Electrical connector and method of making the same

An electrical connector includes: a plug connector including an insulative housing, plural conductive terminals affixed to the insulative housing, a shielding plate affixed to the insulative housing, and a shielding shell enclosing the insulative housing; and an insulative shell attached to the plug connector and a silicon o-ring integrated with an opening of the insulative shell.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a waterproof electrical connector and a method of its manufacturing by integrating a silicon o-ring.

2. Description of Related Arts

China Patent No. 205016762 discloses an electrical connector including an insulative housing, a number of conductive terminals affixed to the insulative housing, a metal shell enclosing the insulative housing, an outer shell enclosing the metal shell and having a recess, and a sealer attached to the recess. The sealer is flexible. One of an outer surface of the recess and an inner surface of the sealer has an adhesive attaching the recess and the sealer attached. However, the adhesive may lose effectiveness after repeated use and affect the waterproof function.

An improved electrical connector is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical connector ensuring the waterproof of the electrical connector.

To achieve the above object, an electrical connector comprises: a plug connector including an insulative housing, a plurality of conductive terminals affixed to the insulative housing, a shielding plate affixed to the insulative housing, and a shielding shell enclosing the insulative housing; and an insulative shell attached to the plug connector and a silicon o-ring integrated with an opening of the insulative shell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the first and second embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 10, the electrical connector100includes a plug connector200, an insulative shell6, an outer metal shell7integrated with the insulative shell6, a silicon o-ring8attached to an opening of the insulative shell6and a rubber plate4. The plug connector200includes an insulative housing1, a number of conductive terminals2affixed to the insulative housing1, a shielding plate3affixed to the insulative housing1and a shielding shell5enclosing the insulative shell1.

Referring toFIGS. 7 to 9, the insulative housing1includes a base portion11and a tongue portion12extending forwardly from the base portion11. The insulative housing11further includes a first insulator13and a second insulator14. The first insulator13includes the base portion11and a first tongue portion131extending forwardly from the base portion11. The base portion11includes a first recess111located on an upper surface of the base portion11and sunken inwardly, a second recess112located at a front end of a lower surface of the base portion11, a third recess113located at a rear end of the lower surface of the base portion11, and a first flat portion114located at the rear end of the base portion11. The first tongue portion131includes a number of terminal accommodating slots1311located at an upper surface and a lower surface of the first tongue portion131and a number of lateral receiving grooves1312located at two sides of the first tongue portion131. The second insulator14includes a second tongue portion141having a hollow section1411.

The conductive terminals2include a number of upper terminals21and the same number of lower terminals22. Each of the upper terminals21is associated with a respective one of the lower terminals22and is positioned in reverse symmetry with respect to the lower terminals22. The upper terminals21and each lower terminals22include a pair of outside terminals211arranged laterally and six inner terminals212located between the outside terminals211. Each conductive terminal2includes a contacting portion23, a soldering portion24and a connecting portion25connecting the contacting portion23and the soldering portion24.

The metal sheet3is provided with a pair of sheet-like structure separated from each other. The metal sheet3includes a gap31and a ground pin32.

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 7, the shielding shell5includes a top wall51, a bottom wall52opposite to the top wall51, and a pair of lateral walls53connecting the top wall51and a bottom wall52for forming a receiving room300. The shielding shell5further includes a second flat portion54connecting to a rear end of the top wall51. The top wall51includes a resisting portion511. The bottom wall52includes a pair of buckling portions522located in a rear end of the bottom wall52and a pair of tuber portions521located in front of the buckling portions522and protruding into the receiving room300.

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 6, the insulative shell6includes a upper plate61, a lower plate62opposite to the upper plate61, and a pair of lateral plates63connecting the upper plate61and the lower plate62for forming a mating room400. The insulative shell6further includes a first tubular portion64in the mating room400and a second tubular portion65located in front of the first tubular portion64and protruding into the mating room400.

The outer metal shell7includes a main portion71, a third flat portion72located in a rear end of the main portion51and extending laterally from the main portion71, a forth flat portion73located in a front end of the main portion51and extending laterally from the main portion71. The outer metal shell7further includes a pair of first fixing pins721bending downwardly from lateral sides of the third flat portion72, a pair of second fixing pins711bending downwardly from lateral sides of the main portion71, a pair of third fixing pins731bending downwardly from lateral sides of the forth flat portion73, a number of through holes712penetrating a top surface and a bottom surface of main portion71, and a number of fixing plates732extending from a front end of the forth flat portion73.

The method of making the electrical connector100includes five steps. In the first step: providing the insulative housing1affixing with the conductive terminals2and the shielding plate3and the shielding shell5enclosing the insulative shell for forming the plug connector200. The second flat portion54of the shielding shell5resists the first flat portion114of the insulative housing1. Referring toFIGS. 7 to 9, the conductive terminals2and the shielding plate3are insert molded with the first insulator13. The contacting portions23are received in the terminal accommodating slots1311of the first tongue portion131. The connecting portions25are embedded in the base portion11. The soldering portions24extend outwardly from the rear end of the first insulator13. The soldering portions24are in the same plane. The shielding plate3is received in the lateral receiving groove1312. The ground pins32extend outwardly from the first insulator13. Insert molding the first tongue portion131with plastic materials to form the insulative housing1including the second insulator14. The contacting portions23are exposed to the upper and lower surface of the insulative housing1. The shielding shell5covers the insulative housing1to form the plug connector200. The resisting portion511resists the first recess111. The tuber portion521resists the second recess112. The buckling portion522abuts the third recess113.

In the second step: providing the insulative shell6and the outer metal shell7insert-molded with the insulative shell6to be an integrated part. The first fixing pins721are located behind the insulative shell6. The third fixing pins731extend laterally from the insulative shell6. The liquid silicon is insert molded on an opening of the integrated part to form a silicon o-ring8.

In the third step: inserting the plug connector200into the mating room400of the insulative shell6along a rear-to-front direction. The shielding shell5resists the rear surface of the second tubular portion65. The third flat portion72resists the upper surface of the second flat portion54.

In the forth step: spot welding the third flat portion72and the second flat portion54to be an integrated.

In the fifth step: pouring glue from the rear end of the plug connector200into the mating room400to form the rubber plate4.

Compared with prior arts, the electrical connector100has better effects as follows. The electrical connector100comprises the insulative shell6enclosing the plug connector200and the outer metal shell7integrated with the insulative shell6for enhancing stiffness and strength of the electrical connector100. The silicon o-ring is insert-molded with the insulative shell6making a good effect of waterproof between the electrical connector100and other electrical device.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present disclosure are considered within the scope of the present disclosure as described in the appended claims.