Electrical connector with power plug and power socket

• US 8,454,372 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Dai, Bin, Lee, Chun-Lang
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US13/294,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20120309210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/188, 200/51.R, 200/51.09
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

An electronic device includes a power plug and a power socket coupled to the power plug. The power plug includes a housing, two plug contacts, one conductive member, two conductive resilient pieces, and two magnetic members. The conductive resilient pieces are positioned in the housing, and are electrically connected to the conductive member. The magnetic members are positioned in the housing, and opposite to the at least two conductive resilient pieces. The power socket includes an inner housing, two socket contacts, and two metal pieces. The inner housing defines an assembly groove to receive the power plug. The metal pieces are positioned in the assembly groove of the inner housing, and are opposite to the magnetic members, such that a magnetic attraction force exerted between the metal pieces and the magnetic member actuates the power plug.

Claims

1. A power plug, comprising:

a housing;

at least two plug contacts positioned on the housing;

at least one conductive member positioned on the housing;

at least two conductive resilient pieces positioned in the housing, and electrically connected to the conductive member, wherein the at least two conductive resilient pieces are adjacent to the at least two plug contacts; and

at least two magnetic members received in the housing, and each of the at least two magnetic members being attached to one of the at least two conductive resilient pieces.

2. The power plug of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two conductive resilient pieces comprises a first plate and a second plate extending from an end of the first plate, and the second plate is slanted to the first plate;

the first plate is electrically connected to the conductive member;

each of the at least two magnetic members is attached to the second plate.

3. The power plug of claim 2, wherein each conductive resilient piece further comprises a first connecting end extending slantingly from an end of the first plate away from the second plate, and each first connecting end is contacting the conductive member.

4. The power plug of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a main body and a cover connected to the main body, the main body and the cover are made of insulation materials.

5. The power plug of claim 4, wherein the main body comprises a connecting portion, a frame portion formed on the connecting portion, the frame portion and the connecting portion cooperatively define a receiving groove for receiving the at least two magnetic members, the at least two conductive resilient pieces, and the at least two plug contacts.

6. The power plug of claim 5, wherein the frame portion defines at least two positioning cutouts, and the at least two plug contacts are positioned in the at least two positioning cutouts.

7. The power plug of claim 6, wherein each plug contact comprises an engaging portion, a contact portion, and a stepped portion, the contact portion and the stepped portion extend from opposite ends of the engaging portion, and a width of the contact portion or the stepped portion is smaller than the width of the engaging portion.

8. The power plug of claim 1, wherein the conductive member comprises a casing and two conductive wires extending from a same end of the casing, and the conductive wires are connected to the at least two conductive resilient pieces.

9. A power socket, comprising:

an inner housing comprising an engaging portion, a first support portion and a second support portions extending from opposite sides of the engaging portion, the engaging portion, the first support portion and the second support portions cooperatively defines an assembly groove;

at least two socket contacts positioned on the first support portion;

at least two conductive poles positioned on the engaging portion and electrically connected to the socket contacts;

at least two metal pieces positioned in the assembly groove of the inner housing, and adjacent to the at least two socket contacts.

10. The power socket of claim 9, further comprising an outer housing sleeved on the inner housing, and the conductive poles extend through the outer housing.

11. The power socket of claim 9, wherein the at least two socket contacts are substantially L-shaped.

12. An electrical connector, comprising:

a power plug, comprising;

a housing;

at least two plug contacts positioned on the housing;

at least one conductive member positioned on the housing;

at least two conductive resilient pieces positioned in the housing, and electrically connected to the conductive member, wherein the at least two conductive resilient pieces are adjacent to the at least two plug contacts; and

at least two magnetic members received in the housing, and each of the at least two magnetic members being attached to one of the at least two conductive resilient pieces; and

a power socket coupled to the power plug, comprising;

an inner housing defining an assembly groove partially receiving the housing of the power plug;

at least two socket contacts positioned on the inner housing;

at least two conductive poles positioned on the inner housing and electrically connected to the socket contacts; and

at least two metal pieces positioned in the assembly groove of the inner housing, and opposite the at least two magnetic member of the power plug, such that a magnetic force generated between the at least two metal pieces and the at least two magnetic members drives the at least two plug contacts to attach to the at least two socket contacts.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein each of the at least two conductive resilient pieces comprises a first plate and a second plate extending from an end of the first plate and is slanted to the first plate;

the first plate is electrically connected to the conductive member;

each of the at least two magnetic members is attached to the second plate.

14. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein a first connecting end extends slantingly from an end of the first plate away from the second plate.

15. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a main body and a cover connected to the main body, the main body and the cover are made of insulation materials.

16. The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein the main body comprises a connecting portion, a frame portion formed on the connecting portion, the frame portion and the connecting portion cooperatively define a receiving groove for receiving the at least two magnetic members, the at least two conductive resilient pieces, and the at least two plug contacts.

17. The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the frame portion defines at least two positioning cutouts, and the at least two plug contacts are positioned in the at least two positioning cutouts.

18. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein each plug contact comprises an engaging portion, a contact portion, and a stepped portion, the contact portion and the stepped portion extend from opposite ends of the engaging portion, and a width of the contact portion or the stepped portion is smaller than the width of the engaging portion.

19. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein each conductive member comprises a casing and two conductive wires extending from a same end of the casing, and the conductive wires are connected to the at least two conductive resilient pieces.

20. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the power socket further comprises an outer housing sleeved on the inner housing, and the conductive poles of the power socket extend through the outer housing.