Connector assemblies

• US 7,798,831 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kato, Toshihiko, Sanford, Emery A., Hankey, M. Evans, Prest, Christopher D., Lim, Way Chet
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US11/999,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20080166907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 439 37- 40, 439/67, 439/76.1, 439/77, 439/180, 439/500, 439/660
• US Class Current: 439/180
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/24 Assembling by moulding on contact members

Abstract

A headset connector assembly that includes a connector plate, a casing, and electrical contact members is provided. The connector plate can have a first mating surface, a second mating surface, and at least two apertures existing between the first and the second mating surfaces. The casing can have a first side in contact with the first mating surface and a second side. The casing can include a protruding cavity member for each of the at least two apertures. Each protruding cavity member can extend from the first side and be constructed to fit within one of the at least two apertures. Each protruding cavity member can house an electrical contact member.

Claims

1. A headset connector assembly, comprising:

a connector plate having a first mating surface, a second mating surface, and at least two apertures existing between the first and the second mating surfaces;

a casing having a first side in contact with the first mating surface and a second side, the casing including a protruding cavity member for each of the at least two apertures, each protruding cavity member extending from the first side and constructed to fit within one of the at least two apertures; and

electrical contact members, wherein each protruding cavity member houses an electrical contact member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each protruding cavity member has a top surface and each electrical contact member has a top surface, the top surfaces of the protruding cavity members and the electrical contact members being substantially flush with the second mating surface.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a circuit board electrically coupled to each electrical contact member.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each electrical contact member comprises first and second portions and adhesive material disposed between the first and second portions.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the second portion is gold-plated.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first portion comprises a head and a shank and the second portion comprises a hole configured to accept the shank of the first portion.

7. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the second portion has a hook-shape.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact members are separated by polymeric material.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the polymeric material is injection-molded around the electrical contact members.

10. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the second portion is stamped from sheet metal.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each electrical contact member is stamped from sheet metal.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each electrical contact member comprises an external surface for engaging an external electrical contact of an electronic device and an internal surface for engaging an electrical contact of a circuit board, wherein the external surface is defined by first and second orthogonal axes, and wherein a center of the external surface is offset from a center of the internal surface in the first and second orthogonal axes.

13. A headset connector assembly comprising:

a connector plate having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a non-conductor casing mounted to the first side of the connector plate and constructed to house at least one electrical contact; and

at least one electrical contact mounted to the casing, the at least one electrical contact having an exposed surface plane parallel to the second side of the connector plate.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one electrical contact comprises a magnetic element.

15. The assembly of claim 13 is configured to fit into a housing having a top plane, wherein the second side is angled with respect to the top plane.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the exposed surface plane of the electrical contact is substantially on the same plane as the second side of the connector plate.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the casing electrically isolates the at least one electrical connector from the connector plate.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the connector plate is magnetic.