Connector with an insulation shield

• US 6,398,565 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stout, Gary, Lo Forte, Steven, Johnson, Thomas A., Kunz, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US09/687,228
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/137, 439/138, 439/676, 439/946
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

A media connector including a shield. The media connector includes an arch formed within the media connector. The arch has pin guides that allow the contact pins to be properly positioned within the media connector. The pin guides also keep the contact pins from touching each other. The arch forms an arch channel through which the shield exits the media connector. The shield extends out beneath the media connector beyond the portion of the contact pins that are exposed for contact with contacts of a media plug. When the media plug is inserted in the media connector, the shield covers the electrical connection thus formed to provide both protection and insulation of the electrical connection. The arch also includes a groove that permits the shield to rest within the confines of the media connector when the media connector is retracted.

Claims

1. In a system including an electronic device and an external system, a media connector for establishing an electrical connection between the electronic device with the external system, the media connector comprising:

a retractable member having an aperture formed therein;

one or more contact pins attached to the retractable member and electrically coupled to the electronic device and flexibly extending into the aperture, the aperture being shaped to receive a media plug for electrically coupling to the external system and to establish an electrical connection between one or more contacts of the media plug and the one or more contact pins;

an arch formed in a body of the retractable member and extending into a portion of the aperture, the arch shaped to position the one or more contact pins to come into contact with the one or more contacts of the media plug and to allow radial deflection of the one or more contact pins along the arch when encountered by the one or more contacts of the media plug; and

a flexible shield at least partially extending into the aperture and wherein the shield is configured to cover the electrical connection between the one or more contact pins and the one or more contacts of the media plug when the media plug is inserted in the aperture.

2. A media connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the arch further comprises one or more pin guides, wherein each of the one or more contact pins rests in one of the one or more pin guides.

3. A media connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the shield has a length that extends past the one or more contact pins extending into the aperture such that the one or more contact pins are covered by the shield.

4. A media connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the shield extends into the aperture beneath the one or more contact pins when the retractable member is retracted.

5. A media connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the shield comprises an insulative material.

6. A media connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the shield is an extension of a flex circuit that is connected to the retractable member, the flex circuit providing the electrical coupling between the one or more contact pins and the electronic device.

7. A media connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the shield has a sufficient stiffness to exert a force against the electrical connection.

8. In a system including an electronic device, a media connector for establishing an electrical connection with the electronic device, the media connector comprising:

a retractable member for connecting with the electronic device including an aperture therein;

contact pins connected to the retractable member, wherein fingers of the contact pins extend into the aperture of the retractable member, the fingers positioned to electrically come into contact with a media plug having corresponding contacts to form the electrical connection when the media plug is inserted in the aperture;

an arch formed in the retractable member and extending into a portion of the aperture to allow radial deflection of the contact pins along the arch when encountered by the corresponding contacts of the media plug, wherein the arch includes pin guides shaped to receive the contact pins; and

a flexible shield at least partially extending into the aperture and wherein the shield extends beneath the contact pins such that the electrical connection formed when the fingers contact the contacts of the media plug is insulated.

9. A media connector as defined in claim 8, wherein the pin guides extend out from the arch such that each of the contact pins is positioned within a different pin guide and wherein the pin guides keep each of the contact pins from touching another contact pin.

10. A media connector as defined in claim 8, wherein the arch allows the contact pins to move within a prescribed range of motion.

11. A media connector as defined in claim 8, wherein the shield comprises an insulative material.

12. A media connector as defined in claim 11, wherein the shield is an extension of a flex circuit attached to the retractable member, the flex circuit providing the electrical coupling between the contact pins and the electronic device.

13. A media connector as defined in claim 8, wherein the shield has a length that extends past the one or more contact pins extending into the aperture such that the one or more contact pins are covered by the shield.

14. A media connector for forming an electrical connection with contacts of a media plug, the media connector comprising:

a retractable member, the retractable member including a body adjacent to an aperture, wherein the aperture is shaped and sized to removably receive the media plug;

one or more contact pins enclosed within the body, wherein fingers of the one or more contact pins exit the body of the retractable member and extend into the aperture, wherein the fingers are configured to come into electrical communication with the contacts of the media plug;

an arch disposed within the body and extending into a portion of the aperture, wherein the arch includes pin guides extending out from the arch such that each of the one or more contact pins rests within a different pin guide, and wherein the pin guides properly position the fingers extending into the aperture;

an arch channel within the body, the arch channel formed by an opposite face of the arch;

a groove, wherein the groove extends across an end of the arch, the groove having a width extending from the arch channel to the aperture; and

a shield connected to the retractable member within the body, wherein the shield exits the body through the arch channel and wherein the shield has a length extending past the fingers such that the shield covers the electrical connection formed when the media plug is inserted in the aperture.

15. A media connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the shield comprises an insulative material.

16. A media connector as defined in claim 15, wherein the shield is an extension of a flex circuit connected with the retractable member.

17. A media connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the arch separates the shield from the one or more contact pins such that the shield does not interfere with a range of motion of the one or more contact pins.

18. A media connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the shield rests within the groove and the shield extends into the aperture beneath the one or more contact pins when the retractable member is retracted.

19. A media connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the shield insulates the electrical connection by exerting a force against the electrical connection.

20. A media connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the shield prevents the electrical connection from being touched.