Electrical connector with plated plug and receptacle

• US 8,172,627 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creganna Unlimited Company (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Gleason, Kenneth R., Patel, Navin Kanjibhai, Hippert, Mark A., Girolamo, Valentino, Daane, Laurence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US12/327,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20100136856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 439/886, 439/931, 439/86, 439/290
• US Class Current: 439/886
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/035 Plated dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/18 for manufacturing bases or cases for contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/931 Conductive coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49224 with coating

Abstract

An electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector has a plug and a receptacle that are connectable in a mated position. At least one of the plug and the receptacle have a body and an electrically conductive layer applied directly to the body.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for making multiple electrical connections, said connector comprising:

a plug comprising a plastic body comprising an electrically conductive layer plated directly on at least a portion of the plastic body of the plug; and

a receptacle comprising a plastic body comprising an electrically conductive layer plated directly on at least a portion of the plastic body of the receptacle, the receptacle being mateable with the plug such that when a plurality of conductive cables are positioned adjacent the plug, said cables are terminated to the electrical conductive layer of the plug and the electrically conductive layer of the receptacle.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plug and the receptacle comprise a substantially cylindrical shape.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated on the body with a molded interconnect device technology.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises a fastening device to secure the receptacle in the plug.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated directly to an inside surface of the body of the plug or the receptacle.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated directly to an outside surface of the body of the plug or the receptacle.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the body of the plug or the receptacle comprises at least one recess, electrically isolated from an adjacent recess, the at least one recess being plated with the electrically conductive layer.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug and the receptacle comprises a cover.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug and the receptacle are rotatable when the plug and the receptacle are in a mated position.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a cover, the cover substantially surrounding at least one of the plug and the receptacle, the cover providing electrical insulation to at least one of the plug and the receptacle.

11. An electrical connector for making multiple electrical connections, the connector comprising:

a plug comprising a plastic body comprising an electrically conductive layer plated directly upon the plastic body of the plug;

a receptacle, the receptacle being mateable with the plug, the receptacle comprising a plastic body comprising an electrically conductive layer plated directly upon the plastic body of the receptacle; and

a cover substantially surrounding at least one of the plug and the receptacle and providing electrical insulation to at least one of the plug and the receptacle, such that when a plurality of conductive cables are positioned adjacent the plug, said cables are terminated to the electrical conductive layer of the plug and the electrically conductive layer of the receptacle.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the plug and the receptacle comprise a substantially cylindrical shape.

13. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive layer is plated on the body with a molded interconnect device technology.