Universal serial bus plug connector

• US 5,941,733 A
• Filed: 09/02/1997
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Chin-Te
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/922,163
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 439/607, 439/609, 439/610, 439/906
• US Class Current: 439/607.01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/582 the cable being clamped between assembled parts of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/906 Longitudinally divided

Abstract

A Universal Serial Bus plug connector consists of a lower shielding shell defining an opened top about a rear portion thereof. A dielectric body mounted with a number of contacts is mounted to the lower shielding shell, wherein a terminal portion of the contacts for connecting with leads of a cable is located under the opened top. An upper shielding shell has a top wall covering the opened top of the lower shielding shell, and two first side walls connected with two second side walls of the lower shielding shell, wherein each first side wall defines a locking hole through which a locking key defined by each second side wall extends. Each locking hole has a width which is sufficiently larger than that of each locking key. A retaining member consisting of a pair of jaws is integrally formed at a rear side of the upper shielding shell. The jaws are moved to each other to securely clamp the cable therebetween.

Claims

1. An electric connector, comprising:

a lower shielding shell having a top wall, two side walls and a bottom wall cooperatively defining a front opening, an opened top and a rear opening;

a dielectric body mounted into the lower shielding shell;

a number of contacts mounted to the dielectric body and defining a contact portion for electrically connecting with a mating connector extending through the front opening and a terminal portion located under the opened top;

a cable having a number of leads extending into the lower shielding shell through the rear opening and mechanically and electrically connected with the terminal portion of the contacts; and

an upper shielding shell connected to the lower shielding shell and covering the opened top thereof;

wherein the top wall of the lower shielding shell has a substantially rectangular shape and defines two cutouts at two rear corners thereof and a mounting hole, the dielectric body forms a middle raised portion having a mounting key formed thereon, the mounting key extends through the mounting hole to engage with the top wall of the lower shielding shell, one of the side walls of the lower shielding shell defines a recess substantially in alignment with the terminal portion of the contacts, the dielectric body is substantially rectangular in shape and defines two first depressions at two rear corners thereof, and each of the side walls of the lower shielding shell is formed with a locking tab bent onto the dielectric body defining a corresponding first depression and engaging with the dielectric body.

2. The electric connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top wall of the lower shielding shell defines a hole, and the upper shielding shell comprises a second top wall covering the opened top of the lower shielding shell and defining a front edge having a hook-shaped tab extending through the hole to engage with the top wall of the lower shielding shell.

3. The electric connector in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the side walls of the lower shielding shell defines a locking key and the upper shielding shell comprises a second side wall extending downwards from the second top wall and defining a locking hole which has a width sufficiently larger than that of the locking key, the locking key being extended through the locking hole to fixedly engage with the second side wall of the upper shielding shell.

4. The electric connector in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the side walls of the lower shielding shell defines two locking keys and the upper shielding shell comprises a second side wall extending downward from the second top wall and defining a locking slot which has a length sufficiently larger than a distance between the two locking keys, the locking keys being extended through the locking slot to engage with the second side wall of the upper shielding shell.

5. The electric connector in accordance with claim 1 further comprises a cable retaining means for fixedly connecting with the cable to prevent the leads from separating from the contacts when a pulling force is exerted to the cable relative to the connector.

6. The electric connector in accordance with claim 5, wherein the upper shielding shell comprises a second top wall defining a rear edge, and the cable retaining means comprises a stem integral with the rear edge of the second top wall, a pair of jaws extending downwards from the stem and clamping the cable therebetween and a rib extending along the jaws to increase strength of the jaws and gripping ability of the jaws over the cable.

7. The electric connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear opening has an enlarged mouth for facilitating the extension of the leads through the rear opening into the lower shielding shell.

8. The electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the raised portion is substantially rectangular in shape and further has two stopping blocks at two rear corners thereof, said two stopping blocks engaging the top wall of the lower shielding shell defining the cutouts.

9. The electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper shielding shell comprises a second top wall covering the opened top of the lower shielding shell and a second side wall extending downwards from the second top wall and fixedly engaging with one of the side walls of the lower shielding shell, the second side wall being formed with a recess.

10. An electric connector, comprising:

a lower shielding shell having a first top, bottom, right side and left side wall and defining an opened top, each first side wall defining a first recess in connection with the opened top;

a dielectric body fixedly mounted to the lower shielding shell;

a number of contacts fixedly mounted to the body and having a contact portion for connecting with a mating connector and a terminal portion located under the opened top and in alignment with the first recesses so that a tool can approach the terminal portion from the opened top and the first recesses to perform a crimping or soldering operation thereto;

a cable comprising a number of leads electrically and mechanically connected to the terminal portion of the contacts; and

an upper shielding shell connected to the lower shielding shell and having a second top and right and left side walls covering the opened top and the first recesses of the lower shielding shell;

wherein the lower shielding shell has a front opening for receiving a mating connector, the dielectric body has a front end located near the front opening, the lower shielding shell comprises a first L-shaped stopping tab engaging the front end of the dielectric body, the dielectric body has a rear end opposite the front end thereof, and the lower shielding shell comprises a second L-shaped stopping tab engaging the rear end of the dielectric body.

11. The electric connector in accordance with claim 10, wherein each second side wall defines a second recess.

12. The electric connector in accordance with claim 10, wherein the lower shielding shell further has a rear opening through which the leads of the cable are extended to enter the lower shielding shell to electrically and mechanically connect with the terminal portion of the contacts, the connector further comprising a cable retaining member comprising two jaws integrally formed on a rear side of the upper shielding shell near the rear opening, said jaws securely clamping the cable therebetween.

13. The electric connector in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first recesses are formed about a middle portion of the first side walls of the lower shielding shell.

14. An electric connector, comprising:

a lower shielding shell having a top wall, two side walls and a bottom wall cooperatively defining a front opening, an opened top and a rear opening;

a dielectric body mounted into the lower shielding shell;

a number of contacts mounted to the dielectric body and each having a contact port ion for electrically connecting with a mating connector extending through the front opening and a terminal portion located under the opened top;

a cable having a number of leads extending into the lower shielding shell through the rear opening and mechanically and electrically connected with the terminal portion of the contacts; and

an upper shielding shell connected to the lower shielding shell and covering the opened top thereof;

wherein the bottom wall of the lower shielding shell is formed with a first L-shaped stopping tab extending upward from a front end thereof into the lower shielding shell and a second L-shaped stopping tab about a middle portion thereof, the first L-shaped stopping tab engaging a front end of the dielectric body, and the second L-shaped stopping tab engaging a rear end of the dielectric body.

15. An electric connector, comprising:

a lower shielding shell having a first top, bottom, right side and left side wall and defining an opened top, each first side wall defining a first recess in connection with the opened top;

a dielectric body fixedly mounted to the lower shielding shell;

a number of contacts fixedly mounted to the body and having a contact portion for connecting with a mating connector and a terminal portion located under the opened top and in alignment with the first recesses so that a tool can approach the terminal portion from the opened top and the first recesses to perform a crimping or soldering operation thereto;

a cable comprising a number of leads electrically and mechanically connected to the terminal portion of the contacts; and

an upper shielding shell connected to the lower shielding shell and having a second top and right and left side wall covering the opened top and the first recesses of the lower shielding shell;

wherein the first top wall is substantially rectangular in shape and defines two cutouts at two rear corners thereof and a mounting hole therein, the dielectric body defines a top face comprising a mounting key protruding upwards therefrom into the mounting hole to engage with the first top wall, and the first side walls define a locking tab bent toward the dielectric body and engaging therewith.

16. The dielectric connector in accordance with claim 15, wherein the lower shielding shell has a rear opening through which the leads are extended to enter the lower shielding shell to electrically and mechanically connect with the terminal portion of the contacts, the rear opening has an enlarged mouth to facilitate the extension of the leads therethrough to enter the lower shielding shell.