guiding groove of the connector includes a first guiding groove and a second guiding groove arranged in a width direction of the body.

20 . The connector assembly of claim 19 , wherein a projection of a central axis of the first guiding groove in the length direction and a projection of a central axis of the second guiding groove in the length direction are staggered from each other.

21 . The connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the housing is integrally formed with the body and the guiding structure.

22 . The connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the connector includes a terminal held in the housing.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 18, 2024
From: TYCO ELECTRONICS JAPAN G.K.
To: TE CONNECTIVITY JAPAN G.K.
Reel/Frame 069811/0353 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2023
From: XU, FENGPING (ALEX)
To: TYCO ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 063084/0970 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2022
From: LI, XINLEI (TONY)
To: TYCO ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 059900/0051 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2022
From: TSUJI, JUNYA
To: TYCO ELECTRONICS JAPAN G.K.
Reel/Frame 059900/0072 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202110521860.X · May 13, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220368070A1 · Nov 17, 2022
References Cited (13)
US 4330164A · Pittman et al. · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 8147254B2 · Shuey et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8845351B2 · Johnson et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9831605B2 · Buck et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10522948B2 · Cho · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10868396B1 · Daily · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20120258626A1 · Johnson · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20140017957A1 · Horchler · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20160308316A1 · Hashiguchi · 2016 [cited by examiner]
CN 202585882U1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 103378434A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 211789865U · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Chinese Office Action dated May 16, 2025 with English translation, corresponding to Application No. 202110521860.X, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]