Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-11
2003-03-04
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
74
Reexamination Certificate
active
06527592
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly which comprises intermatable male and female connectors such as plug and receptacle connectors, and more particularly to a matching male and female connector assembly which has characteristic fitting parts for the contacts of the male and female connectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, an electrical connector assembly comprises a plug connector (male connector) and a receptacle connector (female connector), which constitute a matching male and female connector assembly. Each of the male and female connectors includes a plurality of contacts, which are aligned and retained in an electrically insulative retaining member. When the male and female connectors are mated with each other, the contacts of one connector are brought into contact with those of the other connector, respectively, for electrical connection.
For example, a construction which enables the connection of the contacts of matable connectors in the above mentioned way is shown in FIG.
18
. This matching male and female connector assembly comprises a first and second connectors
201
and
211
. The first connector
201
includes a plurality of first contacts
202
, which are aligned and retained in a first retaining member
203
, while the second connector
211
includes a plurality of second contacts
212
, which are aligned and retained in a second retaining member
213
. In this connector assembly, when the two retaining members are mated with each other, the second contact portions
212
a
, which are located at the front ends of the second contacts
212
, are inserted into the space between the first contact portions
202
a
, which are located at the front ends of the first contacts
202
, and a side wall
203
a
of the first retaining member
203
to bring the second contacts
212
into contact with the first contacts
202
for electrical connection.
Recently, connectors have undergone miniaturization and multi-terminalization, and the size and the alignment pitch of the contacts have been reduced to match the miniaturization and the multi-terminalization. Therefore, in the above mentioned prior-art matching male and female connector assembly, there is a concern that the second contact portions
212
a
, which are thin pins and are located at the front ends of the second contacts
212
, may be deformed by a lateral force when the second contact portions
212
a
are brought into contact with the first contact portions
202
a
of the first contacts
202
. This concern becomes a serious problem as the contacts are miniaturized progressively.
In this connector assembly, the first connector
201
gains the contact pressure necessary for secure electrical connection by holding the second contact portions
212
a
between the first contact portions
202
a
and the side wall
203
a
of the first retaining member
203
. If the miniaturization of the connector assembly progresses, the side wall
203
a
of the first connector
201
will become thinner, eventually presenting a shortage of strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a matching male and female connector assembly which has a strength to provide the contacts with a sufficient contact pressure necessary for secure electrical connection without any adverse deformation of the contact portions even in a connector which has been miniaturized with a substantially narrow contact alignment pitch.
A matching male and female connector assembly according to the present invention comprises a first connector (e.g., the receptacle connector R described in the following embodiment) and a second connector (e.g., the plug connector P described in the following embodiment). The first connector includes a plurality of first contacts (e.g., the receptacle contacts
70
described in the following embodiment) and a first retaining member (e.g., the receptacle retaining member
60
described in the following embodiment) made of an electrically insulative material. The second connector includes a plurality of second contacts (e.g., the plug contacts
40
described in the following embodiment) and a second retaining member (e.g., the plug retaining member
10
described in the following embodiment) made of an electrically insulative material. The first retaining member aligns and retains the first contacts, each of which has a female contact portion in a tuning fork-like shape. The second retaining member aligns and retains the second contacts, each of which has a male contact portion, which is brought into contact with a corresponding female contact portion by insertion of the male contact portion into the tuning fork-like female contact portion. In this matching male and female connector assembly, the first connector and the second connector are engaged with each other for electrical connection through the insertion of the male contact portions into the female contact portions, respectively. Therefore, the second retaining member includes a reinforcing member (e.g., the plug extrusion
12
described in the following embodiment) which extends along a side of the male contact portions of the second contacts retained in the second retaining member. Thus, while the first connector and the second connector are being brought into engagement with each other, the male contact portions along with the reinforcing member are inserted as a one body into the female contact portions to bring the male contact portions into contact with the female contact portions for electrical connection of the first contacts and the second contacts.
In the first connector of this matching male and female connector assembly, the female contact portions, which are formed in a tuning fork-like shape, are made of a metallic plate to have a relatively high strength for holding the male contact portions, which are inserted therein. Because the male contact portions are held by the female contact portions, the first retaining member, which is molded of a resin with a relatively small strength, is not used for the purpose of holding the male contact portions. Therefore, even if the miniaturization of the connector assembly progresses, and the side wall of the first retaining member becomes thinner, there will be no problem of insufficient strength. Moreover, there will be no deformation of the second contacts even though they are made relatively thin with a narrow alignment pitch in correspondence with the miniaturization and the multi-terminalization of the connector assembly because the male contact portions, which are strengthened and supported by the reinforcing member in the second connector, are inserted as a one body with the reinforcing member into the female contact portions.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4826443 (1989-05-01), Lockard
patent: 5000695 (1991-03-01), Nishiyama et al.
patent: 5267881 (1993-12-01), Matuzaki
patent: 5364292 (1994-11-01), Bethurum
patent: 5476396 (1995-12-01), De Castro
patent: 5658170 (1997-08-01), Tan et al.
patent: 5993256 (1999-11-01), Shimojyo
Ikemoto Shinichi
Mochizuki Shoichi
Kel Corporation Ltd.
Nguyen Son V.
Usher Robert W.J.
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