Low profile modular jack

Details Low profile modular jack Low profile modular jack

2001-11-06

2003-01-21

Bradley, P. Austin (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S607560, C439S660000, C439S418000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06508677

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular jack, and particularly to a modular jack with a reduced height.
2. Description of Related Art
Modular jack is widely used in a computer communication network or a wire telephone network. A conventional modular jack comprises an insulative housing, and a plurality of terminals assembled in the housing for connecting with mating contacts of a complementary plug connector and conductors of a mating cable at opposite ends. The terminals connect with the conductors of the cable at a horizontal rear end of the housing. However, when the cable is subjected to an external force in a horizontal direction, the connection between the terminals and the conductors is easy to break. A modular jack disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application No. 76209220 overcomes the aforesaid disadvantage. Referring to
FIG. 5
, a modular jack
5
comprises an insulative housing
50
, and a plurality of terminals
51
assembled in the housing
50
. The housing
50
comprises a receiving space
500
for receiving a complementary plug connector
6
, and a plurality of front-to-back through passageways
501
at a bottom wall of the housing
50
communicating with the receiving space
500
for receiving the terminals
51
. Each terminal
51
comprises a mounting portion
511
received in the passageway
501
, a spring contacting portion
512
extending slantways upwardly from a front end of the mounting portion
511
to mate with the plug connector
6
, and a tail portion
513
extending rearwardly from a rear end of the mounting portion
511
to electrically contact with a mating cable
7
. The cable
7
comprises a contact
71
electrically assembled on a free end thereof to securely contact with the tail portion
513
. However, the bottom wall of the housing
50
must be thick enough to hold the cable
7
and the tail portion
513
, which will heighten the modular jack
5
.
Hence, an improved modular jack is required to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional modular jack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a modular jack with a reduced height.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular jack which ensures a reliable connection between its contacts and a corresponding cable.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a modular jack in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing and a terminal module received in the housing. The housing comprises a top wall, an opposite bottom wall and a pair of opposite side walls together defining a longitudinal receiving space for receiving a complementary plug connector and the terminal module. Each of the side walls defines a first recess at a rear end thereof and a second recess communicating with the first recess. The terminal module comprises a dielectric base and a plurality of terminals received in the base. The base comprises a pair of opposite spring arms to be received in the first recess. Each of the spring arms comprises a protrusion for being received in the second recess to securely retain the terminal module in the receiving space. Each of the terminals comprises a mounting portion, a tail portion extending upwardly from a rear end of the mounting portion, and a spring contacting portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from a front end of the mounting portion. In manufacturing, the mounting portions, the tail portions of the terminals, and corresponding conductors of a cable connected with the tail portions are together insert molded with the base. The terminals connect with the conductors of the cable at a top end of the housing, so the bottom wall of the housing needs not to be too thick and thus reduces the height of the modular jack. In addition, the connection between the tail portions and the conductors of the cable is not easy to break off.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5178563 (1993-01-01), Reed
patent: 5358430 (1994-10-01), Bonvallat et al.
patent: 5803770 (1998-09-01), Swendson et al.
patent: 5885111 (1999-03-01), Yu

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