Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

2002-03-27

2004-07-06

Zarroli, Michael C. (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S079000, C439S595000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06758700

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector that has a plurality of connection terminals. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical connector with an improved alignment feature for employment in reliably connecting audio devices, such as car radios.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring now to
FIGS. 7 and 8
, an electrical connector
1
includes a plug connector
3
mounted on a substrate
2
, and a socket connector
4
, which inserts into plug connector
3
to establish an electrical connection therebetween.
Plug connector
3
has a plug connector body
3
a
and a plurality of connection terminals
3
b
securely embedded in plug connector
3
a.
Plug connector body
3
a
has a recess
3
c
which opens at an end surface thereof. Plug connector body
3
a
has a locking part
3
d
that protrudes downward from a lower surface of plug connector body
3
a
. Locking part
3
d
aids in positioning and temporarily retaining plug connector body
3
a
with respect to substrate
2
.
Connection terminals
3
b
are arranged in two rows at a fixed interval in plug connector body
3
a
. One end of connection terminals
3
b
protrudes in a socket connector insertion direction inside recess
3
c
of plug connector body
3
a
. The other end of connection terminals
3
b
passes through plug connector body
3
a
and is exposed on the lower surface of plug connector body
3
a
. The other end of each connection terminal
3
b
is electrically connected by soldering to a connecting land (not shown) formed on the surface of substrate
2
.
Referring now to
FIGS. 9 through 12
, socket connector
4
includes a socket connector body
4
a
and a plurality of connection terminals
4
b
embedded in socket connector body
4
a.
Socket connector body
4
a
has a plurality of joining holes
4
c
which open on an end surface thereof allowing plug connection terminals
3
b
access to socket connection terminals
4
b
, during an assembly process.
Connection terminals
4
b
are arranged in two rows in the same manner as connection terminals
3
b
of socket connector
3
. During careful assembly, socket connector body
4
a
of socket connector
4
is inserted inside recess
3
c
on plug connector body
3
a
of plug connector
3
, one end of each connection terminal
3
b
fits inside each respective joining hole
4
c
of socket connector body
4
a.
As a consequence of this contact between connection terminal
3
b
and connection terminal
4
b
of socket connector
4
, an electrical connection is achieved linking socket connector
4
to substrate
2
.
During normal assembly and use, after mounting plug connector
3
onto substrate
2
, socket connector body
4
a
of socket connector
4
is inserted inside recess
3
c
of plug connector
3
.
Once socket connector body
4
a
is completely pushed inside recess
3
c
, each connection terminal
3
b
of plug connector
3
contacts each of the corresponding connection terminal
4
b
of socket connector
4
, and connection of socket connector
4
and plug connector
3
is achieved.
As can be seen from this design, during proper insertion, the outer surface of socket connector body
4
a
is restricted in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction by the inner wall of recess
3
c
of plug connector body
3
a.
Unfortunately, as shown by the tilted position A of socket connector body
4
a
in
FIG. 7
, when socket connector body
4
a
is inserted at a mis-aligned angle in the vertical direction with respect to recess
3
c
of plug connector
3
, a lower end edge of socket connector body
4
a
contacts the end of connection terminals
3
b
of plug connector
3
.
As a consequence, should socket connector body
4
a
be further inserted in an effort to achieve electrical connection, connection terminals
3
b
of plug connector
3
are bent, deformed, and may be broken. Resulting in undesirable equipment damage and expensive and costly repairs.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector in which straight and non-damaging insertion is ensured by simple construction.
The present invention relates to an electrical connector having a socket connector engagable with a plug connector. The plug connector slides into a recess of the socket connector and is securely guided and aligned with connection terminals during insertion. Complementary joining parts on the inside of the recess and the outer surface of the socket connector engage, prevent the socket connector from damaging the connection terminals in the recess, and securely guide the socket connector during insertion and reuse.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector, comprising: a socket connector, a socket connector body and a plurality of socket connection terminals in the socket connector, the socket connector body including a plurality of joining holes, the joining holes communicating respectively between first ends of each the socket connection terminal and a first face of the socket connector body, at least a first joining part on a first outer wall surface of the socket connector body, at least a second joining part on a second outer wall surface of the socket connector body, a plug connector, a plug connector body and a plurality of plug connection terminals in the plug connector, the plug connector body including a recess on a back end of the plug connector body, second ends of each the plug connection terminals extending into the recess toward the back end, the second ends of each the plug connection terminal insertably aligned with respective the joining holes and the socket connection terminals, at least a third joining part on a first inner wall surface of the recess, at least a fourth joining part on a second inner wall surface of the recess, and the first and second joining parts positively engaging, and preventing a misalignment of the socket connector with the plug connector, by aligning with respective the third and fourth joining parts during an insertion of the socket connector body into the recess, thereby preventing damage to the plug connection terminals and enabling easy electrical connection between the plug connection terminals and respective the socket connection terminals.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector, wherein: the at least first and second joining parts on the socket connector body are first and second guide ribs, and the at least third and fourth joining parts on the plug connector body are at least third and fourth guide grooves, whereby the guide ribs positively engages and slides along the guide grooves during the insertion and prevents the misalignment.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector, wherein: the at least first and second joining parts on the socket connector body are first and second guide grooves, and the at least third and fourth joining parts on the plug connector body are at least third and fourth guide ribs, whereby the guide grooves positively engages and slides along the guide ribs during the insertion and prevents the misalignment.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector, wherein: the at least first and second joining parts are at least one of a guide groove and a guiding rib, and the at least third and fourth joining parts are the other of the at least one of guide groove and the guide rib, whereby the at least one positively engages respective the other during the insertion and prevents the misalignment.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector, wherein: the guide grooves extend parallel to the plug connection terminals, the guide ribs extend parallel to the plug connection terminals, the guide grooves aligned with at least one of the plug connection terminals, and the guide ribs aligned with at least on

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