Electrical connector having strengthened members

• US 20060105630A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Ning, Zhang, Zhi-Qiang
• Granted Patent: US 7,160,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/607.10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure

Abstract

An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of terminals (2) retained in the insulative housing, a shell (3) and a pair of strengthened members (4). The insulative housing comprises a base portion (10) and a terminal supporting portion (12) extending forwardly from the base portion. Each terminal has a contact portion (20) extending along the terminal supporting portion. The shell is attached to the insulative housing and has a mating frame (31) surrounding the contact portions and the terminal supporting portion to define a mating cavity therebetween. Strengthened members are buried at opposite ends of the terminal supporting portion.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

an insulative housing comprising a base portion and a terminal supporting portion extending forwardly from the base portion;

a plurality of terminals retained in the insulative housing and each having a contact portion extending along the terminal supporting portion;

a shell attached to the insulative housing and having a mating frame surrounding the contact portions and the terminal supporting portion to define a mating cavity therebetween; and

a pair of strengthened members buried at opposite ends of the terminal supporting portion.

2. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the strengthened member are made of high-intensity material and each comprises a retaining portion and a strengthening portion.

3. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the terminal supporting portion comprises two ribs at two longitudinal ends thereof, and wherein each rib has two protrusions respectively projecting upwardly and downwardly along a vertical direction.

4. The electrical connector as described in claim 3, wherein the terminals extend to divide the terminal supporting portion into several parts, and wherein two middle parts are linked with a beam at free ends thereof to sandwich corresponding terminal therebetween.

5. The electrical connector as described in claim 4, wherein the terminals are arranged in one row, and wherein two side terminals extends with the ribs side by side.

6. The electrical connector as described in claim 5, wherein the part of terminal supporting portion between each side terminal and its neighboring one is cut-off.

7. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the rib extends further than the terminals in a direction away from the base portion.

8. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein a mounting portion is provided lower than and connecting to the base portion, and the mounting portion extends parallel with the terminal supporting portion.

9. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the shell is of elliptic cross-section surrounding the insulative housing.

10. The electrical connector as described in claim 8, wherein the shell comprises an upper wall and a lower wall, each defines two curved beams thereon.

11. An electrical connector comprising:

an insulative housing defining a base with a plurality of juxtaposed ribs extending forward therefrom;

a plurality of contacts disposed in the base with contacting portions extend forwardly beyond the base and located between the adjacent two ribs; and

a metallic shield attached to the housing and including a mating frame receiving said ribs and the contact portions;

wherein

a metallic strengthened member is embedded within the corresponding rib for reinforcement of said rib.

12. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said rib is located at an outmost position of said plurality of ribs.

13. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said strengthened member is transversely exposed to the mating frame.

14. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 13, wherein said strengthened member does not directly transversely contact said mating frame.

15. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said contacts extends in a vertical plane while said strengthened member extends in a horizontal plane.

16. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein said rib defines a mountain-like cross-sectional configuration with a channel to receive the corresponding strengthened member therein.

17. An electrical connector comprising:

an insulative housing defining a base with a tongue portion extending forward therefrom;

a plurality of contacts disposed in the base with contacting portions extend forwardly beyond the base and located at a same level with the tongue portion; and

a metallic shield attached to the housing and including a mating frame enclosing the tongue portion and the contact portions;

wherein

a metallic strengthened member is embedded within the tongue portion for reinforcement of said tongue portion.

18. The electrical connector as claimed n claim 17, wherein said mating frame defines a capsular cross-sectional configuration, and the strengthened member is located adjacent to one of two opposite distal ends of said capsular cross-sectional configuration.

19. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein said tongue portion extends in a horizontal plane parallel to that along which the strengthened member extends.

20. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 18, wherein said strengthened member transversely communicates with but not engages the mating frame.