Electronic signal plug connector

• US 20020037669A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D'Addario & Company Inc
• Original Assignee: J. D Addario & Company, Inc.
• Inventors: DʼAddario, James
• Granted Patent: US 6,494,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/669
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/17 with spring member on the pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A plug connector is provided for mating with a jack connector. The plug connector includes a base and a tubular member extending from the base. The tubular member includes a ground contact area adjacent the base, a conductive end distal to the base and an external, axially extending spring. The conductive end is insulated from the contact area and has a recess located thereon. This configuration permits retentively engaging the signal tip of the plug by corresponding structure in the jack, while simultaneously supporting the tubular portion of the plug with externally directed spring elements engaging corresponding structure in the jack, to achieve reduced relative movement when the plug connector and the jack connector are mated.

Claims

1. A plug connector for mating with a jack connector, the plug connector comprising:

a base;

a tubular member extending from the base, the tubular member comprising;

a contact area;

a terminal end distal to the base, the terminal end comprising a conductive material and being insulated from the contact area;

a circumferential groove; and

a spring.

2. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises an intermediate conductive portion disposed between and insulated from the contact area and the terminal end, the circumferential groove is located on the terminal end, and the spring comprises at least one strip supported externally in the contact area and extending longitudinally along and being bowed radially outward of the central axis of the tubular member.

3. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein the contact area comprises a cylindrical portion having a side edge adjacent said intermediate conductive portion, and the spring comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced strips extending toward the base from the cylindrical portion in a direction that is parallel to the central axis of the contact area.

4. The plug connector of claim 3, wherein the base is on a handle composed of an insulating material, and a pair of insulating rings are disposed axially about the intermediate conductive portion.

5. The plug connector of claim 1, comprising a core disposed within the tubular member and the core comprising an insulating material disposed about at least one signal conductor.

6. The plug connector of claim 2, comprising a core disposed within the tubular member and the core comprising an insulating material disposed about two signal conductors.

7. The plug connector of claim 4, wherein the base and handle are made of insulating material.

8. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein the base is on a handle, and a cable is received within the handle, said cable having a ground conductor and two signal conductors, with the ground conductor electrically connected to the ground contact area, one signal conductor electrically connected to said terminal end, and the other signal conductor electrically connected to said intermediate conductive portion.

9. The plug connector of claim 8, wherein said cable is an audio cable.

10. A plug connector for mating with a jack connector, the plug connector comprising:

a base;

a tubular member extending from the base, the tubular member comprising,

a ground contact area adjacent the base,

an electrically conductive terminal end distal to the base and insulated from the ground contact area, the terminal end comprising a circumferential groove, and

a spring portion bulging radially outwardly from the contact area and insulated from the terminal end.

11. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein the tubular member further comprises an intermediate conductive portion disposed between and insulated from the contact area and the terminal end, the circumferential groove is located on the terminal end, and the spring comprises at least one strip supported externally in the contact area and extending longitudinally along and being bowed radially outward of the central axis of the tubular member

12. The plug connector of claim 11, wherein the base is on a handle, a pair of insulating rings are disposed axially about the intermediate conductive potion, a core is disposed within the tubular member, the core comprising an insulating material surrounding two signal conductors which respectively connect the terminal end to one signal conductor in the cable, and the intermediate conductive portion to the other signal conductor in the cable.

14. The plug connector of claim 13, in combination with a jack connector, wherein the ground contact area of the plug includes a cylindrical portion and the jack has a ground contact on the plug cylindrical portion and wherein the jack connector has a grounded conductive collar and the spring elements of the plug are in interference engagement with said collar.

13. A plug connector on a cable having a ground conductor and at least one signal conductor, comprising:

a handle within which the cable is received;

a tubular member extending from the handle to a distal end, said tubular member including,

an electrically conductive, external ground contact area adjacent the handle and electrically connected to the ground conductor within the handle,

an insulative core extending within ground contact area toward the distal end of the tubular member,

said distal end having an electrically conductive external tip, electrically connected to a said signal conductor by a wire extending within the core,

means for insulating the external ground contact area from the tip;

wherein the tip has a recess formed thereon for retentively engaging a signal contact on said jack and the ground contact area is electrically connected with a plurality of axially extending, external spring elements for retentively engaging a ground contact on said jack.