Electrical connector with insert molded housing
First Claim
1. An electrical connector matable with a mating device, the electrical connector comprising:
- a molded nonconductive housing having a forward end; and
at least one electrically conductive terminal extending toward the forward end of the housing, and including a mating section on one external surface of the molded nonconductive housing, and having a distal end recessed from the forward end of the housing so that the distal end is not exposed to the mating device when the electrical connector is mated to the mating device;
the electrical connector being characterized in that at least the distant end of the terminal is insert molded in the molded nonconductive housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector 2, suitable for use as a plug for a Universal Serial Bus cable assembly, includes a plurality of terminals 4 that are partially insert molded in a nonconductive housing 36. A distal end 6 of each terminal 4 is recessed from the front end 38 of the housing 36. The terminals 4 are insert molded while still on a carrier and a weakened section 14 is formed at the distal end 6. After the housing 36 is molded, a tensile force is applied to fracture each terminal 4 at the weakened section 14 so that the distal end 6 of each terminal is recessed where it cannot inadvertently contact shields 54, 64 on the plug 2 or a mating receptacle 62. The rear of the housing is overmolded, and the insert molded housing 36 includes sections completely surrounding the terminals 4 so that the overmolded material cannot flow onto a housing mating surface 42 or onto a terminal mating section 10.
72 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrical connector matable with a mating device, the electrical connector comprising:
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a molded nonconductive housing having a forward end; and at least one electrically conductive terminal extending toward the forward end of the housing, and including a mating section on one external surface of the molded nonconductive housing, and having a distal end recessed from the forward end of the housing so that the distal end is not exposed to the mating device when the electrical connector is mated to the mating device; the electrical connector being characterized in that at least the distant end of the terminal is insert molded in the molded nonconductive housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical connector plug comprising:
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a plurality of side by side terminals, each terminal including an exposed mating surface located between a termination section and a distal end; a nonconductive housing, insert molded around at least the distal end of each terminal, with each terminal mating surface exposed on one face of the nonconductive housing, the distal end of each terminal being recessed relative to an adjacent exterior surface of the housing; and a conductive shield extending around a portion of the housing, the shield being spaced from the mating surface of each terminal and the recessed distal end of each terminal to prevent inadvertent contact between the shield and the terminals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A Universal Serial Bus plug joined to a cable, the Universal Serial Bus Plug comprising a plurality of terminal each having a distal end located adjacent to and recessed from a forward end of a nonconductive housing, the terminals being exposed on an external surface of the nonconductive housing to mate with a Universal Serial Bus receptacle, the nonconductive housing being insert molded around at least the distal end of each terminal, and an overmolded section being formed around a rearward section of the insert molded housing, a portion of the cable to which the plug is attached, and a termination section of each terminal.
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18. An electrical connector matable with a mating device, the electrical connector comprising:
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a molded nonconductive housing having a forward end; and at least one electrically conductive terminal extending toward the forward end of the housing and having a distal end recessed from the forward end of the housing, the distal end extending, toward the housing forward end, beyond an exposed mating surface on the terminal; the electrical connector being characterized in that at least the distal end of the terminal is insert molded in the molded nonconductive housing with the housing separating the exposed mating surface from the forward end.
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Specification