Sealed electronic connectors for electronic devices

• US 10,128,608 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kasar, Darshan R., Stanley, Craig M., Flamholz, David B., Qian, Phillip, Lang, Matthew E., Toting, Ferdinand S., Jol, Eric S., Do, Trent K., Yamasaki, Joel C., Esmaeili, Hani, Van Nortwick, Nathan A., Blanco, Richard J., Lorman, Jonathan C., Wagman, Daniel, Huo, Edward S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, James
• Application Number:
  US15/471,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20180069342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5227 with evacuation of penetrating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

A plug connector for an electronic device has a deformable seal positioned on it such that when the plug connector is mated to the electronic device a liquid-tight seal is formed between the plug connector and the electronic device. A seal may also be positioned within a receptacle connector cavity of the electronic device such that it forms a liquid-tight seal to a plug connector when the plug connector is mated to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A plug connector comprising:

a body;

an outer shell encasing at least a portion of the body;

a connector tab extending away from the body beyond the outer shell; and

a seal positioned at least partially between the outer shell and the connector tab, the seal fully surrounding a cross-sectional portion of the connector tab at a location where the connector tab extends out of the body and wherein the seal further includes a protruding portion that extends towards a distal end of the connector tab.

2. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the connector tab forms a portion of an axisymmetric connector that can be mated with a receptacle connector in a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is rotated 180 degrees along an axis of symmetry from the first orientation.

3. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the connector tab includes a first surface having a plurality of external contacts and a second surface opposite the first surface.

4. The plug connector of claim 1 further comprising one or more retention features that secure the plug connector to a corresponding receptacle connector in a mated position.

5. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the seal is positioned to form a liquid-tight seal to an enclosure of an electronic device when the plug connector is mated to a receptacle connector of the electronic device.

6. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the seal is formed from a silicone material.

7. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the seal extends away from the body a distance between 0.25 and 2 millimeters.

8. A plug connector comprising:

a body having a first face;

an outer shell encasing at least a portion of the body;

a connector tab extending from a base portion positioned at the first face to a distal end, the connector tab including a first surface having a plurality of contacts and a second surface opposite the first surface; and

a deformable seal positioned around a perimeter of the base portion of the connector tab, the seal including a protruding portion that extends towards a distal end of connector tab forming a step positioned along the first and second surfaces of the connector tab.

9. The plug connector of claim 8 wherein the deformable seal is in direct contact with both the body and the connector tab.

10. The plug connector of claim 8 wherein the deformable seal is positioned at least partially between the outer shell and the connector tab.

11. The plug connector of claim 8 wherein the deformable seal is disposed across a majority of the first face.

12. The plug connector of claim 8 wherein the deformable seal is secured to the body with an adhesive.

13. The plug connector of claim 8 wherein the deformable seal is formed from an elastomeric material having a hardness in a range between 5 and 80 Shore A.

14. The plug connector of claim 8 wherein the deformable seal extends away from the first face a distance between 0.25 and 2 millimeters.