Electrical connector with adhesive layer covering seam of main shell

• US 10,044,148 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zhao, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Application Number:
  US15/844,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20180175556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 439 78, 43960735, 439660, 439936
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/722 coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/725 containing contact members presenting a contact carrying strip, e.g. edge-like strip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5216 characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6585 Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6594 the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6595 with separate members fixing the shield to the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a contact module enclosed within a metallic main shell. The contact module includes an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts retained in the housing. The housing includes a base and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base. The main shell is formed by stamping and forming, and includes opposite first and second side walls, and a pair of end walls linking the opposite first and second side walls. The shell forms a mating cavity enclosing the tongue portion. A seam is formed on the second side wall. An adhesive layer is applied upon an exterior surface of the second side wall to cover the seam for providing a waterproof function. A metallic sub-shell is attached upon the adhesive layer.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a contact module including an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts retained in the housing, the housing including a base and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base along a front-to-back direction;

a metallic main shell enclosing the housing and defining a mating cavity surrounding the tongue portion, said main shell made from sheet metal via stamping and forming and defining a seam extending along a side wall of the main shell; and

an adhesive layer applied upon the an exterior surface of said side wall to cover said seam.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seam extends along the front-to-back direction.

3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further including a metallic sub-shell attached upon the exterior surface of the side wall to cover the adhesive layer.

4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side wall forms at least a hole with a spring tang extending therein toward the mating cavity, and the adhesive layer forms a through hole aligned with said hole in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction so as to allow outward deflection of the spring tang.

5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side wall forms at least a recess with a corresponding protrusion extending inwardly to retain the base in position within the main shell.

6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer covers the recess.

7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sub-shell further includes a pair of mounting legs at a lever higher than the side wall in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact module includes a first terminal module and a second terminal module commonly sandwiching a metallic shielding plate therebetween in a vertical direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a waterproof plate made by glue is located on a rear side of the housing, and communicates with the seam in the vertical direction.

10. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an electrical connector mounted to the printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit board is essentially located at a mid-level of the electrical connector, said electrical connector including;

a contact module having an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts retained in the housing, the housing including a base and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base along a front-to-back direction;

a metallic main shell enclosing the housing and defining a mating cavity surrounding the tongue portion, said main shell made from sheet metal via stamping and forming and defining a seam extending along a side wall of the main shell; and

an adhesive layer applied upon the an exterior surface of said side wall to cover said seam.

11. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 10, further including a sub-shell having a horizontal section attached upon the adhesive layer.

12. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the horizontal section of said sub-shell is located below the printed circuit board.

13. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the main shell includes a hole with a spring tang extending from an edge of the hole into the mating cavity, and the adhesive layer forms a through hole aligned with the hole in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction.

14. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sub-shell cover directly communicates with the spring tang in the vertical direction.

15. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sub-shell includes a pair of mounting legs mounted to the printed circuit board.

16. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said pair of mounting legs are located at a rear end of the sub-shell.

17. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the side wall forms at least a recess with a corresponding protrusion extending inwardly to retain the base in position within the main shell.

18. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein the adhesive layer covers the recess.