Matching male and female connector assembly

• US 6,527,592 B2
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KEL Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: KEL Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Shoichi, Ikemoto, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son V.
• Application Number:
  US09/372,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/660, 439/744, 439/357, 439/79, 439/492, 439/494, 439/497, 439/499, 439/579, 439/607, 439/874, 439/610
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5825 the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/024 comprising preapplied solder

Abstract

A receptacle connector (R) comprises a plurality of receptacle contacts (70), each of which has a female contact portion (71) in a tuning-fork like shape, and a receptacle retaining member (60), which aligns and retains the receptacle contacts (70). A plug connector (P) comprises a plurality of plug contacts (40), each of which has a male contact portion (41) insertable into the female contact portion (71) and a plug retaining member (10), which aligns and retains the plug contacts (40). The plug and receptacle connectors (P) and (R) are matable and constitute a matching male and female connector assembly. The plug retaining member (10) includes a reinforcing member (12) which extends along a side fo the male contact portions (41) of the plug contacts (40) retained therein. While the plug and receptacle connectors (P) and (R) are being brought into engagement with each opther for electrical connection, the male contact portions (41) along with the reinforcing member (12) are inserted as one body into the female contact portions (71).

Claims

1. A matching male and female connector assembly comprising:

a first connector which includes a plurality of first contacts and a first retaining member made of an electrically insulative material, each of said first contacts having a female contact portion defined by a pair of resilient arms extending side by side in a tuning fork shape,

said first retaining member aligning and retaining said first contacts so that both arms of each pair of resilient arms can resile apart; and

a second connector which includes a plurality of second contacts and a second retaining member molded in one piece from an electrically insulative material,

said second retaining member aligning and retaining said second contacts, each of said second contacts having a male contact portion and a lower surface which is brought into contact with one arm of each of said female contact portion by insertion of male contact portions into female contact portions;

wherein;

said first connector and said second connector are mated for electrical connection through the insertion of said male contact portions in a forward, mating direction into said female contact portions, respectively;

each of said second contacts is straight and comprises a wire connection portion extending rearward, in straight relation, from said male contact portion and the wire connecting portion having an upper wire connection surface for connection to a wire by soldering;

said second retaining member comprises a vertical portion and a single, reinforcing member which extends from a middle of said vertical portion, straight forward, cantilever fashion continuously along upper surfaces of all said male contact portions of said second contacts retained in said second retaining member, and a wire connection portion supporting member which extends rearward from a bottom of the vertical portion along lower surfaces of all said wire connection portions, opposite to said upper wire connection surfaces and the upper surfaces of the male contact portions to support the wire connection portions during soldering, wherein the second contacts are retained between the reinforcing member and the wire connection portion supporting member and

while said first connector and said second connector are being brought into engagement with each other, said male contact portions along with said reinforcing member are inserted as one body into said female contact portions to bring said lower surfaces of said male contact portions into contact with said female contact portions with resilient flexure apart of both arms of each pair of resilient arms of each female contact portion for electrical connection of said first contacts and said second contacts.

2. The matching male and female connector assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said first and second contacts are made of an electrically conductive metallic plate; and

said first and second retaining members are formed of a resin by