Abstract:
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector with a connector housing is provided with at least one soldering part and at least one reinforcement part around its circumference. The USB connector includes: a connector housing; one or more soldering parts formed by cutting and unfolding predetermined areas around the circumference of the connector housing; and one or more reinforcement parts, each of which is formed by bending an end of the connector housing. The reinforcement parts being engaged with the soldering parts to support and reinforce the soldering parts, respectively.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from a Korean Patent Application entitled “USB Connector” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 13, 2010 and assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0045041, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector with a connector housing, which is provided with at least one soldering part and at least one reinforcement part around its circumference. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, due to the development of communication related technologies, portable communication devices have become widely popular, and various additional functions have been incorporated into portable communication devices to such an extent that various functions, which were conducted using a computer in the past, are frequently conducted using a portable communication device, and data services for transmitting/receiving data between a portable communication device and a computer by interconnecting them with a computer or the like with a cable or wirelessly are actively provided. 
         [0006]    In addition, it is possible to edit data in a portable communication device by interconnecting a computer with the portable communication device as described above. For this purpose, bidirectional data communication is required between the portable communication device and the computer, wherein such data communication is conducted through a series port cable, or a USB port cable, or other type of cable. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is possible for a portable communication device to conduct data input or output using a USB. 
         [0008]    Such a portable communication device is provided with a USB connector for connecting a USB, and since the portable communication device is typically very small, a micro USB connector is typically applied to such a portable communication device. 
         [0009]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a conventional USB connector  1  includes a connector housing  2 , a connector mold  3  having connection terminals (not shown) and provided in the connector housing  2 , mounting terminals  5  extending from the connection terminals through the connector mold  3  and protruding backward; and insertion soldering bars  7  formed on the connector housing  2 . The insertion soldering bars  7  are inserted and soldered in such that they are electrically connected to connection parts  6   a  formed on a substrate  6  mounted within a portable communication terminal (not shown). 
         [0010]    However, the insertion soldering bars of the conventional USB connector are formed by cutting and bending the connector housing  2  inwardly, so that they are connected to the substrate by being inserted. As a result, when mounting or separating a plug connector, the insertion soldering bars are shaken by the forces applied forwardly or backwardly, which may cause the bars to come undone and to be readily fractured. Consequently, a defect rate is very high in the final resultant products, and the reliability of the products is deteriorated. 
         [0011]    In addition, the insertion soldering bars of a conventional USB connector shown in  FIG. 3  are bent either vertically or horizontally to the inside of the connector housing, and inserted into the connection parts  6   a  formed on the substrate  6 , respectively. However, since the insertion soldering bars are bent in various directions and thus distribute the stresses applied to the connector, the fixing force of the final product is poor. Moreover, since the insertion soldering bars are not engaged with and supported by any reinforcement means, the fixing force of the final product is insufficient. 
         [0012]    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, although the prior art proposed to additionally attach a separate press to the USB connector, it is difficult to attach a small press to the connector, and the number of assembling steps is increased. 
         [0013]    Therefore, in order to improve the reinforcement of a USB connector, what is needed are reinforcement parts which are engaged with and support insertion soldering bars arranged along the circumference of the connector housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made to provide a USB connector which includes one or more soldering parts around the circumference of the connector housing so as to improve the reinforcement force of the USB connector in the final product, thereby preventing the USB connector from coming undone and being fractured, whereby the defect rate of the final products can be reduced. 
         [0015]    In addition, the present invention provides a USB connector, wherein the USB connector includes one or more reinforcement parts that are arranged around the circumference of the connector housing in such a manner that the reinforcement parts are engaged with the soldering parts arranged around the circumference of the connector housing, thereby improving the reinforcement force of the USB connector in the final product. 
         [0016]    In addition, the present invention provides a USB connector, wherein an end of each of the soldering parts arranged around the circumference of the connector housing is formed with a soldering reinforcing groove so that the soldering strength is reinforced in the final product. 
         [0017]    In addition, the present invention provides a USB connector, wherein the connector housing has an auxiliary reinforcement part formed at the center thereof, and the auxiliary reinforcement part is formed by cutting and bending two areas adjacent to the center of the connector, and forging the two areas to come into close contact with each other, thereby supporting the reinforcement of the connector housing. 
         [0018]    In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a USB connector, including: a connector housing; one or more soldering parts formed by cutting and unfolding predetermined areas around the circumference of the connector housing; and one or more reinforcement parts, each of which is formed by bending an end of the connector housing, the reinforcement parts being engaged with the soldering parts to support and reinforce the soldering parts, respectively. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The above and other exemplary aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a conventional USB connector for a portable communication device; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the conventional USB connector used in a portable communication device; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view showing connection parts formed on a substrate of a portable communication device having the conventional USB connector; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a USB connector for a portable communication device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a part “A” in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the inventive USB connector used in a portable communication device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing connection parts formed on a substrate of a portable communication device having the inventive USB connector; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing auxiliary reinforcement means of a USB connector for a portable communication device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part “B” in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this regard, it shall be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments described herein and the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings merely illustrate the most desired exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and various modified exemplary embodiments can be made within the spirit and scope of the presently claimed invention. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , a USB connector  10  for a portable communication device (not shown) includes a connector housing  20 , one or more soldering parts  30 , and one or more reinforcement parts  40 , and the connector housing  20  may be formed a metallic material so as to form the soldering parts  30 . The connector housing  20  may be formed from other materials than the metallic material, and the metallic material include, for example, an alloy. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the soldering parts  30  are arranged around the circumference of the connector housing  20  to be soldered to the substrate  6  mounted within a portable communication device, wherein the soldering parts  30  are formed by cutting the connector housing  20  and unfolding the cut parts. In addition, each of the reinforcement parts  40  is arranged at an end of the connector housing  30 , wherein the reinforcement parts  40  are bent to be engaged with the soldering parts  30 , respectively, so that the reinforcement parts  40  support and reinforce the soldering parts  30 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , each of the soldering parts  30  and the reinforcement parts  40  is formed in a straight bar type extending from the connector housing  20 . Although in the present embodiment, four soldering parts  30  are formed, it is possible to provide four or more soldering parts. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , an end of each of the soldering parts  30  is formed with a soldering reinforcement groove  31  so as to reinforce soldering strength. In addition, each of the soldering parts  30  is formed with a coupling groove  32 , and each of the reinforcement parts  40  is formed with protrusions, so that the protrusions  41  are fitted in the respective coupling grooves  32 . 
         [0034]    The soldering parts  30  are arranged around the circumference of the connector housing  20  in the same orientation. 
         [0035]    In addition, the thickness of the substrate  6  of the portable communication device is preferably in the range of about 0.8 T to 1.0 T. However, the thickness may be beyond the above range. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show a USB connector  10  in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which has an auxiliary reinforcement part  50  formed at the center of the connector housing  20 . The auxiliary reinforcement part  50  is formed by cutting and bending two areas adjacent to the center of the connector, and forging the two areas to come into close contact with each other, thereby supporting the reinforcement of the connector housing  20 . 
         [0037]    Meanwhile, the USB connector in accordance with the present invention may be typically applied to a portable communication device. However, besides such a portable communication device, the USB connector is applicable to various types of terminals (for example, a folder-type terminal, a sliding-type terminal or the like), or any type of device, preferably portable, that utilizes USB. 
         [0038]    In addition to all types of mobile communication terminals operated by communication protocols in correspondence to various communication systems, examples of portable communication devices, to which the present invention is applicable, may include all kinds of information communication appliances, multimedia appliances and their applications, such as digital cameras, PMPs (Portable Multimedia players), MP3 players, navigation units, game machines, notebook personal computers, sign boards, TV sets, digital broadcasting players, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and smart phones, just to name a few of the non-limiting possibilities. 
         [0039]    A process for fabricating the inventive USB connector configured as described above will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 9 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the inventive USB connector  10  for a portable communication device (not shown) includes a connector housing  20 , one or more soldering parts  30 , and one or more reinforcement parts  40 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in order to form (in this example) four soldering parts  30 , corresponding areas around the circumference of the connector housing  20  are cut and unfolded. Each of the four soldering parts  30  is formed in a bar type to be extended from the connector housing  20 . Among the four soldering parts  30 , two soldering parts  30  are engaged with the reinforcement parts  40  formed at the ends of the connector housing  20 , respectively. 
         [0042]    The protrusions  41  formed on the reinforcement parts  40  are fitted in the coupling grooves  32  formed on the two soldering parts  30 , respectively, so that the reinforcement parts  40  support and reinforce the soldering parts  30 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the connector housing  20  encloses a connector mold  300  having connection terminals (not shown), and mounting terminals  301 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the soldering parts  30  are arranged along the circumference of the connector housing  20  in the same orientation. In this state, the soldering parts  30  are inserted into and soldered to the connection parts  60  of the substrate  6 , respectively, wherein the substrate  6  is mounted within the portable communication device (not shown). 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the USB connector  10  soldered to the substrate  6  is supported by the circumference of the connector housing  20  and the reinforcement parts  40 , whereby it is possible to prevent the USB connector from coming undone and being fractured, thereby lowering the defect rate of the final products, and improving the reliability of the final products. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , which show a USB connector  10  in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inventive USB connector  10  may have an auxiliary reinforcement part  50  formed at the center of the connector housing  20 , wherein the auxiliary reinforcement part  50  is formed by cutting and bending two areas adjacent to the center of the connector, and forging the two areas to come into close contact with each other, thereby supporting the reinforcement of the connector housing  20 . As a result, the USB connector  10  can be further reinforced by the auxiliary reinforcement part  50 , apart from being reinforced by the soldering parts  30  and the reinforcement parts  40  arranged along the circumference of the connector housing  20 , whereby the connection strength and fixing force in the final products can be further improved, and flux and solder can be prevented from overflowing while the products are being fabricated. 
         [0047]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.