Waterproof receptacle connector

• US 9,973,840 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wagman, Daniel C., Kasar, Darshan R., Panecki, Lee M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US15/273,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20170093079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/24 Etuis for purposes not covered by a single one of groups A45C11/02 - A45C11/22, A45C11/26, A45C11/32 - A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/026 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 : Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 : Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 : Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1075 : Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2826 : for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2857 : for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 : for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/105 : Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 : Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 : Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 : Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 : Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 : Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 : Magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 : Loudspeakers

Abstract

An electrical receptacle connector includes housing defining a cavity configured to receive a plug portion of a mating connector. A plurality of electrical contacts are secured within a contact assembly that is sealed to the housing with a gasket and held in place by a metallic bracket disposed around an outside surface of the housing.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle connector comprising:

a housing comprising an electrically insulative polymer that extends between a receiving face and a rear face, the housing defining a cavity that communicates with an opening in the receiving face to receive a plug portion of a mating plug connector;

a contact spacer positioned adjacent to the rear face, the contact spacer having a first surface and a second surface wherein the second surface is recessed from the first surface;

a plurality of contacts, each contact having a tip positioned within the cavity, an anchor portion that anchors each contact to the contact spacer, a beam portion that connects the tip to the anchor portion and an electrical lead extending from the anchor portion; and

a dielectric overmold component including a first face positioned against the second surface and an interconnection face that is coplanar with the first surface, wherein the interconnection face includes a plurality of openings, each opening formed around a respective one of the electrical leads.

2. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 1 wherein the dielectric overmold component forms a liquid-tight seal to each of the plurality of contacts.

3. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 1 further comprising a ground latch coupled to the dielectric overmold component, the ground latch including first and second spring arms on opposing sides of the plurality of contacts.

4. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 1 wherein the cavity includes slots that align with each of the plurality of contacts.

5. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 1 wherein a metallic bracket is disposed around and outside surface of the housing and includes a top bracket attached to a bottom bracket.

6. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 1 wherein a gasket is disposed between the rear face of the housing and a contact assembly comprising the contact spacer, the plurality of contacts and the dielectric overmold component, wherein the gasket forms a liquid-tight seal between the contact assembly and the housing.

7. An electrical receptacle connector comprising:

a housing comprising an electrically insulative polymer that extends between a receiving face and a rear face, the housing defining a cavity that communicates with a front opening in the receiving face to receive a plug portion of a mating plug connector and wherein the housing has a plurality of slots that form a portion of the cavity; and

a contact assembly including;

a contact spacer positioned adjacent to the rear face, the contact spacer having a first surface and a second surface wherein the second surface is recessed from the first surface;

a plurality of contacts positioned adjacent to the rear face, wherein each of the plurality of contacts is disposed within one of the plurality of slots and includes a tip positioned within the cavity, an anchor portion that anchors each contact to the contact spacer, an electrical lead extending from the anchor portion and a beam portion that connects the tip to the anchor portion; and

a dielectric overmold component including a first face positioned against the second surface and an interconnection face that is coplanar with the first surface, wherein the interconnection face includes a plurality of openings, each opening formed around a respective one of the electrical leads.

8. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 7 wherein the overmolded dielectric overmold component forms a liquid-tight seal to each of the plurality of contacts.

9. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 7 wherein the contact assembly further includes a ground latch having first and second retention features on opposing sides of the plurality of contacts and wherein the dielectric overmold component secures the ground latch to the contact assembly.

10. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 7 wherein a metallic bracket is disposed around an outside surface of the housing and formed to secure the contact assembly to the housing, and wherein the metallic bracket includes a top bracket attached to a bottom bracket.

11. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 7 wherein a gasket is disposed between the rear face of the housing and the contact assembly and the gasket forms a liquid-tight seal between the contact assembly and the housing.

12. An electrical receptacle connector comprising:

a housing comprising an electrically insulative polymer that extends between a receiving face and a rear face, the housing defining a cavity that communicates with a front opening in the receiving face to receive a plug portion of a mating plug connector and wherein the housing has a plurality of slots that form a portion of the cavity; and

a contact assembly including;

(i) a contact spacer positioned adjacent to the rear face, the contact spacer having a first surface and a second surface wherein the second surface is recessed from the first surface;

(ii) a plurality of contacts, each of the plurality of contacts having a tip that extents into the cavity through one of the plurality of slots, an anchor portion coupled to the contact spacer, an electrical lead extending from the anchor portion and a beam portion that connects the tip to the anchor portion, (iii) a ground latch having first and second spring arms on opposing sides of the plurality of contacts, and (iv) a dielectric component formed around a portion of the contact spacer and around the anchor portion of each contact in the plurality of contacts, wherein the dielectric component includes a first face positioned against the second surface and an interconnection face that is coplanar with the first surface, and wherein the interconnection face includes a plurality of openings, each opening formed around a respective one of the electrical leads.

13. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 12 further comprising a metallic bracket disposed around an outside surface of the housing and formed to secure the contact assembly to the housing, wherein the metallic bracket includes first and second opposing bracket portions.

14. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 12 further comprising a gasket disposed between the rear face of the housing and the contact assembly, wherein the gasket forms a liquid-tight seal between the contact assembly and the housing.

15. The electrical receptacle connector of claim 12 wherein the plurality of contacts consists of eight contacts spaced apart from each other along a single row.