LOW PROFILE MALE CONNECTOR

• US 20140256186A1
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Villarreal, Cesar Lozano, Dolci, Dominic E., Spielmann, Victoria A., Mariano, Ricardo A., Kwan, Alexander M., Smeenge, James G., De Iullis, Daniele
• Granted Patent: US 9,142,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/65 characterised by the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/46 Bases; Cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/516 Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing , hoods
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

Various embodiments of low profile male connectors are described. In one embodiment, a connector includes a plug housing having a depth and an interior cavity designed to accommodate pins that extend within the interior cavity in a direction of the depth. The plug housing may be designed to be fully insertable into a receptacle connector of an electronic device, and to have a rear surface that conforms with a shape of an exterior surface of the electronic device. The pins arranged in the plug housing may include various features, such as connecting portions protruding from the plug housing at an angle of approximately 90 degrees for coupling to a cable, bases including cutouts for extending a length of an elongated shaft of the pin, barbs for engaging the plug housing, and limit stops for distributing a force applied to the elongated shaft upon engagement with a receiving pin.

Claims

1. A cable assembly comprising:

a connector plug having a housing arranged to fit entirely in a connector receptacle in an electronic device, the connector plug having a rear surface contoured to be flush with a surface of the electronic device;

a plurality of contacts located in the connector plug housing, each contact having an engaging portion to contact a corresponding contact in the connector receptacle and a connecting portion extending to the rear surface; and

a cable attached to the plurality of contacts located in the connector plug.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable is substantially flat.