ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

• US 20100136856A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creganna Unlimited Company (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Hippert, Mark A., Daane, Laurence A., Girolamo, Valentino, Patel, Navin Kanjibhai, Gleason, Kenneth R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/886
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/035 Plated dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/18 for manufacturing bases or cases for contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/931 Conductive coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49224 with coating

Abstract

An electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector has a plug and a receptacle that are connectable in a mated position. At least one of the plug and the receptacle have a body and an electrically conductive layer applied directly to the body.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a plug;

a receptacle, the receptacle being mateable with the plug; and

wherein at least one of the plug and the receptacle comprise a plastic body comprising an electrically conductive layer plated directly upon a plastic body.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plug and the receptacle comprise a substantially cylindrical shape.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated on the body with a molded interconnect device technology.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises a fastening device to secure the receptacle in the plug.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated directly to an inside surface the body.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated directly to an outside surface the body.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one recess, electrically isolated from an adjacent recess, and the at least one recess being plated with the electrically conductive layer.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug and the receptacle comprises a cover.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug and the receptacle are rotatable when the plug and the receptacle are in a mated position.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a cover, the cover substantially surrounding at least one of the plug and the receptacle, the cover providing electrical insulation to at least one of the plug and the receptacle.

19. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plug and the receptacle comprise a substantially cylindrical shape.

20. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated on the body with a molded interconnect device technology.

11. A method for manufacturing an electrical connector comprising the steps of:

forming a plastic body for at least one of a plug and a receptacle;

forming a interconnect pattern directly onto the plastic body; and

plating an electrically conductive layer directly to the interconnect pattern.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of forming at least one of a plug and a receptacle comprises a molding process.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of forming at least one of a plug and a receptacle comprises an injection-molding process.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of plating an electrically conductive layer directly to the interconnect pattern comprises plating at least a portion of an outside surface of the plastic body.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of plating an electrically conductive layer directly to the interconnect pattern comprises plating at least a portion of an inside surface of the plastic body.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of forming at least one of a plug and a receptacle comprises molding a plastic body comprising a substantially cylindrical shape.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of forming a cover, the cover configured to substantially surround at least one of the plug and the receptacle.

18. An electrical connector comprising:

a plug;

a receptacle, the receptacle being mateable with the plug; and

wherein at least one of the plug and the receptacle comprise a plastic body comprising an electrically conductive layer plated directly upon the plastic body and wherein a cover substantially surrounds at least one of the plug and the receptacle and provide electrical insulation to at least one of the plug and the receptacle.