USB connector assembly

• US 7,258,565 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced-Connectek Incorporated (ACON Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Advanced-Connectek Incorporated (ACON Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yang, Sheng-Ho, Huang, Shang-Yen
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad; Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US11/366,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 439350-358, 439/607, 439/108
• US Class Current: 439/353
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence

Abstract

A USB connector includes a plug comprising an insulative member, a mating member, a first conductor assembly, two elongate flexible members, a metal case member comprising inner and outer pieces, and a plastic housing for enclosing the case member and comprising upper and lower shells; and a jack comprising a shield shell, an insulative unit, and a second conductor assembly. The flexible long member includes a U-shaped member formed by bending its one end, a claw at the other long end, a toothed member at one end, a protuberance proximate the U-shaped member opposite the toothed member, and a flexible arm extended between the claw and the protuberance. Inserting the arms through the insulative member will sandwich either claw between a latch and the shield shell, rest the arms on grooves, fasten the protuberances in slots, and fasten the toothed members in tunnels for assembling a main portion of the plug.

Claims

1. A USB connector comprising:

a plug (800) at one end coupled to a cable (41) extended from a peripheral, the plug (800) comprising an insulative member (11), a mating member (12), a first conductor assembly (13) having a plurality of conductors, two elongate flexible members (14), a metal case member (20) including an inner piece (21) and an outer piece (22), and a plastic housing (30) including an upper shell (31) and a mated lower shell (32); and

a jack (900) fixed to a circuit board and adapted to couple to the other end of the plug (800), the jack (900) comprising a shield shell (91), an insulative unit (92), and a second conductor assembly (93) having a plurality of conductors;

wherein

the insulative member (11) comprises a rectangular body (111) including a connecting element (1111), a cavity (1112) inside the rectangular body (111), two upper projections (114) at both sides of the connecting element (1111), a first protrusion (115) provided between the upper projections (114), two lower projections (116) provided at both lower sides of the connecting element (1111), the lower projection (116) including an inner tunnel (1161), two slots (1114) provided on both sides of a top (113) of the connecting element (1111), two recesses (1115) each formed between the upper and lower projections (114) and (116) at either side and disposed above the tunnel (1161), and a connecting member (112) opposite the body (111) and including a plurality of parallel top and bottom channels (117) in communication with the cavity (1112);

the mating member (12) comprises a rear enlarged seat (121) including a plurality of holes (1213) on a rear end, an intermediate dent (1210), two side indentations (1211), and two first projections (1212), each disposed between the indentation (1211) and the dent (1210), a second protrusion (123) and an adjacent tab (124) both at either side of the rear seat (121), and a front flat plate (122) including an underside trough (125), and two elongate grooves (126) at both sides of the front flat plate (122);

the first conductor assembly (13) comprises a plurality of conductors each having a contact portion (131), a fixing portion (132), a bending portion (133), and a solder portion (134) of U section;

the elongate flexible member (14) comprises a U-shaped member (141) formed at one end, a claw (145) at the other distant end, a toothed member (142) at one end connected with the U-shaped member (141), a protuberance (143) proximate the U-shaped member (141) opposite the toothed member (142), and a flexible long arm (144) extended between the claw (145) and the protuberance (143);

the inner piece (21) comprises a front member (211) and a rear member (212), the rear member (212) including two first latches (2122) on its top (2121), and a slit (2123) provided along its either top edge for positioning the protuberance (143);

the front member (211) including a space (215) defined by the front member (211), an opening (2112) on a top (2111) of the front member (211), and a slit (2113) at either front side of the front member (211);

the outer piece (22) comprises a rear bent member (224);

the upper shell (31) comprises four corner pegs (312) and a top push member (316);

the lower shell (32) comprises four corner holes (322) with the pegs (312) inserted thereinto;

the shield shell (91) comprises a top first slot member (910), a top first latch (910A) having a V-shaped groove (910B) in the first slot member (910), two second slot members (911) each being smaller than the first slot member (910) and disposed at either side thereof, and two second latches (911A) having an upward bent end (912) in the second slot member (911), an extending direction of the first latch (910A) being opposite to that of either second latch (911A);

wherein the first conductor assembly (13) is inserted in the underside trough (125) of the mating member (12) through the holes (1213) of the enlarged seat (121) with the contact portion (131) and the fixing portion (132) of each conductor thereof, and the bending portion (133) and the U-shaped solder portion (134) of each conductor thereof is fastened in the cavity (1112) and the top and the bottom channels (117) respectively;

wherein the mating member (12) is urged against the insulative member (11) to matingly engage the indentations (1211), the dent (1210), the first projections (1212), and the second protrusions (123) with the upper projections (114), the first protrusion (115), and the recesses (1115) of the insulative member (11), and to insert the tabs (124) into a front portion of the tunnels (1161);

wherein the claws (145) and the arms (144) of the elongate flexible members (14) are inserted through the recesses (1115) of the insulative member (11) to sandwich either claw (145) in a gap between the upward bent end (912) of the second latch (911A) and the shield shell (91) in the second slot member (911), to rest the arms (144) on the grooves (126), to fasten the protuberances (143) in the slots (1114), and fasten the toothed members (142) in a rear portion of the inner tunnels (1161); and

wherein the push member (316) is urged by the protuberances (143) of the flexible members (14), and the first and second conductor assemblies (13) and (93) are electrically connected together in the jack (900);

whereby pressing the push member (316) to exert a force on the protuberances (143) will lower and cause the claw (145) to clear the gap between the upward bent end (912) of the second latch (911A) and the shield shell (91) in the second slot member (911) prior to separating the plug (800) from the jack (900).

2. The USB connector of claim 1, wherein the lower shell (32) further comprises a bottom bar (326) in an inner bottom of the lower shell (32), the push member (316) is adapted to urge against the bottom bar (326) in response to the pressing during unplugging the connector.

3. The USB connector of claim 1, wherein the first conductor assembly (13) further comprises some of the bending portions (133) upward and then horizontally extending to form an upper solder portion (134A) and some of the bending portions (133) downward and then horizontally extending to form a lower solder portion (134B).