Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2001-04-24
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S669000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220899
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector jack. More specifically, it relates to a jack with a plug connecting sleeve spring disposed in the sleeve portion of the jack.
In the prior art, a conventional jack has a cylindrical sleeve portion with an opening into which a plug is inserted. The plug has a collar which fits over the sleeve electrically and mechanically connecting the sleeve to the collar.
A jack using the above plug and collar contact structure is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-73899. The disclosed jack has a cylindrical collar which makes contact with a sleeve portion of a plug,. In order to ensure good electrical and physical contact, the sleeve portion must snugly fit against the collar. This requires accurate manufacturing, increasing the cost of producing the jack. Also, it is more difficult to ensure a snug fit when the jack miniaturized. In a cylindrical jack using the above disclosed snug fit connection, more material is required. This increases the weight of the jack and makes it more difficult to miniaturize.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a jack that solves the problems of the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a jack that does not require the dimensional accuracy of the prior art.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a jack which can be easily assembled.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a jack that can be miniaturized while maintaining good electrical characteristics.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a connecting sleeve spring resiliently mounted in a connecting sleeve of an electrical connecting jack. The connecting sleeve spring has a arcuate sinusoidal-like side profile, with its two ends curving in a direction opposite the curve of a center contact portion. The center portion has an inwardly angled tongue. When a plug having a collar is inserted into the electrical connecting jack, the collar comes in contact with the tongue and pushes the central contact portion inward, thus forcing the two ends of the connecting sleeve spring to move outward. The two ends press against the inner periphery of the collar. In this way, the collar makes contact with the connecting sleeve spring at three points; the two ends and the center contact portion. This three point contact arrangement firmly holds and electrically connects the plug, to the jack even if there is a gap between the collar and sleeve. The electrical connecting jack also includes a housing with a plurality of contact spring openings. A plurality of contact springs resiliently fit in these openings, electrically connecting the springs to the plug.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an electrical connector jack comprising: a housing having a sleeve portion; the housing has a cavity axially disposed therein; the sleeve portion has a centrally disposed plug insertion opening communicating with the cavity whereby a plug is insertable therein; the plug has a collar axially disposed at one end; a plug connecting sleeve spring in the sleeve portion; means for resiliently holding the plug connecting sleeve spring in the sleeve portion; the plug connecting sleeve spring being generally arcuate; a central contact portion on the plug connecting sleeve spring; the plug connecting sleeve spring has a diameter centered on a longitudinal axis of the jack; a tongue on the central contact portion; the tongue is angled centrally inwards whereby the collar is partially aligned with the plug connecting sleeve spring when the collar is pushed against the tongue; the plug connecting sleeve spring has a first support piece at one end; and the plug connecting sleeve spring also has a second support piece at an other end whereby when the collar is fitted against the plug connecting sleeve spring, the central contact portion deforms inward towards the longitudinal axis forcing the first and second support pieces to move outward contacting the collar, firmly holding and electrically connecting the plug to the sleeve portion.
A-According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a connecting sleeve having a first diameter disposed on an electrical connector jack comprising: a plug insertion opening centrally disposed in the connecting sleeve the connecting sleeve has a first convex portion and a second convex portion; the connecting sleeve also has concave portion between the first and second convex portions; a connecting sleeve spring having a first support end and a second support end; the connecting sleeve spring has a central contact portion having a second diameter; the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter; the first support end has a third diameter; the second support has a fourth diameter; the third and fourth diameters are centered in a direction opposite the second diameters; the connecting sleeve spring is radially disposed in the connecting sleeve whereby the first support end fits in the first convex portion and the second support end fits in the second convex portion, resiliently holding the connecting sleeve spring in the connecting sleeve while leaving a gap between the central contact portion and the concave portion; a tongue on an end of the central contact portion facing the concave portion; and the tongue is angled inwards towards the plug insertion opening whereby a collar attached to a plug makes contact with the tongue, moving the central contact portion inward towards the gap, thus forcing the first and second support ends outward towards an inside periphery of the collar, firmly holding and electrically connecting the plug to the electrical connector jack.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an electrical connector jack comprising: a plug having an axially disposed collar; a housing having a plurality of contact spring openings therein; a plug receiving cavity axially disposed within the housing; a connecting sleeve having a first diameter on a plug insertion end of the housing; a plug insertion opening cent rally disposed on the plug insertion end of the plug receiving cavity; a plurality of contact springs resiliently affixed to the housing whereby each one of the plurality of contact springs makes resilient contact with the plug through one of the plurality of contact spring openings when the plug is inserted within the housing; the connecting sleeve has a first convex portion and a second convex portion; the connecting sleeve also has concave portion between the first and second convex portions; a connecting sleeve spring having a first support end and a second support end; the connecting sleeve spring has a central contact portion having a second diameter; the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter; the first support end has a third diameter; the second support has a fourth diameter; the third and fourth diameters are centered in a direction opposite the first and second diameters; the connecting sleeve spring is radially disposed in the connecting sleeve whereby the first support end fits in the first convex portion and the second support end fits in the second convex portion resiliently holding the connecting sleeve spring in the connecting sleeve, while leaving a gap between the central contact portion and the concave portion; a tongue on the plug insertion end of the central contact portion; and the tongue is angled inwards towards the concave portion whereby when the plug is inserted in the plug receiving cavity, the collar makes contact with the tongue moving the central contact portion inward towards the gap thus forcing the first and second support ends outward towards an inside periphery of the collar, firmly holding and electrically connecting the plug to the electrical connector jack.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a connecting sleeve for installation in an electrical connector jack comprising: a plug connecting sleeve spring res
Donovan Lincoln
Morrison Law Firm
Prasad Chandrika
SMK Corporation
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