Shielded electrical connectors

• US 5,362,249 A
• Filed: 05/04/1993
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Carter, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/058,522
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 439/357, 439/607, 439/609, 439/181, 439/183, 439/186, 439/350
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector

Abstract

An electrical connector system which includes a socket shell member and a plug shell member that mate to establish electrical connection between them. Each shell member has a detent device and these detent devices can engage with each other when the plug shell member is inserted into the socket shell member so as to releasably keep the plug and socket shell members in the electrically connected position. The detent devices have front-ends with sharp points or edges which are capable of attracting electrostatic discharge.

Claims

1. An electrical connector system comprising:

a socket having a front end, at least one first contact and a shell with at least one first detent means;

a plug having a front end, at least one second contact and a shell with at least one second detent means said plug being insertable into said socket to establish an electrical connection between said first and second contacts when said plug and socket are in a locked position;

said first and second detent means being engaged with each other when said plug is in said locked position so as to releasably retain said plug in said locked position; and

either said first or second detent means having an electrically conductive forward pointing sharp front-end part located near said front end of said socket or said plug and in front of said first or second contacts to attract electrostatic discharge.

2. The electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first detent means has an internally facing surface and said second detent means has an externally facing surface, said internally and externally facing surfaces being similarly contoured so as to allow mateable engagement with each other when said plug means is in said locked position.

3. The electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said second detent means has an externally facing surface with a second engaging step portion.

4. The electrical connector system of claim 3 wherein said first detent means has an internally facing surface with a first engaging step portion capable of engaging with said externally facing surface of said second detent means.

5. The electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first detent means is cantilevered from said socket means and said second detent means having said front-end part capable of attracting electrostatic discharge projects from said plug means.

6. The electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first detent means projects from said socket means and having said front-end part capable of attracting electrostatic discharge, and said second detent means is cantilevered from said plug means.

7. The electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first detent means being cantilevered from said socket means and having said front-end part capable of attracting electrostatic discharge, and said second detent means is cantilevered from said plug means.

8. The electrical connector system of claim 2 wherein said internally and externally facing surfaces each have a perpendicularly rising step portions capable of engaging each other and being disengaged by a releasing actuation force which is applied in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

9. The electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said socket means further comprises a first shield shell member incorporating said first detent means and said plug means further comprises a second shield shell member incorporating said second detent means.

10. The electrical connector system of claim 9 wherein said first and second shield members are shaped to permit mateable interconnection.

11. An electrical connector system comprising plug and socket connectors having electrically conductive shield shells comprising:

a socket shell member comprising a polygonal first housing having top, bottom, front and rear sections and opposite sidewalls that form a cavity, the front section of said first housing defining an opening for said cavity, the top section of said first housing being a flat surface, the bottom section of said first housing having angled side portions connecting with the opposite sidewalls of said first housing, each sidewall of said first housing having at least one spring-loaded cantilever beam, said cantilever beam having a sloped portion that slopes inwardly into said cavity and a first engaging step portion, the rear section of said first housing having a projecting contact support;

a plug shell member comprising a polygonal second housing having top and bottom sections and opposite sidewalls shaped to conform with and to be insertable received by said cavity, each sidewall of said second housing having at least one projection member in a corresponding position with said cantilever beam of said socket shell member, said projection member having a sharp forward edge capable of attracting electrostatic discharge and a second engaging step portion that outwardly rises from the sidewall of said second housing, said second housing having a front nose member that has a slot defining an opening for a receptacle contact support, said slot and said receptacle contact support being shaped to insertably receive said projecting contact support, said second housing having a rear portion attached to a boot member for receiving a conductor cable; and

said socket shell member and said plug shell member being releasably mateable at said first and second engaging step portions.