Spring-loaded contacts having capsule intermediate object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022102893-A1
Application number	US-202017033514-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2020
Priority date	Sep 25, 2020
Publication date	Mar 31, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Reliable contacts for connectors, connector receptacles that can be easily aligned to an opening in an electronic device, and connector inserts and connector receptacles that are readily manufactured. One example can provide a spring-biased contact having plunger extending through an opening in a barrel and biased by a spring. An intermediate object can be positioned between the plunger and the spring. The intermediate object can contact a barrel in at least two locations on the barrel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A spring-loaded contact comprising:
a barrel having a front opening; a plunger having a tip extending through the front opening and a body housed in the barrel; a spring housed in the barrel; and an intermediate object between a backside of the plunger and the spring, where the intermediate object simultaneously contacts an inside surface of barrel at a first location and a second location, the first location and the second location on opposite sides of the intermediate object.

2 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the intermediate object has a capsule shape.

3 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the intermediate object has a stadium-of-rotation shape.

4 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the intermediate object has a spherocylinder shape.

5 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the intermediate object has a shape defined by two hemispheres separated by a cylinder.

6 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the first location is a first distance from the front opening and the second location is a second distance from the front opening, the first distance different than the second distance.

7 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the inside surface of the barrel provides a first force along a first force vector against the intermediate object at the first location and the inside surface of the barrel provides a second force along a second force vector against the intermediate object at the second location, and wherein the first force vector and the second force vector are parallel and non-overlapping.

8 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the intermediate object has a first length and the barrel has a first diameter, and wherein the first length is greater than the first diameter.

9 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 1 wherein the backside of the plunger has a sloped off-center conical surface.

10 . A spring-loaded contact comprising:
a barrel having a front opening; a plunger having a tip extending through the front opening and a body housed in the barrel; a spring housed in the barrel; and a capsule between a backside of the plunger and the spring.

11 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 10 wherein the capsule simultaneously contacts an inside surface of barrel at a first location and a second location, the first location and the second location on opposite sides of the capsule.

12 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 11 wherein the first location is a first distance from the front opening and the second location is a second distance from the front opening, the first distance different than the second distance.

13 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 12 wherein the inside surface of the barrel provides a first force along a first force vector against the capsule at the first location and the inside surface of the barrel provides a second force along a second force vector against the capsule at the second location, and wherein the first force vector and the second force vector are parallel and non-overlapping.

14 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 13 wherein the capsule is conductive.

15 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 14 wherein the backside of the plunger has a sloped off-center conical surface.

16 . The spring-loaded contact of claim 15 wherein the spring-loaded contact is in a connector insert.

17 . A connector receptacle comprising:
a top housing having a first slot extending in a first direction; and a first bracket having a tab end and a fastener end, the tab end in the first slot, wherein the tab end of the first bracket can move in the first direction in the first slot.

18 . The connector receptacle of claim 17 wherein the top housing further includes a second slot extending in the first direction, the connector receptacle further comprising:
a second bracket having a tab end and a fastener end, the tab end in the second slot,
wherein the tab end of the first bracket can move in the first direction in the first slot.

19 . The connector receptacle of claim 18 further comprising a shield over the top housing, wherein the shield has a first opening such that the fastener end of the first bracket passes through the first opening, and wherein the shield has a second opening such that the fastener end of the second bracket passes through the second opening.

20 . The connector receptacle of claim 19 further comprising:
a plurality of contacts;
a contact housing supporting the plurality of contacts; and
a lock positioned to secure the contact housing between the lock and the top housing.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Tziviskos George

Classifications

• H01R13/2421

  using coil springs · CPC title

• H01R12/7047

  with a fastener through a screw hole in the coupling device · CPC title

• H01R2201/06

  for computer periphery · CPC title

• H01R13/6205 Primary

  Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet · CPC title

• H01R12/722

  coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits · CPC title