Receptacle and plug connectors

• US 6,865,369 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCI
• Original Assignee: FCI
• Inventors: Klein, Michael, Semmeling, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US10/663,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20040067689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 439350-358, 439/953, 439/607, 439/604, 439/610
• US Class Current: 434/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence

Abstract

A receptacle connector (1) for a mobile telephone or the like comprises a housing (3) of insulating material, a shielding (4), and a plurality of contact terminals (5). Channels (13) extend parallel to the lateral sides (11) between the front and backsides (9, 10) and the contact terminals are made as strip like elements mounted in these channels. At least some of the contact terminals each are provided with two retention parts (14,15) having a width greater than the width of the channels providing a retention force mainly parallel to the upper and lower sides. The contact terminals (5) each are provided with a butt-mount contact end (16) and a tail end (17), wherein the retention part at the tail end has a width greater than the width at the butt-mount contact end. A plug connector (34) for interconnecting a mobile device to a stationary device, comprises a housing (36) of insulating material, a shielding (44), a plurality of contact terminals (39) mounted in the housing, at least one latch element (55) to latch the plug connector in a receptacle connector (1) of the mobile device, and a button (60) to operate the latch element. The housing of the plug connector is provided with at least one locating peg (51) to be received in a chamber (51′) of the receptacle connector.

Claims

1. A plug connector for a mobile device, the plug connector comprising:

an insulating housing having a first section adapted for mating with a receptacle connector, the first section being adapted for holding contact terminals therein, the insulating housing having a second section, distinct from the first section, for mating with the receptacle connector,

wherein the second section has at least one latching peg for latching the plug connector to the receptacle connector, the at least one latching peg being an assembly comprising a peg frame, a movable latch member. mounted to the peg frame, and a reinforcing member mounted to the peg frame and being independent from the movable latch member.

2. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the peg frame depends from the insulating housing.

3. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one latching peg projects from a mating face of the plug connector.

4. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the movable latch member is spring loaded.

5. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a reinforcing blade.

6. The plug connector according to claim 1, further comprising a latch actuator movably mounted to the insulating housing for actuating the movable latch member.

7. The plug connector according to claim 1, further comprising shielding connected to the insulating housing and disposed between the first section and the second section of the insulating housing.

8. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the movable latch member comprises a latch blade with a base part and a spring arm extending from and alongside the base part, the spring arm having a projection thereon defining a latch.

9. The plug connector according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing member extends alongside the latch blade when mounted in the peg frame.

10. A connector assembly for a mobile device, the assembly comprising:

a receptacle connector; and

a plug connector capable of being connected to the receptacle connector, and having an inner insulating housing with contact terminals located therein, and an outer housing outside the inner housing, the outer housing having at least one locating peg for coupling the plug connector to the receptacle connector, a movable latch member, mounted to a portion of the outer housing that forms the at least one locating peg, and a locating peg reinforcing member mounted apart from the movable latch member to the portion of the outer housing that forms the at least one locating peg.

11. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the outer housing has a movable actuator for operating the movable latch member.

12. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the movable latch member is a spring loaded latch member.

13. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one locating peg comprises two locating pegs proximate opposite sides of the outer housing.

14. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the outer housing comprises interconnectable top and bottom sections configured so that when interconnected the top and bottom sections surround the inner insulating housing.

15. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the plug connector comprises shielding located between the inner housing and the outer housing and surrounding the inner housing.

16. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the movable latch member is a first blade mounted in a first slot of the outer housing.

17. The connector assembly according to claim 16, wherein the locating peg reinforcing member is a second blade mounted in a second slot of the outer housing.