ELECTRICAL PLUG AND JACK ASSEMBLY

• US 20110021075A1
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Wallace, DeRon H., Orner, Jeffrey K., Weidner, Kevin E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,365 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/585
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/50 mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/54 Intermediate parts, e.g. adapters, splitters or elbows
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a housing and an outer electrical contact held by the housing. The outer electrical contact includes an interior cavity, a mounting end held by the housing, and a mating interface. The outer electrical contact is configured to mate with an electrical jack at the mating interface. A channel is defined between the housing and the outer electrical contact. A locking member is held within the channel between the housing and the outer electrical contact. The locking member is configured to engage the electrical jack. The electrical connector also includes an inner electrical contact having a mating end held within the interior cavity of the outer electrical contact. The outer electrical contact extends around the mating end of the inner electrical contact. The mating end of the inner electrical contact includes a receptacle configured to receive an inner mating contact of the electrical jack.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing;

an outer electrical contact held by the housing, the outer electrical contact comprising an interior cavity, a mounting end held by the housing, and a mating interface, the outer electrical contact being configured to mate with an electrical jack at the mating interface, a channel being defined between the housing and the outer electrical contact;

a locking member held within the channel between the housing and the outer electrical contact, the locking member being configured to engage the electrical jack; and

an inner electrical contact having a mating end held within the interior cavity of the outer electrical contact, the outer electrical contact extending around the mating end of the inner electrical contact, the mating end of the inner electrical contact comprising a receptacle configured to receive an inner mating contact of the electrical jack.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a spring.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a base held by the housing and resilient fingers extending from the base toward the outer electrical contact.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a base and resilient fingers extending from the base to ends, the ends of the resilient fingers being configured to engage an outer mating contact of the electrical jack.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a first electrical connector and the electrical jack is a first electrical jack, further comprising a second electrical connector configured to mate with a second electrical jack, the second electrical connector having an inner electrical contact comprising a pin, the first and second electrical connectors being used in combination to prevent crossover connections.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating member held by the housing, the insulating member holding the inner electrical contact, the insulating member electrically insulating the inner electrical contact from the outer electrical contact.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a base and a crimp barrel extending from the base, the crimp barrel being configured to engage an outer conductor of a coaxial cable.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer electrical contact defines a plug that is configured to be received within a socket of the electrical jack.

9. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing;

an outer electrical contact held by the housing, the outer electrical contact comprising an interior cavity, a mounting end held by the housing, and a mating interface, the outer electrical contact being configured to mate with an electrical jack at the mating interface, a channel being defined between the housing and the outer electrical contact;

a locking member held within the channel between the housing and the outer electrical contact, the locking member being configured to engage the electrical jack;

a compressible seal held within the channel between the housing and the outer electrical contact, the compressible seal being configured to engage an outer mating contact of the electrical jack when the electrical connector and the electrical jack are mated together; and

an inner electrical contact having a mating end held within the interior cavity of the outer electrical contact, the outer electrical contact extending around the mating end of the inner electrical contact.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the compressible seal comprises a radially inner surface that is engaged with the outer electrical contact.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the compressible seal extends around a mating end of the outer electrical contact.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the locking member comprises a base and resilient fingers extending from the base to ends, the ends of the resilient fingers being configured to engage an outer mating contact of the electrical jack.

13. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a base and a crimp barrel extending from the base, the crimp barrel being configured to engage an outer conductor of a coaxial cable.

14. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the outer electrical contact defines a plug that is configured to be received within a socket of the electrical jack.

15. A connector assembly comprising:

a mating connector comprising an inner mating contact and an outer mating contact extending around the inner mating contact, the mating connector further comprising a compressible seal extending around the outer mating contact; and

an electrical jack comprising an inner electrical contact and an outer electrical contact extending around the inner electrical contact, the outer electrical contact being engaged with the outer mating contact of the mating connector, the inner electrical contact being engaged with the inner mating contact of the mating connector, the outer electrical contact comprising a front face engaged with the compressible seal of the mating connector.

16. The connector assembly according to claim 15, wherein the mating connector further comprises a locking member extending around the outer mating contact, the locking member comprising a finger, the outer electrical contact of the electrical jack comprising a recess, the finger of the locking member being received within the recess and engaged with the outer electrical contact of the electrical jack.

17. The connector assembly according to claim 15, wherein the electrical jack comprises a housing extending from the outer electrical contact to an end, the housing comprising an interior cavity extending through the end of the housing, the electrical jack further comprising a seal member received within the interior cavity of the housing at the end.

18. The connector assembly according to claim 17, wherein the seal member is fused to the housing.

19. The connector assembly according to claim 15, wherein the compressible seal comprises a radially inner surface that is engaged with the outer electrical contact.

20. The connector assembly according to claim 15, wherein the compressible seal extends around a mating end of the outer electrical contact.