Electrical connector assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11075475-B2
Application number	US-202016853633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2020
Priority date	Apr 18, 2019
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A receptacle connector includes an insulative receptacle housing, two rows of receptacle contacts retained to the receptacle housing, a one-piece metallic shell member retained to the receptacle housing and having a circumferential structure continuously surrounding the receptacle housing wherein a shielding/grounding member unitarily extends from the shell member and into an center island of the receptacle housing to separate the two rows of contacts in the transverse direction. A plug connector includes an insulative plug housing, two rows of plug contacts, and a pair of grounding blocks at two ends. During mating, two opposite ends of the shielding/grounding member mechanically and electrically connect to the pair of metallic grounding blocks or locking members, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a receptacle connector including:
an insulative receptacle housing having a circumferential wall unit defining with a center island therein to form a loop type receiving cavity therebetween, said center island extending along a longitudinal direction;
two rows of receptacle contacts retained, via an insert-molding process, to the circumferential wall unit and located by two sides of the center island in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a one piece metallic shell member of a seamless structure circumferentially continuously surrounding the circumferential wall unit via said insert-molding process; and
a metallic shielding/grounding member unitarily extending with the shell member and embedded within the center island via said insert-molding process; wherein
two opposite ends of the shielding/grounding member are exposed to an exterior in the longitudinal direction.

2. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential wall unit includes a pair of side walls extending along the longitudinal direction, and a pair of end walls extending in the transverse direction, and the shell member includes a pair of side plates applied upon the corresponding side walls, respectively, and the shielding/grounding member extends from one of said side plates.

3. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each side plate includes a bar which is located upon an outer surface of the corresponding side wall, and the shielding/grounding member extends from one corresponding bar.

4. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the shielding/grounding member is linked to the bar via a pair of bottom arms which are located around a bottom surface of the receptacle housing.

5. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the corresponding contacts are located between the pair of bottom arms in the longitudinal direction.

6. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each side plate further includes a shielding section applied upon an inner surface of the corresponding side wall, and at least one protrusion is formed on the shielding section.

7. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further including a plug connector adapted to be mated with the receptacle connector, wherein said plug connector including an insulative plug housing with a plurality of plug contacts retained in the plug housing via an insert-molding process, and a pair of metallic locking members retained to two ends of the plug housing via the same insert-molding process with the plug contacts, and the pair of locking members form two locking holes to receive corresponding protrusions at said two ends of the shielding/grounding member during mating.

8. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the shell member includes a shielding section applied upon an inner surface of the circumferential wall unit, and at least one protrusion is formed on the shielding section which is received within a corresponding recess formed in the locking member during mating.

9. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 8 , wherein each locking member includes two pairs of positioning arms along the longitudinal direction, and each positioning arms forms the corresponding recess.

10. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a rib is formed between each pair of positioning arms, and is received within a positioning hole in the plug housing.

11. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a receptacle connector and a plug connector adapted to be mated with each other,
said receptacle connector including:
an insulative receptacle housing having a circumferential wall unit defining with a center island therein to form a loop type receiving cavity therebetween, said center island extending along a longitudinal direction;
two rows of receptacle contacts retained, via an insert-molding process, to the circumferential wall unit and located by two sides of the center island in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a one piece metallic shell member of a seamless structure circumferentially continuously surrounding the circumferential wall unit via said insert-molding process; and
a metallic shielding/grounding member unitarily extending with the shell member and embedded within the center island via said insert-molding process;
said plug connector including an insulative plug housing with a plurality of plug contacts retained in the plug housing via an insert-molding process, and a pair of metallic locking members retained to two ends of the plug housing via the same insert-molding process with the plug contacts, wherein
the shielding/grounding member is mechanically and electrically connected with the pair of locking members during mating.

12. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein two opposite ends of the shielding/grounding member are exposed to an exterior in the longitudinal direction.

13. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a pair of protrusions are formed at said two opposite ends of the shielding/grounding member, and the pair of locking members form corresponding locking holes receiving said protrusions.

14. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the circumferential wall unit includes a pair of side walls extending along the longitudinal direction, and a pair of end walls extending in the transverse direction, and the shell member includes a pair of side plates applied upon the corresponding side walls, respectively, and the shielding/grounding member extends from one of said side plates.

15. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each side plate includes a bar which is located upon an outer surface of the corresponding side wall, and the shielding/grounding member extends from one corresponding bar.

16. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the shielding/grounding member is linked to the bar via a pair of bottom arms which are located around a bottom surface of the receptacle housing.

17. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the corresponding contacts are located between the pair of bottom arms in the longitudinal direction.

18. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein each side plate further includes a shielding section applied upon an inner surface of the corresponding side wall, and at least one protrusion is formed on the shielding section.

19. A receptacle connector for mating with a plug connector having pair of metallic locking members at two opposite ends along a longitudinal direction, comprising:
an insulative receptacle housing having a circumferential wall unit defining with a center island therein to form a loop type receiving cavity therebetween, said center island extending along a longitudinal direction;
two rows of receptacle contacts retained, via an insert-molding process, to the circumferential wall unit and located by two sides of the center island in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a one piece metallic shell member of a seamless structure circumferentially continuously surrounding the circumferential wall unit via said insert-molding process; and
a metallic shielding/grounding member unitarily extending with the shell member and em

Assignees

• Foxconn Kunshan Computer Connector Co Ltd
• Foxconn Interconnect Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Ming-Ching

Classifications

• H01R13/50

  formed as an integral body (H01R13/514 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R12/716 Primary

  Coupling device provided on the PCB · CPC title

• H01R13/6273

  comprising two latching arms · CPC title

• H01R13/6585

  Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts · CPC title

• H01R13/405

  Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting · CPC title