Abstract:
An audio jack connector including: an insulative housing including a mounting face, a receiving space, an insertion opening communicating with the receiving space, and a number of passageways extending from the mounting face along a bottom-to-up direction, a through hole defined in each of the passageways and communicating to the receiving space; a number of contacts retained in corresponding passageways and extending into the receiving space through the through holes; and a sealing assembly assembled on the mounting face, the sealing assembly including a gasket covering on the mounting face for sealing the passageways and a cover assembled with the gasket to press and hold the gasket, the gasket having a number of passing holes exposing a soldering end of each of the contacts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an audio jack connector, and more particularly to an audio jack connector comprising a sealing assembly assembled on an insulative housing thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Arts 
         [0004]    An audio jack connector is usually arranged on an electronic device and an audio plug connector is inserted into the audio jack connector for signal transmission. 
         [0005]    China Patent No. 201797146 discloses an electrical connector comprising an insulating body and conducting terminals fixed onto the insulating body. The insulating body includes a containing space, a mounting surface, terminal slots, and a flexible sealing piece covering the mounting surface to seal the terminal slots in order to realize water-proof and dust-proof effects. But since the sealing piece is not positively pressed in place, it is easy to deform and be separated from the insulating body. 
         [0006]    Hence, an audio jack connector having an improved sealing assembly assembled on insulative housing is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an audio jack connector having an improved sealing assembly assembled on insulative housing. 
         [0008]    To achieve the above object, an audio jack connector in accordance with the present invention comprises: an insulative housing comprising a mounting face, a receiving space, an insertion opening communicating with the receiving space, and a plurality of passageways extending from the mounting face along a bottom-to-up direction, a through hole defined in each of the passageways and communicating to the receiving space; a plurality of contacts retained in corresponding passageways and extending into the receiving space through the through holes; and a sealing assembly assembled on the mounting face, the sealing assembly comprising a gasket covering on the mounting face for sealing the passageways and a cover assembled with the gasket to press and hold the gasket, the gasket having a plurality of passing holes exposing a soldering end of each of the contacts. 
         [0009]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, assembled view of an audio jack connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective, assembled view of the audio jack connector similar to  FIG. 1 , but taken from a different aspect; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective, exploded view of the audio jack connector show in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, further exploded view from  FIG. 3 , in which five electrical contacts are separated from other parts thereof for ease of description; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but taken from a different aspect; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective, partial assembled view of the audio jack connector show in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an audio jack connector  100  is assembled in an electrical device as an Input/output interface for connecting with an audio plug. The audio jack connector  100  comprises an insulative housing  1 , a plurality of contacts  2  retained in the insulative housing  1  and a sealing assembly assemble to the insulative housing  1 . The insulative housing  1  defines a mounting face  14 . The sealing assembly includes a gasket  3  covering on the mounting face  14 , and a fixing cover  4  covering on the gasket  3  and fixed to the insulative housing  1 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the insulative housing  1 , the gasket  3  and the fixing cover  4  are made of insulating material. The insulative housing  1  includes a top wall  11 , two opposite side walls  12  perpendicular to the top wall  11  and connected with the top wall  11  smoothly, two opposite side walls  13  perpendicular to the top wall  11  and connected with the top wall  11  smoothly, and the mounting face  14  connected with the side walls  12  and side wall  13  and parallel to the top wall  11 . A receiving space  111  is defined in the insulative housing  1  for receiving an audio plug connector (not shown), the receiving space  111  is extended from a side wall  13  to a rear end of the insulative housing  1 . An insertion opening  110  is communicated with the receiving space  111  for guiding the audio plug connector. The mounting face  14  includes a first side  141  and a second side  142  opposite to the first side  141 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a number of passageways  15  communicating with the receiving space  111  are extended from the mounting face  14  into the insulative housing  1 . The passageways  15  includes a first contact passageway  151 , a second contact passageway  152 , a third contact passageway  153 , a fourth contact passageway  154  and a fifth contact passageway  155 . The first contact passageway  151 , the second contact passageway  152  and the third contact passageway  153  locates on the first side  141  of the mounting face  14 . The fourth contact passageway  154  and the fifth contact passageway  155  locates on the second side  142  of the mounting face  14 . Each of the passageways  15  includes a fixing portion  15   a , a moving portion  15   b  and through hole  15   c . Each of the passageways  15  is communicated with the receiving space  111  through the corresponding through hole  15   c . A number of fixing slots  16  are defined on the edges of mounting face  14 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 5 , the contacts  2  include a first contact  21 , a second contact  22 , a third contact  23 , a fourth contact  24  and a fifth contact  25 . The first contact  21 , the second contact  22  and the third contact  23  are installed into the passageways  15  located on the first side  141  respectively. The fourth contact  24  and the fifth contact  25  are installed into the passageways  15  located on the second side  142 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the first contact  21  is inserted into the first contact passageway  151  from the mounting face  14 . The first contact  21  includes a sheet-like main portion  211 , a connecting portion  212  inwardly extended from a top end of the first portion  211 , a contact portion  213  downwardly extended from the connecting portion  212  and a soldering portion  214  inwardly extended form a bottom end of the main portion  211 . The main portion  211  is interference fit into the fixing portion  15   a  of the first contact passageway  151  while the connecting portion  212  is received in the moving portion  15   b  of the passageway  15 . The connecting portion  212  is curved so as to form a leaf spring to provide retaining force. A protrusion portion  213   a  is defined on a inside wall of the contact portion  213  and extends into the receiving space  111  through the through hole  15   c  to connect with the mating plug. A bottom surface of the soldering portion  214  is not extended beyond the mounting face  14  but parallel to the mounting face  14 . A soldering pin  214   a  downwardly extended beyond the mounting face  14  is defined on the bottom surface of the soldering portion  214 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the second contact  22  is similar to the first contact  21 . The second contact  22  is installed into the second contact passageway  152 . The second contact  22  includes a sheet-like main body  221 , a connecting portion  222  inwardly extending from a top end of the main portion  221 , a contact portion  223  downwardly extending from the connecting portion  222 , and a soldering portion  224  inwardly extending from a bottom end of the main portion  221 . The main portion  221  is interference fit into the fixing portion  15   a  of the passageway  15  to fix the second contact  22  in the second contact passageway  152 . The connecting portion  222  is received in the moving portion  15   b  of the passageway  15 , and the connecting portion  222  is curved so as to form a leaf spring to provide retaining force. A protrusion portion  223   a  is defined on a inside wall of the contact portion  223  and extends into the receiving space  111  through the through hole  15   c  to connect with the mating plug. A bottom surface of the soldering portion  224  is not extended beyond the mounting face  14  but parallel to the mounting face  14 . A soldering pin  224   a  downwardly extending beyond the mounting face  14  is defined on the bottom surface of the soldering portion  224 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the third contact  23  is installed into the third contact passageway  153 . The third contact  23  includes a sheet-like main portion  231 , a connecting portion  232  is inwardly extended form a front end of the main portion  231  and backwardly bent, a contact portion  233  continually backwardly extended from the connecting portion  232  and a soldering portion  234  inwardly extended from a bottom end of the main portion  231 . The main portion  231  is interference fit in the fixing portion  15   a  to fix the third contact  23  in the third contact passageway  153 . The connecting portion  232  is received in the moving portion  15   b , and the connecting portion  232  is curved so as to form a leaf spring to provide retaining force. A protrusion portion  233   a  is defined on a inside wall of the contact portion  233  and extends into the receiving space  111  through the through hole  15   c  to connect with the mating plug. A bottom surface of the soldering portion  234  is not extended beyond the mounting face  14  but parallel to the mounting face  14 . A soldering pin  234   a  downwardly extending beyond the mounting face  14  is defined on the bottom surface of the soldering portion  234 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the fourth contact  24  is installed into the fourth contact passageway  154 . The fourth contact  24  includes a sheet-like main body  241 , a connecting portion  242  inwardly extended from a top end of the main portion  241 , a contact portion  243  downwardly extended from the connecting portion  242 , and a soldering portion  244  inwardly extended form a bottom end of the main portion  241 . The main portion  241  is interference fit into the fixing portion  15   a  of the passageways  15  to fix the first contact  24  in the fourth contact passageway  154 . The connecting portion  242  is received in the moving portion  15   b  of the passageway  15 , and the connecting portion  242  is curved so as to form a leaf spring to provide retaining force. A protrusion portion  243   a  is defined on a inside wall of the contact portion  243  and extends into the receiving space  111  through the through hole  15   c  to connect with the mating plug. A bottom surface of the soldering portion  244  is not extended beyond the mounting face  14  but parallel to the mounting face  14 . A soldering pin  244   a  downwardly extending beyond the mounting face  14  is defined on a bottom surface of the soldering portion  244 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the fifth contact  25  is installed into the fifth contact passageway  155 . The fifth contact  25  includes a sheet-like main portion  251 , a connecting portion  252  is inwardly extended form a front end of the main portion  251  and backwardly bent, a contact portion  253  continually backwardly extended from the connecting portion  252  and a soldering portion  254  inwardly extended from a bottom end of the main portion  251 . The main portion  251  is interference fit in the fixing portion  15   a  to fix the third contact  25  in the third contact passageway  155 . The connecting portion  252  is received in the moving portion  15   b , and the connecting portion  252  is curved so as to form a leaf spring to provide retaining force. A protrusion portion  253   a  is defined on a inside wall of the contact portion  253  and extends into the receiving space  111  through the through hole  15   c  to connect with the mating plug. A bottom surface of the soldering portion  254  is not extended beyond the mounting face  14  but parallel to the mounting face  14 . A soldering pin  254   a  downwardly extending beyond the mounting face  14  is defined on the bottom surface of the soldering portion  254 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the outer contour of gasket  3  is essentially similar to the outer contour of the mounting face  14 , and the gasket  3  is of a sheet-like structure. A number of passing holes  31  corresponding to the soldering pins  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a  are respectively defined on a intermediate region of the gasket  3 . The shape of each passing hole  31  is consistent with the circumferential edge contour of the soldering pin  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a  respectively. The gasket covers the mounting face  14  while the soldering pins  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a  extend through the corresponding passing holes  31  so that the gasket  3  seals the passageways  15  and makes the passageways  15  only communicate with the receiving space  111  to not affect the soldering effect of the pins  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a . A number of avoiding holes  32  are defined on the gasket  3  corresponding to the fixing slots  16 , thus the fixing slots  16  can be exposed through the gasket  3 . In the present embodiment, the gasket  3  may be a sided tape or a soft cushion made of chloroprene rubber, isobutene rubber, Pi-Pi, polyurethane or other waterproof material. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 5 , the outer contour of cover  4  is essentially similar to the outer contour of the mounting face  14 . The cover  4  is of a sheet-like structure. The cover  4  is made of rigid elastically deformable material. A number of passing hole  41  corresponding to the soldering pins  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a  are respectively defined on the cover  4 . The shape of each passing holes  41  is consistence with the circumferential edge contour of the corresponding soldering pins  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a  respectively. A number of U-shape gaps  42  corresponding to the avoiding holes  32  are inwardly defined form the edges of the cover  4 . A latching member  421  is upwardly extended form an inside edge of the U-shape gap  42 . A snap  4211  is formed on a top end of the latching member  421 . The cover  4  covers on the gasket  3 , and the soldering pins  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a  are exposed through the corresponding passing holes  41  to solder with the corresponding solder pads on a printed circuit board, so that the respective contacts  2  are electrically connected to the circuit board. The latching members  421  are passed through the corresponding U-shape gaps  42  and avoiding holes  32  to fix into the fixing slots  16  of the insulative housing  1 . Thus, the cover  4  tightly overlies on the gasket  3  and than seals the passageways  15  of the insulative housing  1 . 
         [0028]    The audio jack connector  100  of the present invention defines a receiving space  111  having a one side opening, the passageways  15  are communicated with the receiving space  11  through the corresponding through hole  15   c  thereof, the gasket  3  covers on the mounting face  14  and the cover  4  tightly overlies on the gasket  3 , the gasket  3  together with the cover  4  seals the passageways  15  of the insulative housing  1 . In this way, even at great water pressure, the audio connector assembly  100  also achieves better water effects, and is easy to install, has low cost. Because each soldering pins  214   a ,  224   a ,  234   a ,  244   a ,  254   a  are cooperated with the corresponding passing holes  31  and  41  hermetically, the passing hole  31  and  41  do not affect the sealing effect. 
         [0029]    While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as described in the appended claims.