Electronic signal plug connector

• US 6,494,746 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: D'Addario & Company Inc
• Original Assignee: J. D Addario & Company, Inc.
• Inventors: DʼAddario, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US10/000,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 439/669, 439/668, 439/188, 439/825, 439/439
• US Class Current: 439/668
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/17 with spring member on the pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A plug connector is provided for mating with a jack connector. The plug connector includes a base and a tubular member extending from the base. The tubular member includes a ground contact area adjacent the base, a conductive end distal to the base and an external, axially extending spring. The conductive end is insulated from the contact area and has a recess located thereon. This configuration permits retentively engaging the signal tip of the plug by corresponding structure in the jack, while simultaneously supporting the tubular portion of the plug with externally directed spring elements engaging corresponding structure in the jack, to achieve reduced relative movement when the plug connector and the jack connector are mated.

Claims

1. A plug connector on a cable having a ground conductor and at least one signal conductor, for mating with a jack, comprising:

a handle within which the cable is received;

a tubular member extending from the handle to a distal end, said tubular member including,

an electrically conductive, external ground contact area adjacent the handle and electrically connected to the ground conductor within the handle,

an insulative core extending within the ground contact area toward the distal end of the tubular member,

said distal end having an electrically conductive external tip, electrically connected to a said signal conductor by a wire extending within the core, and

means for insulating the external ground contact area from the tip;

wherein the tip has a recess formed thereon for retentive engagement with a signal contact on said jack and a spring is supported externally in and electrically connected with the ground contact area, said spring including a plurality of axially extending, external spring elements for retentive engagement with a ground contact on said jack.

2. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises an intermediate conductive portion disposed between and insulated from the contact area and the distal end, and the spring comprises at least one strip extending longitudinally along and being bowed radially outward of the central axis of the tubular member.

3. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein the contact area comprises a cylindrical portion having a side edge adjacent said intermediate conductive portion, and the spring comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced strips extending toward the handle from the cylindrical portion in a direction that is parallel to the central axis of the contact area.

4. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein the core is disposed about two signal conductors.

5. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein said cable has a ground conductor and two signal conductors, with the ground conductor electrically connected to the ground contact area, one signal conductor electrically connected to said distal end, and the other signal conductor electrically connected to said intermediate conductive portion.

6. The plug connector of claim 5, wherein said cable is an audio cable.

7. The plug connector of claim 1, in combination with said jack connector, wherein the ground contact area of the plug includes a cylindrical portion and the jack has a ground contact on the plug cylindrical portion and wherein the jack connector has a grounded conductive collar and the spring elements of the plug are in interference engagement with said collar.