Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-10
2003-01-28
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S862000, C439S701000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06511329
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a waterproof electrical connector apparatus for use in appliances such as mobile cellular phones and the like, having a simple and reliable structure.
2. Description of the Art
A top housing and a bottom housing of a mobile phone usually should be properly waterproofed. A connector of the mobile used for transmitting signals and charging also should be properly waterproofed. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional waterproof connector
5
used in a mobile phone comprises a housing
50
, a plurality of conductive terminals
51
, a plurality of charge terminals
520
, a plurality of audio terminal
521
, a waterproof gasket
53
, a adaptor board
54
, an elastic circuit board
55
, a adaptor connector
56
, and so on. The conductive terminals
51
, the charge terminals
520
and the audio terminals
521
are inserted into the housing
50
. The one end of each of the terminals
51
,
520
,
521
is received within the housing
50
for electrically contacting a mating connector (not shown), and the other end thereof extends outside the housing
50
for connecting with the adaptor board
54
. The one end of the elastic circuit board
55
is electrically secured in the adaptor board
56
and is soldered to the conductive terminals
51
, the charge terminals
520
, the audio terminals
521
by a spot welded technique. The other end of the elastic circuit board
55
includes contacting tabs
551
for being inserted into the adaptor connector
56
assembled on a circuit board
6
. Furthermore, a waterproof glue is filled with the adaptor board
54
, the conductive terminals
51
, the charge terminals
520
and audio terminals
521
for a waterproof purpose. A waterproof gasket
53
is assembled around an outside surface of the housing
50
. Therefore, the connector
5
and the circuit board
6
is waterproofed. However, such a conventional connector
5
has following disadvantages:
(1) A complicated structure and high manufacture cost
The conductive terminals and the charge terminals of the conventional connector are connected to the elastic circuit board. The contacting tabs of the elastic circuit board electrically contact the circuit board. Those terminals therefore electrically contact the circuit board Such a structure requires a large number of components such as the adaptor board, the elastic circuit board and the adaptor connector. Obviously, such a structure is very complicated and cost inefficient. Besides the aforementioned components, the waterproof gasket is integrally formed on the housing so that an additional molding process for molding the waterproof gasket is needed.
(2) A unreliable electrical connection
The contact tabs of one end of the elastic circuit board are inserted into the adaptor connector so that the conventional connector is electrically connected to the circuit board. Because of the limited room between the top housing and bottom housing, the elastic circuit board is compressed and is inserted into the adaptor connector. Therefore, the elastic circuit board could be removed from the adaptor connector due to the improper operation by a user, especially, when the limited room between the top housing and the bottom housing is changed. So it is obvious that such a structure can not provide reliable electrical connection therebetween.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector used in a mobile phone, having a simple structure, and facilitating the manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector providing reliable electrical connection.
A main aspect of the present invention is to provide a connector comprising a plurality of terminals for electrically connecting a circuit board of a mobile phone, each terminal including a first contacting portion for electrically connecting to a mating connector, and a second contacting portion for electrically connecting to a circuit board. Each second contacting portion has a curved and elastic end for, in assembly, electrically contacting with corresponding pots on the circuit board.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a connector comprising a dielectric housing, the dielectric housing including a mating portion having a waterproof gasket for, in assembly, waterproofing secured holes of a mobile phone. Furthermore, a waterproof layer is filled with a side of dielectric housing of the connector and adjacent to the terminals thereby waterproofing the connector and the terminals.
A third aspect of the present invention is to provide a connector comprising a dielectric housing, the dielectric housing defining a groove for receiving a waterproof gasket. A waterproof layer assembled to the dielectric housing is further waterproofed by a block thereby reliably waterproofing the connector and terminals.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5538435 (1996-07-01), Yohn
patent: 5584713 (1996-12-01), Kato et al.
patent: 5812660 (1998-09-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5836780 (1998-11-01), Mizumura et al.
patent: 6053763 (2000-04-01), Brennan et al.
patent: 6086424 (2000-07-01), Chang
patent: 6093057 (2000-07-01), Lok
patent: 6186833 (2001-02-01), Wu
patent: 6203335 (2001-03-01), Chang
L & K Precision Industry CO., Ltd.
Nguyen Son V.
Sircus Brian
Troxell Law Office PLLC
LandOfFree
Waterproof connector apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Waterproof connector apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Waterproof connector apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3066250