CONNECTOR RETENTION FEATURES

• US 20150214673A1
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gao, Zheng, Amini, Mahmoud R., Wu, Chia Chi
• Granted Patent: US 9,431,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6597 the conductive member being a contact of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

Connector systems that may include improved locking and retention features. One example includes a connector plug having an opening to accept an end of a wide portion of a connector receptacle tongue. Another connector plug may include top and bottom rails for holding a wide portion of a connector receptacle tongue. The locking and retention features may provide a large locking force. Further examples may accordingly provide unlocking features.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a plurality of contacts at least partially located in a housing; and

a first side ground contact having an opening, a front of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts, and a tab at a front of the opening angled away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged to accept a first end of a wide portion of a tongue of a second connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:

a second side ground contact having an opening, a front of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts, and a tab at a front of the opening angled away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged to accept a second end of a wide portion of the tongue of the second connector.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein the connector is a connector plug.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein the connector is a connector receptacle.

5. A connector comprising:

a plurality of contacts at least partially located in a housing; and

a first side ground contact having an opening, a front of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged to accept a first end of a wide portion of a tongue of a second connector.

6. The connector of claim 5 further comprising:

a second side ground contact having an opening, a front of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged to accept a second end of the wide portion of the tongue of a second connector.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein the connector is a connector plug.

8. The connector of claim 6 wherein the connector is a connector receptacle.

9. A connector comprising:

a plurality of contacts at least partially located in a housing; and

a first rail of a first side ground contact having a first contacting portion;

a second rail of the first side ground contact having a second contacting portion;

wherein the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion are arranged to hold a first wide end of a tongue of a second connector.

10. The connector of claim 9 further comprising:

a first rail of a second side ground contact having a first contacting portion;

a second rail of the second side ground contact having a second contacting portion;

wherein the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion are arranged to hold a second wide end of the tongue of the second connector.

11. The connector of claim 10 wherein the connector is a connector plug.

12. The connector of claim 10 wherein the connector is a connector receptacle.