IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,431,772
Granted Patent B2
US 9,431,772 · App. 14/578,290 · Granted Aug 30, 2016

Connector retention features

Inventors: Zheng Gao (San Jose, CA); Mahmoud R. Amini (Sunnyvale, CA); Chia Chi Wu (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H01R13/6597H01R13/6275H01R24/60H01R2107/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,431,772
App. No.
14/578,290
Granted
Aug 30, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Connector systems that may include improved locking and retention features. One example includes a connector plug having an opening to accept an end of a wide portion of a connector receptacle tongue. Another connector plug may include top and bottom rails for holding a wide portion of a connector receptacle tongue. The locking and retention features may provide a large locking force. Further examples may accordingly provide unlocking features.

Claims (43)

1. A first connector comprising:

a plurality of contacts at least partially located in a housing; and

a first side ground contact having an opening, a front leading edge of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts, and a tab at a front of the opening extending from the front of the opening towards a back of the side ground contact and angled monotonically away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged such that a first end of a wide portion of a tongue of a second connector fits in the opening when the second connector is mated with the first connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:

a second side ground contact having an opening, a front leading edge of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts, and a tab at a front of the opening extending from the front of the opening towards a back of the side ground contact and angled monotonically away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged such that a second end of a wide portion of the tongue of the second connector fits in the opening when the second connector is mated with the first connector.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein the first connector is a connector plug.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein the first connector is a connector receptacle.

5. A first connector comprising:

a plurality of contacts at least partially located in a housing; and

a first side ground contact having an opening, a front of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged such that a first end of a wide portion of a tongue of a second connector fits in the opening when the second connector is mated with the first connector.

6. The connector of claim 5 further comprising a button that when actuated moves the opening in the first side ground contact away from the tongue.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein the opening is located in a front portion of the first side ground contact, the button is in contact with a rear portion of the first side ground contact, and the first side ground contact pivots about a middle portion of the first side ground contact when the button is actuated.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein the rear portion of the first side ground contact is folded back on itself to form a spring to push the opening in the first side ground contact towards the tongue when the button is not actuated.

9. The connector of claim 5 further comprising:

a second side ground contact having an opening, a front of the side ground contact angled away from the plurality of contacts,

wherein the opening is arranged such that a second end of a wide portion of the tongue of the second connector fits in the opening when the second connector is mated with the first connector.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein the first connector is a connector plug.

11. The connector of claim 9 wherein the first connector is a connector receptacle.

12. A first connector comprising:

a plurality of contacts at least partially located in a housing; and

a first side ground contact comprising:

a first rail arranged to be positioned over a first end of a wide portion of a tongue of a second connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated, the first rail having a first contacting portion; and

a second rail arranged to be positioned under the first end of the wide portion of a tongue of the second connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated, the second rail having a second contacting portion;

wherein the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion are arranged to hold the first wide end of the tongue of the second connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated.

13. The connector of claim 12 further comprising:

a second side ground contact comprising:

a first rail arranged to be positioned over a second end of a wide portion of a tongue of the second connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated, the first rail having a first contacting portion; and

a second rail arranged to be positioned under the second end of the wide portion of a tongue of the second connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated, the second rail having a second contacting portion;

wherein the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion are arranged to hold the second wide end of the tongue of the second connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated.

14. The connector of claim 13 wherein the first connector is a connector plug.

15. The connector of claim 13 wherein the first connector is a connector receptacle.

16. The connector of claim 12 wherein the first contacting portion on the first rail forms a first wide portion near a front leading edge of the first rail.

17. The connector of claim 16 wherein the second contacting portion on the second rail forms a second wide portion near a front leading edge of the second rail,

wherein the first wider portion and the second wider portion hold the first wide end of the tongue of the second connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated.

18. The connector of claim 12 further comprising an unlocking mechanism arranged to push the first rail away from the second rail as the first connector and the second connector are unmated.

19. The connector of claim 18 further comprising an actuated mechanism to drive the unlocking mechanism to push the first rail away from the second rail as the first connector and the second connector are unmated.

20. The connector of claim 19 wherein the actuated mechanism is a button that is actuated by a user as the first connector and the second connector are unmated.

21. The connector of claim 19 wherein the actuated mechanism is a button.

22. The connector of claim 21 wherein the unlocking mechanism is an oblong portion.

23. The connector of claim 22 wherein when the button is depressed, the unlocking mechanism rotates about a pivot point and the first rail is pushed away from the second rail.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2015
From: GAO, ZHENG; AMINI, MAHMOUD R.; WU, CHIA CHI
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 035189/0413 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61918648 · Dec 19, 2013
Provisional Application 61922856 · Jan 1, 2014
Related Publication 20150214673A1 · Jul 30, 2015