Waterproof audio jack and method of making the same

• US 8,100,726 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Harlan, Tod M., Kline, Richard Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US12/732,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 439/668, 439/669, 439/736, 439/593, 298/83
• US Class Current: 439/669
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5216 characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4922 with molding of insulation

Abstract

An audio jack includes an insulative housing and a number of contacts retained therein. The insulative housing defines a receiving space for receiving a corresponding plug and a number of mounting holes extending inwardly from a mounting wall thereof. Each contact has a tail portion for connecting with a circuit board. A core pin is inserted into the receiving space and a plenty of elastomeric material is flowed into the mounting holes around the contacts to make the insulative housing being sealed except the receiving space. After the elastomeric material has solidified the core pin is withdrawn.

Claims

1. An audio jack, comprising:

an insulative housing defining a receiving space for receiving a corresponding plug and a plurality of mounting holes extending inwardly from a mounting wall thereof; and

a plurality of contacts retained in the mounting holes, each contact having a tail portion for connecting with a circuit board;

wherein a plenty of elastomeric material is filled into the mounting holes around the contacts to make the insulative housing being sealed except the receiving space.

2. The audio jack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material forms a plurality of elastomers around the contacts, and each contact has a retaining portion retained in the mounting holes and insert molded in the elastomer.

3. The audio jack as claimed in claim 2, wherein all mounting holes are formed with said elastomers respectively, and the retaining portions are sandwiched between the elastomers and insulative housing.

4. The audio jack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastomer is conductive and formed with a mating portion extending into the receiving space for electrically connecting the plug and contacts.

5. The audio jack as claimed in claim 4, wherein all said elastomers are spaced from each other.

6. The audio jack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elastomer can be compressed when the plug is inserted into the receiving space and presses the mating portion, and rebound when the plug is pulled out of the receiving space.

7. The audio jack as claimed in claim 2, wherein each contact has a contact portion extending into the receiving space from the retaining portion for electrically connecting with the plug.

8. The audio jack as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastomer is insulative and located behind the contact portion, and the elastomer can be compressed or rebound when the plug is inserted or pulled out of the receiving space.

9. The audio jack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting holes communicate with the receiving space in a transverse direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the plug, communicate with exterior in a vertical direction perpendicular to the transverse direction and the insertion direction.

10. The audio jack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material is deposited into the mounting holes from the mounting wall in a vertical direction of the insulative housing.

11. A method of making an audio jack as described in claim 1, comprising:

providing an insulative housing with a receiving space which can be inserted into a corresponding plug and a plurality of mounting holes extending inwardly from a mounting wall thereof;

providing a plurality of contacts and assembling the contacts into the mounting holes, each contact having a tail portion exposed to exterior for connecting with a circuit board;

providing a core pin with a shape same to the receiving space and inserting the core pin into the receiving space;

filling a plenty of elastomeric material into the mounting holes around the contacts; and

pulling out of the core pin when the elastomeric material is fully filled in the mounting holes and cooled to be solidified.

12. The method of making the audio jack as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elastomeric material forms a plurality of elastomer around the contacts when the elastomeric material is cooled, and each contact has a retaining portion insert molded in the elastomer.

13. The method of making the audio jack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the core pin defines a plurality of depressions at an outer side thereof, the elastomers are conductive and formed with a mating portion respectively corresponding to each depression, and the mating portions extend into the receiving space for electrically connecting the plug and contacts.

14. The method of making the audio jack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the core pin defines a plurality of depressions at an outer side thereof, each contact has a contact portion at a position of the depression, and the contact portion extends into the receiving space from the retaining portion for electrically connecting with the plug.

15. The method of making the audio jack as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elastomer is insulative and located behind the contact portion, and the elastomer can be compressed or rebound when the plug is inserted or pulled out of the receiving space.

16. A hermetic electrical connector for use with a plug, comprising:

an insulative housing defining a columnar main cavity along an axial direction and a plurality of sub-cavities communicatively located beside said main cavity;

a plurality of contact units respectively snugly embedded within the corresponding sub-cavities, respectively, each of said contact units includes a metallic conductive contact and an elastomeric block tightly associated with said contact;

wherein

in each of said contact units, said contact defines a solder tail exposed outside of the housing for soldering to a printed circuit board, and one of said contact and said elastomeric block forms a contact section extending inwardly radially into the main cavity for mechanical and electrical connection to the plug;

wherein the elastomeric block prevents exterior humidity from reaching the printed circuit board via the main cavity.

17. The hermetic electrical connector as claimed in claim 16, wherein in each contact units, the contact section is formed on the metallic contact rather than the elastomeric block.

18. The hermetic electrical connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein said elastomeric is insulative.

19. The hermetic electrical connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein said elastomeric block supports deflection of the corresponding contact when the plug is inserted into the main cavity and mechanically and electrically connects the corresponding contact unit.

20. The hermetic electrical connector as claimed in claim 16, wherein in each contact units, the contact section is formed on the elastomeric block which is conductive.