# Patent

## Title
Audio jack connector

## Abstract

An audio jack connector adapted for receiving a plug has a base which has a socket, a first terminal groove and a second terminal groove opened at a same side of the socket. The second terminal groove is located between the socket and the first terminal groove and connects with the socket through a first connecting passage. A stationary switch terminal has a first fixing slice fastened in the first terminal groove and a first contacting end projected in the first connecting passage. A resilient switch terminal has a second fixing slice fastened in the second terminal groove, a second contacting end contacting the first contacting end and projected into the socket through the first connecting passage and an opening opened in the second fixing slice for receiving the second contacting end when the second contacting end is biased by the plug to be disconnected from the first contacting end.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio jack connector, and particularly to an audio jack connector having a set of switch terminals.
2. The Related Art
Audio jack connectors are widely used in kinds of electronic equipments, such as MP3/MP4, mobile phones, computers and other equipments for transmitting sound signals. A conventional audio jack connector includes an insulating housing, a signal terminal group and a switch terminal group including a stationary switch terminal and a resilient switch terminal. The insulating housing has a socket and a plurality of grooves communicating with the socket. The signal terminal group and the switch terminal group are mounted in the grooves respectively. The stationary switch terminal has a first fixing slice, and a first connecting arm extended from the first fixing slice. The resilient switch terminal has a second fixing slice, and an arch-shaped second connecting arm extended from the second fixing slice and projected into the socket. A free end of the first connecting arm electrically abuts against the second connecting arm. When a plug is inserted into the socket of the audio jack connector, the plug biases the second connecting arm to make the second connecting arm disconnected with the first connecting arm of the stationary switch terminal. However, under the condition of the second connecting arm being excessively biased by the plug, the second connecting arm of the resilient switch terminal may be pressed against the second fixing slice to result in an over-deformation thereof. As a result, the second connecting arm can not return automatically to connect the stationary switch terminal again, after the plug is withdrawn from the socket of the audio jack connector. Furthermore, the second connecting arm may be set free by the plug to contact with the first connecting arm in a period of the plug being in the socket, when the plug is swayed towards a side opposite to the second connecting arm. Those cause the switch terminal group to lose corresponding capabilities thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an audio jack connector adapted for receiving a plug. The audio jack connector includes an insulating housing. The insulating housing has a socket extending along the insertion direction of the plug for receiving the plug therein, a first terminal groove and a second terminal groove opened at a same side of the socket. The second terminal groove is located between the socket and the first terminal groove and connects with the socket by means of a first connecting passage. A plurality of signal terminals is disposed in the insulating housing to electrically connect with the plug. A stationary switch terminal has a first fixing slice fastened in the first terminal groove, and a first connecting arm of substantially lying-L shape extending from an end edge of the first fixing slice with a free arm being substantially parallel to the first fixing slice. A distal end of the free arm of the first connecting arm is provided with a first contacting end projecting in the first connecting passage. A resilient switch terminal has a second fixing slice fastened in the second terminal groove. One end edge of the second fixing slice is bent and then extends to form a second connecting arm apart facing the second fixing slice and received in the first connecting passage. A free end of the second connecting arm is arched oppositely to the second fixing slice to form a second contacting end contacting the first contacting end and projecting into the socket through the first connecting passage. An opening is opened in the second fixing slice for receiving the second contacting end when the second contacting end is biased by the plug to be disconnected from the first contacting end of the stationary switch terminal.
As described above, since the resilient switch terminal has the opening opened in the second fixing slice thereof to receive the second contacting end. So when the plug excessively biases the second contacting end of the resilient switch terminal, such structure is able to avoid the deformation of the second connecting arm and further prolong the use life of the audio jack connector.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of an audio jack connector of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an assembled, perspective view of the audio jack connector of FIG. 1 viewed from another angle;
FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the audio jack connector shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows a relationship between a resilient switch terminal and a stationary switch terminal of the audio jack connector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing that a plug is inserted in the audio jack connector of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 6 shows a relationship between the plug and a switch terminal group of FIG. 5.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1-3, the embodiment of the invention is embodied in an audio jack connector 100. The audio jack connector 100 includes an insulating housing 10, a signal terminal group including a first signal terminal 121, a second signal terminal 122 and a third signal terminal 123, a switch terminal group including a stationary switch terminal 141 and a resilient switch terminal 142, and a locking element 16.
Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the insulating housing 10 has a substantially rectangular base 11. The base 11 has a socket 107 extending along a lengthways direction thereof and passing through substantial middles of two opposite ends thereof for accommodating a plug 200 (shown in FIG. 5). Two opposite sides of a front surface of the base 11 define a first terminal groove 101 for receiving the stationary switch terminal 141, a second terminal groove 102 for receiving the resilient switch terminal 142, a third terminal groove 103 for receiving the locking element 16, and a fourth terminal groove 104 for receiving the first signal terminal 121. The first terminal groove 101 and the second terminal groove 102 are both disposed at one side of the socket 107 and each extends parallel to the extending direction of the socket 107, wherein the second terminal groove 102 is located between the socket 107 and the first terminal groove 101 and has a substantial middle connected with the socket 107 by means of a first connecting passage 110 extending longitudinally to penetrate through the front surface of the base 11. The third terminal groove 103 and the fourth terminal groove 104 are both disposed at the other side of the socket 107 and each extends parallel to the extending direction of the socket 107, wherein the third terminal groove 103 is closer to the socket 107 than the fourth terminal groove 104, substantial middles of the third and fourth terminal grooves 103, 104 are connected with the socket 107 by means of a second connecting passage 109 extending longitudinally to penetrate through the front surface of the base 11. A rear portion of a top surface of the base 11 defines a fifth terminal groove 105 for receiving the second signal terminal 122 and a sixth terminal groove 106 for receiving the third signal terminal 123, which are located at two opposite sides of the socket 107 and connected with the socket 107. The top surface of the base 11 further defines a plurality of indentation areas 108 paralleling with each other and respectively connecting with the terminal grooves 101, 102, 104, 105, 106 except the third terminal groove 103.
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 again, the first signal terminal 121, the second signal terminal 122 and the third signal terminal 123 respectively have a first resilient portion 121c, a second resilient portion 122c, and a third resilient portion 123c received in the corresponding indentation areas 108 of the insulating housing 10 respectively.
With reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the stationary switch terminal 141 has a substantially rectangular first fixing slice 141a, a first connecting arm 141b extended from a middle portion of a front edge of the first fixing slice 141a, and a strip-shaped first resilient arm 141c extended towards one side and slanted upwardly from a top edge of the first fixing slice 141a. In this embodiment, the first resilient arm 141c has an arch-like distal end. The first connecting arm 141b which is substantially lying-L shaped bends towards a same side as the first resilient arm 141c with respect to the first fixing slice 141a, with one arm being substantially perpendicular to the first fixing slice 141a and the other arm apart facing the first fixing slice 141a. A distal end of the first connecting arm 141b is obliquely bent oppositely to the first fixing slice 141a to form a first contacting end 141d. 
Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 again, the resilient switch terminal 142 has a substantially rectangular second fixing slice 142a, a second connecting arm 142b bent and then extended forward from a middle portion of a rear edge of the second fixing slice 142a, a gap 142e opened at a middle portion of a front edge of the second fixing slice 142a, and a strip-shaped second resilient arm 142c extended towards one side and slanted upwardly from a top edge of the second fixing slice 142a. In this embodiment, the second resilient arm 142c has an arch-like distal end. The second connecting arm 142b apart faces the second fixing slice 142a and has a second contacting end 142f arched oppositely to the second fixing slice 142a. An opening 142d is opened in the second fixing slice 142a for receiving the second contacting end 142f, and is in alignment with the gap 142e. 
With reference to FIG. 3, the locking element 16 has a holding slice 161, and a flexible slice 162 bent and then extended forwards from a middle portion of a rear edge of the holding slice 161. A propping convex 163 is arched oppositely to the holding slice 161 from a free end of the flexible slice 162. When the plug 200 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is inserted into the socket 107 of the insulating housing 10, the plug 200 is gripped between the propping convex 163 of the locking element 16 and the second contacting end 142f of the resilient switch terminal 142. Therefore, the plug 200 is kept in the audio jack connector 100 more firmly.
Please refer to FIGS. 1-5. In assembly, the first fixing slice 141a of the stationary switch terminal 141 is mounted in the first terminal groove 101, with the first contacting end 141d projecting in the first connecting passage 110. The second fixing slice 142a of the resilient switch terminal 142 is disposed in the second terminal groove 102 and apart faces the first fixing slice 141a, with the second contacting end 142f projecting into the socket 107 through the first connecting passage 110. The first connecting arm 141b passes though the gap 142e to make the first contacting end 141d contact with the second contacting end 142f. The holding slice 161 of the locking element 16 is held in the third terminal groove 103, with the propping convex 163 projecting into the socket 107 through the second connecting passage 109. The first signal terminal 121, the second signal terminal 122 and the third signal terminal 123 are respectively mounted in the fourth terminal groove 104, the fifth terminal groove 105 and the sixth terminal groove 106. All of the resilient portions 121c, 122c, 123c and the resilient arms 141c, 142c are received in the corresponding indentation areas 108.
Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Before the plug 200 is inserted into the socket 107 of the audio jack connector 100, the first contacting end 141d abuts against the second contacting end 142f. When the plug 200 is inserted into the socket 107, the plug 200 biases the second contacting end 142f to make the second contacting end 142f disconnected from the first contacting end 141d of the stationary switch terminal 141. Meanwhile, the plug 200 further biases the propping convex 163 of the locking element 16. So the plug 200 can be firmly clipped between the propping convex 163 and the second contacting end 142f to ensure a steadily electrical connection of the plug 200 and the signal terminal group. Furthermore, the bounce force of the propping convex 163 acts on the plug 200 so that can further make the second contacting end 142f keep a disconnected state from the first contacting end 141d for the duration of the plug 200 being inserted in the socket 107 of the audio jack connector 100. When the second contacting end 142f is excessively biased by the plug 200, the second contacting end 142f is received in the opening 142d to avoid the deformation thereof.
As described above, the resilient switch terminal 142 has the opening 142d opened in the second fixing slice 142a thereof to receive the second contacting end 142f, when the plug 200 excessively biases the second contacting end 142f of the resilient switch terminal 142. Such structure is able to avoid the deformation of the second connecting arm 142b and further prolong the use life of the audio jack connector 100. Furthermore, the propping convex 163 of the locking element 16 props against the plug 200 so that can keep the second contacting end 142f disconnected from the first contacting end 141d for the duration of the plug 200 being inserted in the socket 107, and such structure is able to ensure a stable connection between the plug 200 and the signal terminal group by means of firmly clipping the plug 200 between the propping convex 163 and the second contacting end 142f. 
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

## Claims

1. An audio jack connector adapted for receiving a plug, comprising:
an insulating housing having a base, the base having a socket extending along the insertion direction of the plug for receiving the plug therein, a first terminal groove and a second terminal groove being opened at a same side of the socket, the second terminal groove being located between the socket and the first terminal groove and being connected with the socket by means of a first connecting passage;
a plurality of signal terminals disposed in the insulating housing to electrically connect with the plug;
a stationary switch terminal having a first fixing slice fastened in the first terminal groove, a first connecting arm of substantially lying-L shape extending from an end edge of the first fixing slice with a free arm being substantially parallel to the first fixing slice, a distal end of the free arm of the first connecting arm being provided with a first contacting end projecting in the first connecting passage; and
a resilient switch terminal having a second fixing slice fastened in the second terminal groove, one end edge of the second fixing slice being bent and then extending to form a second connecting arm apart facing the second fixing slice and received in the first connecting passage, a free end of the second connecting arm being arched oppositely to the second fixing slice to form a second contacting end contacting the first contacting end and projecting into the socket through the first connecting passage, an opening being opened in the second fixing slice for receiving the second contacting end when the second contacting end is biased by the plug to be disconnected from the first contacting end of the stationary switch terminal.

2. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first contacting end is formed by the distal end of the free arm of the first connecting arm being obliquely bent oppositely to the first fixing slice.

3. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gap is opened at the other end edge of the second fixing slice and in alignment with the opening for restraining the first connecting arm of the stationary switch terminal.

4. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein strip-shaped first and second resilient arms are respectively extended from top edges of the first and the second fixing slices, and secured on a top surface of the base of the insulating housing.

5. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base has a third terminal groove opened at the other side of the socket and connected with the socket by means of a second connecting passage, the audio jack connector further comprises a locking element having a holding slice held in the third terminal groove and a flexible slice connected with an end edge of the holding slice, a free end of the flexible slice is arched towards the second contacting end of the resilient switch terminal to form a propping convex which projects into the socket through the second connecting passage to prop against the plug.