Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2001-11-20
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S680000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319068
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a housing of a receptacle connector and to a mold for molding the housing, and particularly to a housing for a receptacle connector molded using an improved mold whereby a tongue of the housing for receiving terminals of the connector can be formed with highly precise dimensions and positional accuracy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to
FIGS. 7-8
, a conventional receptacle connector is often used to connect a plug (not shown) with a PCB (not shown). In general, this type of receptacle connector includes an insulative housing
1
and a plurality of terminals received in the housing
1
. The insulative housing
1
comprises two sidewalls
10
parallel to each other and defining a port
13
therebetween, and a tongue
11
located between the two sidewalls
10
, a plurality of grooves
110
being located in both surfaces (not labelled) of the tongue
11
for receiving a plurality of terminals (not shown). When the receptacle connector connects with the plug, outer faces of sidewalls of the plug matingly slide along inner faces of the sidewalls
10
to enter the port
13
so that contacts in inner faces of the sidewalls of the plug can precisely engage with the terminals of the receptacle connector.
In molding the insulative housing
1
, plastic material is injected into a mold
20
,
21
(see
FIG. 7
) from an injecting inlet
12
. Because the plastic material does not flow into all parts of the mold at the same time, in general, the tongue
11
is completely formed after the sidewalls are complete. Thus, thermal stress can concentrate in the tongue
11
, which can result in deformation, deflection, and distortion in the tongue. When any of these happens, the receptacle connector can no longer reliably connect with the plug, especially in a vibration environment. Hence, an improved mold for molding a housing of a receptacle connector and a housing of a receptacle connector having more precise dimensions and positional accuracy, are required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a housing of a receptacle connector having highly precise dimensions and positional accuracy so that contacts of the connector can be correctly positioned in the connector.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a mold for molding a housing of a receptacle connector whereby the degree of deformation, distortion, and deflection of a contact bearing tongue of the connector is diminished.
An insulative housing for a receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention, comprises: a base, a first sidewall and a second sidewall both extending upward from the sides of the base, two flanks extending upward from ends of the base and joining the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a port being defined between the sidewalls and the flanks, and a tongue extending upward from the base and positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the tongue defines a plurality of channels on each of opposite sides thereof for receiving a corresponding plurality of terminals therein.
A method of molding an insulative housing in accordance with the present invention, comprises the steps of: providing a lower mold for forming the base of the insulative housing, providing an upper mold for forming the sidewalls and the flanks, providing a core for forming the tongue, assembling the lower mold, upwardly, and core together while setting a plurality of baffles inside said molds and core, holding these baffles in place adjacent to walls thereof which will form inner surfaces of the first sidewall and the second sidewall in the finished housing, and injecting plastic material into the molds and core from an injecting inlet located at a face of the base to form the insulative housing.
A mold assembly for molding an insulative housing in accordance with the present invention, comprises: a lower mold, an upper mold, a core, and a plurality of baffles. The lower mold defines a first cavity section for forming a base of the housing and includes an injecting inlet for molten plastic material to enter into the mold. The upper mold defines a second cavity section for forming first and second sidewalls and flanks of the housing projecting upwardly from the base, and a core defines a third cavity section for forming a tongue projecting upwardly from the base and located between the first and second sidewalls. A plurality of pins project upward from the lower mold into the third cavity section for forming a plurality of channels to receive a corresponding number of terminals in the tongue. The baffles are set in the first and second cavity sections adjacent to walls of the core which form inside surfaces of the first and second sidewalls in the finished housing. The baffles form grooves in the first and second sidewalls when the housing is formed using the mold assembly. The baffles also can be used for reducing the speed at which the molten material fills the portion of the second cavity section for forming the first and second sidewalls, thereby preventing warpage in the tongue.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5030130 (1991-07-01), Natsume
patent: 5221217 (1993-06-01), Oikawa
patent: 5380225 (1995-01-01), Inaoka
patent: 5584721 (1996-12-01), Taniuchi et al.
patent: 5667393 (1997-09-01), Grabbe et al.
patent: 5865651 (1999-02-01), Dague et al.
patent: 5921787 (1999-07-01), Pope et al.
patent: 5971809 (1999-10-01), Ho
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary
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