Electrical connector with multiple shield configurations

The present disclosure discloses an electrical connector including an insulating body, a number of conductive terminals disposed in the insulating body, a metal inner shell enclosing the insulating body and a metal outer shell covering the metal inner shell. The metal inner shell includes a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall so as to form a receiving space to mate with a mating connector. The metal outer shell includes a base portion and two side portions bent downwardly from two sides of the base portion. The top wall is provided with a rivet line, and the base portion is attached and welded to the top wall. The electrical connector of the present disclosure has a stable structure and is not easily damaged.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority of a Chinese Patent Application No. 202020426244.7, filed on Mar. 27, 2020 and titled “Electrical Connector”, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a field of connectors, in particular relates to a field of electrical connectors with stable structure.

BACKGROUND

An existing Type C 3.1 connector includes an insulating body, a metal inner shell enclosing the insulating body and a metal outer shell. A riveting line of the metal inner shell is located at the bottom of the metal inner shell, and there is a large gap with respect to a SMT board surface. When existing connectors are mated with corresponding connectors, in case the external force (such as when the user's device falls) received by the connector exceeds the riveting force of the metal inner shell, the metal inner shell may crack, which easily causes damages to the connector. When the existing Type C 3.1 connector is assembled, the metal inner shell needs to be fixed to the insulating body by riveting and pressing. During this process, the metal inner shell and the metal outer shell are positioned by fixtures and then fixed by laser welding. However, this assembly process is complicated and has a risk that it is difficult to assemble due to the large deviation, which affects the assembly efficiency.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new electrical connector to solve the above problems.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical connector which has a stable structure, is not easily damaged and improves the product yield.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution: an electrical connector adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board. The electrical connector includes an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals disposed in the insulating body, a metal inner shell enclosing the insulating body and a metal outer shell covering the metal inner shell. The metal inner shell includes a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall so as to form a receiving space to mate with a mating connector. The metal outer shell includes a base portion and two side portions bent downwardly from two sides of the base portion. The top wall is provided with a rivet line, and the base portion is attached and welded to the top wall.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, the metal inner shell includes a supporting leg bent downwardly. One end of the supporting leg is connected to the bottom wall and the other end is punched to form a free end with the bottom wall. The free end of the supporting leg abuts against an upper surface of the printed circuit board.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, the two side portions are located outside of the two side walls and each side portion includes a mounting leg extending downwardly to be mounted to the printed circuit board. The free end of the supporting leg is higher than an end portion of the mounting leg.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, one of the side wall and the side portion is provided with a buckle protrusion, and the other of the side wall and the side portion is provided with an opening to receive the buckle protrusion so that the metal inner shell and the metal outer shell are positioned.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, the insulating body includes a recess provided on each side thereof, and the side walls of the metal inner shell are provided with a pair of elastic arms protruding toward the insulating body and elastically abutting against the two recesses, respectively.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, the side wall of the metal inner shell includes a bottom plate bent inwardly from a bottom edge of the side wall. The bottom plate is located behind the bottom wall. The insulating body includes a tongue plate and a body portion extending rearwardly from the tongue plate. The thickness of the body portion is greater than the thickness of the tongue plate. The distance between the bottom plate to the top wall is greater than the distance between the bottom wall and the top wall. The bottom wall is located below the tongue plate. The bottom plate abuts against a lower side of the body portion.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, a plurality of grooves are formed between the tongue plate and the body portion. Each of the top wall and the bottom wall of the metal inner shell is provided with a plurality of arched portions protruding into the receiving space. The arched portions are received in the grooves.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, the insulating body includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion on which the first insulating portion is stacked. The conductive terminals include a plurality of first conductive terminals disposed in the first insulating portion and a plurality of second conductive terminals disposed in the second insulating portion. Two outer sides of the first insulating portion are provided with a pair of first hook portions extending toward the second insulating portion. Two outer sides of the second insulating portion are provided with a pair of second hook portions extending toward the first insulating portion. The first hook portions and the second hook portions are engaged with each other.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, a head of each first hook portion is provided with an oblique first guide portion. A head of each second hook portion is provided with an oblique second guide portion. The oblique first guide portion and the oblique second guide portion cooperate with each other so that the first hook portions and the second hook portions can be guided and engaged with each other.

As a further improved technical solution to the present disclosure, the first insulating portion includes a rear stop portion extending downwardly from a tail end thereof and abutting against a rear side of the second insulating portion. An accommodation space is formed between the first hook portion and the rear stop portion. The second insulating portion is partially embedded in the accommodation space.

Compared with the prior art, the electrical connector of the present disclosure is provided with a metal inner shell having a riveting line formed on the top wall, thereby avoiding the risk of cracking of the metal inner shell, ensuring the structure of the electrical connector is stable and not easily damaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIGS. 1 to 9, the present disclosure discloses an electrical connector100which is mounted on a printed circuit board200. The electrical connector100comprises an insulating body1, a plurality of conductive terminals2disposed in the insulating body1, a metal inner shell3enclosing the insulating body1, and a metal outer shell4covering the metal inner shell3. The metal inner shell3includes a top wall31, a bottom wall32and two side walls33connecting the top wall31and the bottom wall32. The top wall31, the bottom wall32and the two side walls33enclose a receiving space30for receiving a mating connector (not shown). The metal outer shell4includes a base portion41and two side portions42bending and extending downwardly from two side edges of the base portion41. The base portion41is attached and welded to the top wall31. The top wall31is provided with a rivet line310. By setting the rivet line310on the top wall31of the metal inner shell3, the risk of cracking of the metal inner shell3is avoided, and the structure of the electrical connector100is ensured to be stable and not easily damaged. In accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the top wall31includes a first portion311and a second portion312. The first portion311and the second portion312are riveted along the rivet line310so that the first portion311and the second portion312are fixed together. The base portion41is attached to the first portion311and the second portion312in order to prevent the first portion311and the second portion312from splitting relative to each other.

Please refer toFIGS. 1, 4 and 9, the metal inner shell3is provided with two supporting legs321which are bent downwardly toward the printed circuit board200. One end of each supporting leg321is connected to the bottom wall32, and the other end is punched to form a free end from the bottom wall32. The free end of the supporting leg321is capable of abutting an upper surface of the printed circuit board200. The supporting legs321only extend to the upper surface of the printed circuit board200so that they can abut against the printed circuit board200. The purpose by having the supporting legs321abutted against the upper surface of the printed circuit board200is to enhance the structural strength of the electrical connector100. By having the supporting legs321stamped from the bottom wall32, the manufacture cost can be saved.

Please refer toFIGS. 1, 3 and 9, the two side portions42are respectively located on outer sides of the two side walls33. Each side portion42extends downwardly to form a mounting leg421mounted to the printed circuit board200. The free end of the supporting leg321is higher than the free end of the mounting leg421. In other words, the mounting leg421extends downwardly beyond the free end of the supporting leg321. The function of the mounting leg421is to secure the entire electrical connector100to the printed circuit board200. The supporting leg321is only supported between the bottom wall32and the printed circuit board200. Therefore, the extension length of the mounting leg421is greater than that of the supporting leg321. The length of the mounting leg421should be able to extend downwardly from the upper surface of the printed circuit board200into the interposer hole of the printed circuit board200.

Please refer toFIGS. 2 to 4andFIG. 8, one of the side wall33and the side portion42is provided with a buckle protrusion331, and the other of the side wall33and the side portion42is provided with an opening422. The buckle protrusion331is received in the opening422in order to secure the metal inner shell3and the metal outer shell4. During the assembly process, the metal inner shell3and the metal outer shell4achieve pre-positioned via the cooperation between the buckle protrusion331and the opening422. By this pre-positioning method, the locking between the metal inner shell3and the metal outer shell4is tighter, so that laser welding spots of the metal inner shell3and the metal outer shell4can be beautiful and the welding force is better, whereby reducing the defects caused by spot welding breakdown.

Please refer toFIGS. 3 to 5, side walls33of the metal inner shell3are provided with a pair of elastic arms332protruding toward the insulating body1. Each side of the insulating body1is provided a recess10, and the elastic arms332are elastically held in the recesses10. In the process of assembling the insulating body1and the metal inner shell3, inserting the insulating body1into the metal inner shell3along a front-rear mating direction. The elastic arms332of the metal inner shell3are locked in the recesses10of the insulating body1so that the insulating body1can be assembled to the metal inner shell3in a single step.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 9, the side wall33of the metal inner shell3includes a bottom plate34bent inwardly from a bottom edge of the side wall33. The bottom plate34is located behind the bottom wall32. The insulating body1includes a front tongue plate11and a body portion12integrally extending rearwardly from the tongue plate11. The thickness of the body portion12is greater than the thickness of the tongue plate11. The distance between the bottom plate34and the top wall31is greater than the distance between the bottom wall32and the top wall31. The bottom wall32is located below the tongue plate11, and the bottom plate34abuts against a lower side of the body portion12. That is, front and rear side of the electrical connector100are supported by the bottom wall32and the bottom plate34, respectively. The tongue plate11has a first surface111(i.e., an upper surface) and a second surface112(i.e., a lower surface) opposite to the first surface111.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 9, a plurality of grooves13are formed between the tongue plate11and the body portion12. Each of the top wall31and the bottom wall32of the metal inner shell3is provided with a plurality of arched portions35protruding into the receiving space30. The arched portions35are received in the grooves13. The cooperation between the arched portions35and the grooves13ensures that when the insulating body1and the metal inner shell3are assembled in place, the elastic arms332just abut against the recesses10by elastic force, so as to form a stable assembly between the insulating body1and the metal inner shell3.

Please refer toFIGS. 6 and 7, the insulating body1includes a first insulating portion14and a second insulating portion15on which the first insulating portion14is stacked. The conductive terminals2include a plurality of first conductive terminals21disposed in the first insulating portion14and a plurality of second conductive terminals22disposed in the second insulating portion15. The plurality of first conductive terminals21have a plurality of flat first contact portions211exposed on the first surface111and the plurality of second conductive terminals22have a plurality of flat second contact portions212exposed on the second surface112. Two outer sides of the first insulating portion14are respectively provided with a pair of first hook portions141extending toward the second insulating portion15, and two outer sides of the second insulating portion15are respectively provided with a pair of first extending portions extending toward the first insulating portion14. The first hook portions141and the second hook portions151are engaged with each other.

Please refer toFIG. 7, furthermore, a head of the first hook portion141is provided with an obliquely extending first guide portion142, and a head of the second hook portion151is provided with an obliquely extending second guide portion152. The first guide portion142and the second guide portion152cooperate with each other to guide and achieve the engaged relationship between the first hook portion141and the second hook portion151.

Please continue to refer toFIGS. 6 and 7, the first insulating portion14includes a rear stop portion143extending downwardly from a tail end and abutting against the rear of the second insulating portion15. An accommodation space140is formed between the first hook portion141and the rear stop portion143. The second insulating portion15is partially embedded in the accommodation space140. That is to say, the first and second insulating portions11and12are designed to be “convex and concave” configurations which match with each other, and the assembly uses interlocking hooks, which can make the assembly stress evenly, enhance the stability of the buckle, and not easily loosen.

Please refer toFIG. 8, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the tongue plate11extends forwardly and is exposed in the receiving space30. This arrangement effectively reduces the length of the electrical connector100. When the electrical connector100is secured to an electronic device (not shown), the length occupied in the mating direction is shortened to facilitate the layout and installation of other components, thereby facilitating the miniaturization and thinning of the electronic device.

In addition, in the front-rear mating direction, front ends of the top wall31and the bottom wall32of the metal inner shell3are provided with a non-flush bevel configuration. With this design, one purpose is aesthetics, and the other is to realize poke-yoke. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide openings or other structural matching designs in the metal inner shell3to ensure that the mating connector can be docked correctly. As shown inFIG. 8, the top wall31has a top front edge313, the bottom wall32has a bottom front edge323, and the top front edge313protrudes forwardly with respect to the bottom front edge323so that a connector port314of the metal inner shell3is inclined from a side view of the metal inner shell3.

Please refer toFIGS. 6 and 7, the electrical connector100of the present disclosure further includes a metal middle partition plate16sandwiched between the first insulating portion14and the second insulating portion15, and a metal shielding sleeve17sleeved on the first insulating portion14and the second insulating portion15. The insulating body1further includes a first insulating housing18over-molding the first insulating portion14, the second insulating portion15, the metal middle partition plate16and the metal shielding sleeve17so that these components are unified as one piece. Besides, the top wall31is provided with a pair of lower springs315protruding into the receiving space30. The base portion41is provided with a pair of upper springs415protruding upwardly from the base portion41. Both the lower springs315and the upper springs415extend along the front-rear mating direction. The lower springs315are adapted for mating with the mating connector, not only for providing a relative large clamp force to hold the mating connector, but also for providing a good grounding purpose. The upper springs415are adapted for engaging with other components for mounting purpose and/or grounding purpose.

By setting the rivet line310on the top wall31of the metal inner shell3, the present disclosure avoids the risk of cracking of the metal inner shell3, and ensures that the structure of the electrical connector100is stable and not easily damaged.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present disclosure and not to limit the technical solutions described in the present disclosure. The understanding of this specification should be based on those skilled in the art. Descriptions of directions, such as “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom”, although they have been described in detail in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the application, and all technical solutions and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the application should be covered by the claims of the application.