Connector insert assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9515439-B2
Application number	US-201514641375-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2015
Priority date	May 26, 2014
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

Connector inserts having retention features with good reliability and holding force. These connector inserts may include ground contacts that provide an insertion portion having a reduced length. These connector inserts may be reliable, have an attractive appearance, and be readily manufactured.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector insert comprising:
a housing having front opening, a first side opening along a right side, a second side opening along a left side, a first plurality of slots along a top side, and a second plurality of slots along a bottom side;
a first plurality of contacts in the first plurality of slots in the housing;
a second plurality of contacts in the second plurality of slots in the housing;
a first retention spring in the first side opening in the housing, the first retention spring having a first length and including a contacting portion at a first end to engage a notch on a tongue of a connector receptacle;
a second retention spring in the second side opening in the housing, the second retention spring having the first length and including a contacting portion at a first end to engage a notch on a tongue of a connector receptacle; and
a shield over the housing, the first retention spring, and the second retention spring, the shield contacting the first retention spring and the second retention spring when the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle.

2. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the shield contacts the first retention spring and the second retention spring before the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle.

3. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the first retention spring further comprises a dimple, and a portion of the first retention spring from the dimple to the contacting portion forms a deflection arm that deflects as the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle.

4. The connector insert of claim 3 wherein the deflection arm has a length that is a majority of the first length.

5. The connector insert of claim 3 wherein the deflection arm has a length that is greater than one-half of the first length.

6. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising a first insulating layer between the first plurality of contacts and the shield and a second insulating layer between the second plurality of contacts and the shield.

7. The connector insert of claim 6 wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are pieces of tape.

8. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the connector insert has a front lip around the front opening of the housing, wherein an inside portion of the lip is formed by the housing and an outside portion of the lip is formed by the shield.

9. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising a first ground contact between the front opening of the housing and the first plurality of contacts and a second ground contact between the front opening of the housing and the second plurality of contacts.

10. The connector insert of claim 9 wherein the first and second ground contacts each include a plurality of contacting portions joined by a cross beam, the cross beam attached to a first lateral support structure and a second lateral support structure, wherein the first lateral support structure and a second lateral support structure wrap around approximately one-half of a circumference of the housing in a lateral direction along the front opening of the housing.

11. A connector insert comprising:
a housing having front opening, a first side opening along a right side, a second side opening along a left side, a first plurality of slots along a top side, and a second plurality of slots along a bottom side;
a first plurality of contacts in the first plurality of slots in the housing;
a second plurality of contacts in the second plurality of slots in the housing;
a first retention spring in the first side opening in the housing;
a second retention spring in the second side opening in the housing;
a first ground contact between the front opening and the first plurality of contacts;
a second ground contact between the front opening and the second plurality of contacts, wherein the first and second ground contacts each include a plurality of contacting portions joined by a cross beam, the cross beam attached to a first lateral support structure and a second lateral support structure; and
a shield over the housing, the first retention spring, and the second retention spring.

12. The connector insert of claim 11 wherein the first lateral support structure and a second lateral support structure wrap around approximately one-half of a circumference of the housing in a lateral direction along the front opening of the housing.

13. The connector insert of claim 11 further comprising a first insulating layer between the first plurality of contacts and the shield and a second insulating layer between the second plurality of contacts and the shield.

14. The connector insert of claim 11 wherein the first retention spring and the second retention spring each has a first length and includes a contacting portion at a first end to engage a notch on a tongue of a connector receptacle, where each retention spring further includes a dimple, the dimple contacting the shield when the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle.

15. The connector insert of claim 14 wherein the shield contacts the dimple on the first retention spring and the dimple on the second retention spring before the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle.

16. The connector insert of claim 11 wherein the connector insert has a front lip around the front opening of the housing, wherein an inside portion of the lip is formed by the housing and an outside portion of the lip is formed by the shield.

17. The connector insert of claim 11 wherein the shield contacts the first retention spring and the second retention spring when the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle.

18. A connector insert comprising:
a housing having front opening, a first side opening along a right side, a second side opening along a left side, a first plurality of slots along a top side, and a second plurality of slots along a bottom side;
a first plurality of contacts in the first plurality of slots in the housing;
a second plurality of contacts in the second plurality of slots in the housing;
a first retention spring in the first side opening in the housing;
a second retention spring in the second side opening in the housing;
a first ground contact between the front opening of the housing and the first plurality of contacts;
a second ground contact between the front opening of the housing and the second plurality of contacts; and
a shield over the housing, the first retention spring, and the second retention spring, the first ground contact and the second ground contact, wherein the connector insert has a front lip around the front opening of the housing, wherein an inside portion of the lip is formed by the housing and an outside portion of the lip is formed by the shield.

19. The connector insert of claim 18 wherein the first and second ground contacts each include a plurality of contacting portions joined by a cross beam, the cross beam attached to a first lateral support structure and a second lateral support structure, wherein the first lateral support structure and a second lateral support structure wrap around approximately one-half of a circumference of the housing in a lateral direction along the front opening of the housing.

20. The connector insert of claim 19 wherein the shield contacts the first retention spring and the second retention spring when the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ng Nathan N
• Gao Zheng
• Amini Mahmoud R
• Kim Min Chul
• Abraham Colin J

Classifications

• H01R24/64

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

• H01R43/16

  for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending · CPC title

• H01R24/70 Primary

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R13/6275

  Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/2442 Primary

  with a single cantilevered beam · CPC title