Patent ID: 7695328
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A subassembly for incorporation within a communications connector jack, the subassembly including: a contact support member including a body portion defining a distal end of the contact support member and a proximal end portion defining a proximal end of the contact support member, the body portion extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end so as to define a longitudinal direction of extension of the contact support member between the proximal end portion and the distal end, the proximal end portion further defining a planar rear face of the contact support member at the proximal end configured and dimensioned to permit the proximal end portion to be securely mounted with respect to a corresponding planar mounting surface of an associated printed circuit board (PCB) such that the contact support member extends in a substantially cantilever fashion therefrom, the body portion including an upper region defining a longitudinally extending top surface and respective first and second side-facing surfaces extending along opposite respective lateral sides of an upper surface, the top surface and the respective first and second side-facing surfaces being cooperatively configured and dimensioned to allow the body portion to receive and support respective distal portions of a pair of longitudinally extending electrical contacts mounted with respect to the contact support member, the body portion further including a lower region defining a longitudinally extending lower surface and respective third and fourth side-facing surfaces extending along opposite respective lateral sides of the lower surface, the lower surface and the third and fourth side-facing surfaces of the lower region being cooperatively configured and dimensioned to allow the lower region of the body portion to be securely mounted with respect to corresponding channel structure defined by an inner surface of an associated communications connector jack housing so as to achieve and maintain operational alignment therewith; and a pair of electrical contacts mounted with respect to the contact support member in side-by-side relation with respect to each other, the pair of electrical contacts including a first contact and a second contact, each of the first contact and the second contact including a proximal portion supported by the proximal end portion of the contact support member and a distal portion supported by the body portion of the contact support member, the proximal portion including a PCB mounting feature extending longitudinally rearwardly through and beyond the planar rear face of the contact support member, and the distal portion extending at least partially vertically upwardly through and beyond the upper surface of the body portion and including an intermediate contact region and a distal foot, the intermediate contact region being downwardly deflectably disposed above the upper surface of the body portion so as to make effective and reliable contact with corresponding contact regions of electrical contacts associated with a mating plug, and the distal foot being disposed within the body portion and supported thereat by a corresponding downward-facing lip surface defined in the upper region of the body portion; wherein the intermediate contact region of the first contact defines a first breadth dimension in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of extension of the contact support member, the intermediate contact region of the second contact defines a second breadth dimension in the transverse direction, and the first and second side-facing surfaces of the upper region of the body portion define a third breadth dimension in the transverse direction, wherein the second breadth dimension and the first breadth dimension are the same, and the third breadth dimension is larger than the first breadth dimension and second breadth dimension combined, such that the intermediate contact regions of the first and second contacts are disposed side-by-side fully and completely within a vertical space defined by and between the first and second side-facing surfaces; and wherein the upper region of the contact support member, as viewed along the longitudinal direction of extension of the contact support member from in front of the distal end thereof, defines a sufficiently small profile to permit incorporation of multiple respective instances of the contact support member within a common communications connector jack housing, positioned, oriented, and spaced as needed to define a desired contact layout geometry for interaction with a cooperative plug member, including wherein the third breadth dimension defined by the first and second side-facing surfaces is narrowly tailored to permit the body portion to support the distal portions of the first and second contacts, and the distal portions of the first and second contacts only, such that the body portion is functionally incapable of accommodating any more than two similarly dimensioned and configured longitudinally extending electrical contacts.