Hybrid connector with audio jack

Details Hybrid connector with audio jack Hybrid connector with audio jack

1999-12-03

2001-02-13

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S080000, C439S876000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186833

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hybrid connector with an audio jack, and particularly to a hybrid connector with an audio jack which has a terminal for making reliable mechanical and electrical connection to a circuit board at a middle level of the contact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Japanese application No. 6-36255 discloses a prior art contact
8
(shown in FIG.
7
). The contact
8
includes a base
81
, a pair of engaging fingers
82
forwardly extending from lateral edges of the base
81
, a head
83
forwardly extending and defining a hole (not labeled) for latching the contact
8
with a housing (not shown) which receives the contact
8
, a pair of securing legs
84
depending forwardly from the base
81
and a tail
85
extending rearwardly from the base
81
. The head
83
and the securing legs
84
cooperate to mechanically retain the contact
8
in position. The tail
85
is used for surface mounting the contact
8
to a circuit board (not shown). The head
83
latches to a detention of the housing (not shown) and fits within a depression in the housing (not shown), so the housing requires enough thickness to accommodate the detention and the depression. Furthermore, the tail
85
extends from a bottom edge of the base
81
thereby restricting the housing (not shown) to being mounted by its bottom surface. These requirements are counter to the trend toward low profile connectors.
Hence, an improved electrical connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior arts.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a contact which is adapted for surface mounting on a circuit board at a middle level thereof; and
A second object of the present invention is to provide a contact which is adapted to reliably engage with a complementary connector.
To achieve the above objects, a hybrid connector with an audio jack comprises an elongate dielectric housing, a plurality of terminals and a contact assembly.
The housing includes a plurality of grooves for receiving the plurality of terminals, and a mating hole disposed between a lateral end of the housing and the plurality of grooves. The mating hole extends through the housing and accommodates the contact assembly.
The contact assembly includes a first contact, a second contact and a third contact. The first contact has a resilient engaging finger extending forwardly from a base thereof and a soldering arm extending rearwardly from the base. The second contact has an elongate base, a soldering arm extending rearwardly from the base and a resilient engaging finger depending rearwardly from a front end of the base. The soldering arm of the second contact is identical to that of the first contact. The third contact includes a base, a soldering arm bending rearwardly from a top edge of the base, a pair of resilient engaging fingers depending forwardly from lateral edges of the base and a securing leg forwardly depending from the base. The pair of engaging fingers of the third contact slightly protrudes inwardly for reliably coupling with a complementary plug.
In assembly, the first and second contacts fit against lateral insides of the mating hole and the third contact is inserted in a rear of the mating hole. The securing leg of the third contact interferentially fits into the housing and the soldering arm of the third contact is soldered on a circuit board whereby the third contact is mechanically and electrically retained in position. The soldering arm of the third contact is adapted to be mounted on a circuit board at a point above a bottom of the housing. The complementary plug is inserted through a front of the mating hole while the engaging fingers of the first contact, the second contact and the third contact resiliently cooperate to establish electrical connection with the inserted complementary plug.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5022872 (1991-06-01), Shichida
patent: 5624269 (1997-04-01), Kanamori

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Hybrid connector with audio jack does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Hybrid connector with audio jack, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hybrid connector with audio jack will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2577259