Durable connector receptacles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018277995-A1
Application number	US-201815996197-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2018
Priority date	Apr 14, 2014
Publication date	Sep 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Connector receptacles that are able to withstand insertion and other forces, are reliable, and are easy to manufacture. In various examples, the connector receptacle tongue or other portions may be reinforced such that they may withstand the insertion forces exerted through a connector insert.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A connector receptacle comprising:
a tongue, the tongue comprising: a metallic center piece having a center portion, the center portion having a right front extension and a left front extension, wherein the left front extension is folded to form a first side ground contact, and the right front extension is folded to form a second side ground contact; a plurality of contacts in a first molded portion; and the first molded portion around the metallic center piece such that a portion of each of the contacts, and a portion of each of the first side ground contact and the second side ground contact are exposed.

2 . The connector receptacle of claim 1 wherein the metallic center piece further comprises a left rear extension folded to form a first top ground contact, the left rear extension having a rear extension folded to form a second top ground contact, and a right rear extension folded to form a first bottom ground contact, the right rear extension having a rear extension folded to form a second bottom ground contact.

3 . The connector receptacle of claim 2 further comprising:
a second molded portion over a rear of the first molded portion, the second molded portion leaving a portion of the plurality of contacts, the first top ground contact, the second top ground contact, and the first bottom ground contact, the second bottom ground contact, and the first and second side ground contacts exposed.

4 . The connector receptacle of claim 2 wherein the metallic center piece further comprises a rear extension, the rear extension comprising a plurality of tabs.

5 . The connector receptacle of claim 2 wherein the center portion further comprises a folded front portion to provide reinforcement for the front of the tongue.

6 . The connector receptacle of claim 3 wherein the contacts are placed in the first molded portion before the second molded portion is formed.

7 . A connector receptacle comprising:
a tongue, the tongue comprising: a plurality of contacts a metallic center portion having outside edges forming a first portion of a first side ground contact and a second side ground contact; an upper metallic portion forming a first ground contact spaced above the metallic center portion, a second portion of the first side ground contact, and a second portion of the second side ground contact; a lower metallic portion forming a second ground contact spaced below the metallic center portion, a third portion of the first side ground contact, and a third portion of the second side ground contact; and a molded portion over the metallic center portion leaving a portion of the plurality of contacts, the first ground contact, the second ground contact, the first side ground contact, and the second side ground contact exposed.

8 . The connector receptacle of claim 7 wherein the upper metallic portion and the lower metallic portion are integrally formed.

9 . The connector receptacle of claim 7 wherein the upper metallic portion and the lower metallic portion are separately formed.

10 . The connector receptacle of claim 7 wherein the upper metallic portion, the lower metallic portion, and the metallic center portion are attached.

11 . The connector receptacle of claim 10 wherein the upper metallic portion, the lower metallic portion, and the metallic center portion are attached using laser-welds.

12 . The connector receptacle of claim 11 wherein the upper metallic portion, the lower metallic portion, and the metallic center portion each include side tabs, where the side tabs are used to align the upper metallic portion, the lower metallic portion, and the metallic center portion before they are laser-welded together.

13 . The connector receptacle of claim 12 wherein the side tabs may be clamped together when the upper metallic portion, the lower metallic portion, and the metallic center portion are laser-welded together.

14 . The connector receptacle of claim 7 wherein a front portion of the upper metallic portion is folded under itself to provide reinforcement for the first and second side ground contacts, and a front portion of the lower metallic portion is folded over itself to provide reinforcement for the first and second side ground contacts.

15 . The connector receptacle of claim 14 wherein the upper metallic portion further forms a third ground contact spaced between the first ground contact and the metallic center portion and the lower metallic portion further forms a fourth ground contact spaced between the second ground contact and the metallic center portion.

16 . A connector receptacle comprising:
a tongue, the tongue comprising: a plurality of contacts; a metallic center portion having outside edges forming a first portion of a first side ground contact and a second side ground contact, and a front edge; an upper metallic portion forming a first ground contact spaced above the metallic center portion, a second portion of the first side ground contact, a second portion of the second side ground contact; a first reinforcing portion along at least a portion of the front edge; a lower metallic portion forming a second ground contact spaced below the metallic center portion, a third portion of the first side ground contact, a third portion of the second side ground contact; a second reinforcing portion along at least a portion of the front edge; and a molded portion over the metallic center portion leaving a portion of the plurality of contacts, the first ground contact, the second ground contact, the first side ground contact, and the second side ground contact exposed.

17 . The connector receptacle of claim 16 wherein the upper metallic portion further forms a third ground contact spaced between the first ground contact and the metallic center portion and the lower metallic portion further forms a fourth ground contact spaced between the second ground contact and the metallic center portion.

18 . The connector receptacle of claim 16 wherein the upper metallic portion and the first reinforcing portion are integrally formed and the lower metallic portion and the second reinforcing portion are integrally formed.

19 . The connector receptacle of claim 18 wherein the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion extend along front edge of the tongue.

20 . The connector receptacle of claim 16 wherein the upper metallic portion, the first reinforcing portion, the lower metallic portion, and the second reinforcing portion are separately formed.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Tziviskos George
• Lee Jae Hwang
• Amini Mahmoud R
• Hack Paul J
• Gao Zheng
• Zhou Rui

Classifications

• H01R24/60

  Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement · CPC title

• H01R24/64

  for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 · CPC title

• H01R2107/00

  Four or more poles · CPC title

• H01R24/62

  Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices · CPC title

• H01R13/6466

  on substrates, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB] · CPC title