Abstract:
An audio jack designed to be located between a printed circuit board and a fixing portion of an electronic device for fixing the audio jack. The audio jack includes a housing ( 1 ) and a number of contacts ( 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 ) retained in the housing. The housing defines a plug-insertion hole. Each contact includes a base ( 213, 223, 232, 242, 251 ), a projecting portion ( 214, 224, 236, 243, 255 ) projecting from the base and a tail portion ( 216, 225, 235, 246, 253 ) for resiliently abutting against the printed circuit board. At least one of the contacts has a locating tab ( 211, 221, 231, 244 ) bent from the base thereof and retained in the housing for preventing movement of the contact relative to the housing in a top-to-bottom direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the art of electrical connectors, and in particular to an audio jack having securely retained contacts therein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A jack generally includes an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing. Each terminal usually has a contact portion for contacting a mating connector (e.g. a plug) and a mounting portion engaging with an electronic device for electrically interconnecting the audio jack and the electronic device. 
     Such a conventional audio jack is shown in FIG.  5 . In this prior art, a jack comprises an insulating housing  10 ′ and a plurality of contacts  20 ′. The housing  10 ′ defines a longitudinal plug-insertion hole (not labeled) therethrough for receiving a mating plug (not shown). A plurality of contact-receiving grooves  102 ′ are defined in the housing  10 ′ and communicate with outside through a bottom  101  ′ of the housing  10 ′. Each contact includes a base  202 ′ and a tail portion  201 ′ extending from the base  202 ′ for resiliently and electrically engaging with appropriate circuit traces on a top surface of a printed circuit board (not shown). The contacts  20 ′ are respectively received in corresponding grooves  102 ′, and the tail portions  201 ′ each extend out of the housing  10 ′ from the bottom  101 ′ of the housing  10 ′. In assembly, the audio jack is retained between the circuit board and a fixing portion of an electronic device (not shown). With the housing  10 ′ of the audio jack thus retained, the fixing portion of the electronic device presses an upper surface of the audio jack downwardly so that the tail portions  201  ′ resiliently and electrically connect the appropriate circuit traces on the circuit board. In this way, the audio jack connect electrically the circuit board without requiring solder to fix the contacts to the circuit traces. 
     However, because the contact-receiving grooves communicate with outside through the bottom of the housing, the contacts received in the contact-receiving grooves cannot be securely retained in the housing, resulting in undesired movement of the contacts relative to the housing in a top-to-bottom direction and unreliable connection with the plug. 
     This invention is directed to an improved audio jack having locating tab for securely retaining the contacts in the housing thereof, which obviates undesired movement of the contacts in the housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A main object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved audio jack having securely retained contacts therein. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio jack for reliable connection between a mating plug and a printed circuit board. 
     Further object of the present invention is to provide an audio jack for conveniently interconnecting the audio jack with the printed circuit board. 
     An audio jack in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulating housing, a number of contacts received in the housing. The housing defines a longitudinal plug-insertion hole therethrough for receiving a mating plug. A plurality of contact-receiving grooves are defined in the housing. A plurality of retaining grooves respectively and perpendicularly communicate with corresponding contact-receiving grooves. Each contact includes a base, a tail portion and a projecting portion projecting from the base. At least one of the contacts has a locating tab bent from the base thereof. The at least one of locating tab is retained in the retaining groove for preventing movement of the contact relative to the housing in a top-to-bottom direction. The tail portions each form a contact tab on a distal end thereof for resiliently and electrically engaging with appropriate circuit traces on a top surface of a printed circuit board. 
     In use, the audio jack is retained between the circuit board and a fixing portion of an electronic device for retaining in the housing of the audio jack. The fixing portion of the electronic device downwardly presses the audio jack so that the contact tabs resiliently and electrically engage with the appropriate circuit traces on the top surface of the printed circuit board. In this way, the audio jack engages electrically with a predetermined position on the circuit board without requiring solder to fix the contacts to the circuit traces. The at least one of the contacts is securely retained in the housing by the locating tab thereof received in the retaining groove. 
     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 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly, wherein an audio jack of the present invention is assembled in the electrical connector assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of FIG. 1, wherein the front cover of the electrical connector assembly is removed for clarity. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of contacts of the audio jack, particularly showing each contact separately. 
     FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 3, wherein a mating plug is inserted, showing a connection between the plug and the contacts. 
     FIG. 5 shows a conventional audio jack. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector assembly comprises a power jack  2  and an audio jack  1  of the present invention. 
     The audio jack  1  according to the present invention comprises an insulating housing  10  defining a longitudinal plug-insertion hole and a contact assembly  20 . The housing  10  includes a main body  101  and a sleeve  102  rearwardly extending from a rear face of the main body  101 . 
     The main body  101  has a top wall  104 , a first sidewall  105  and a second sidewall  106  opposite to the first sidewall  105 . A slot  108  is defined in the top wall  104  beside an inner side of the first sidewall  105 . A pair of cutouts  110  are respectively defined in opposite ends of the slot  108 . A pair of narrow slits  109  are defined in the top wall  104  far from the sleeve  102 . A pair of first channels  114 ,  115  are longitudinally defined in the inner sides of the sidewalls  105 ,  106 . A pair of first retaining grooves  117 ,  118  are defined in front ends of the sidewalls  105 ,  106  and perpendicularly communicate with the first channels  114 ,  115 . A pair of second channels  112 ,  113  are longitudinally defined in the inner side of the top wall  104  next to the first channels  114 ,  115 . The slits  109  communicate with the second channels  112 ,  113 . A pair of second retaining grooves  119 ,  120  respectively communicate with upper ends of the second channels  112 ,  113 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the contact assembly  20  includes 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  comprises a substantially rectangular and planar base  213 , a locating tab  211  outwardly extending from a front end of the base  213 , a cantilevered spring contact arm  212  bent and reversely extending from an opposite end of the base  213 , and a tail portion  216  downwardly and inwardly extending from a bottom end of the base  213 . A substantially rectangular protrusion  214  is formed in approximately a middle of the base  213  for abutting against the housing  10 . A barb  215  is formed on an upper end of the base  213  for abutting against the housing  10 . The contact arm  212  forms a curve portion  218  in substantially a middle part thereof. A contact portion  219  extends from a free end of the curve portion  218  and is substantially parallel to the base  213 . A contact tab  217  is formed at a distal end of the tail portion  216 . 
     The second contact  22  comprises a substantially rectangular and planar base  223 , a locating tab  221  outwardly extending from an front end of the base  223 , and a tail portion  225  downwardly and inwardly extending from a bottom end of the base  223 . A contacting protrusion  222  inwardly extends at an opposite end of the base  223 . A substantially rectangular protrusion  224  is formed in approximately a middle of the base  223  for abutting against the housing  10 . A contact tab  226  is formed on a distal end of the tail portion  225 . 
     The third contact  23  is provided to cooperate with the contacting portion  219  of the first contact  21 . The third contact  23  comprises a substantially rectangular and planar base  232 , a locating tab  231  perpendicular to the base  232  inwardly extending from an upper end of the base  232 , and a tail portion  235  downwardly and inwardly extending from a bottom end of the base  232 . A barb  233  is formed on the upper end of the base  232  for abutting against the housing  10 . A dome-shaped protrusion  236  projects from the base  232  for cooperating with the contacting portion  219  of the first contact  21  when the plug  30  is not inserted in the audio jack. A sustaining protrusion  234  upwardly projects from an upper surface of the locating tab  231 . A contact tab  237  is formed at a distal end of the tail portion  235 . 
     The fourth contact  24  comprises a substantially rectangular and planar base  242 , a locating tab  244  perpendicular to the base  242  inwardly extending from an upper end of the base  242 , and a tail portion  246  downwardly and inwardly extending from a bottom end of the base  242 . A contacting protrusion  241  inwardly extends at a rear end of the base  242 . A barb  243  is formed on the upper end of the base  242  for abutting against the housing  10 . A sustaining protrusion  245  upwardly projects from an upper surface of the locating tab  244 . A contact tab  247  is formed at a distal end of the tail portion  246 . 
     The fifth contact  25  comprises a substantially rectangular and planar base  251  and a tail portion  253  downwardly and inwardly extending from a bottom end of the base  251 . An arcuate arm  252  inwardly projects from the base  251  for biasing against the plug  30 . The base  251  forms a pair of barbs  255  on opposite ends thereof for respectively latching with the corresponding cutouts  110  of the housing  10 . A contact tab  254  is formed at a distal end of the tail portion  253 . 
     In assembly, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first contact  21  and the second contact  22  are respectively fixed in corresponding first channels  114  and  115 . The protrusions  214  and  224  respectively latch in the housing  10  for retaining the first contact  21  and the second contact  22  in the housing  10 . The barb  215  of the first contact  21  abuts against the housing  10  for retaining the first contact  21  in the housing  10 . The locating tabs  211  and  221  are respectively received in and abut against the corresponding first retaining grooves  117  and  118  for securely retaining the contacts  21 ,  22  in the housing  10 . The curve portion  218  of the first contact  21  and the contacting protrusion  222  of the second contact  22  project into the plug-insertion hole. The tail portions  216 ,  225  respectively extend downwardly and inwardly out of the housing  10 . 
     The third contact  23  and the fourth contact  24  are respectively fixed in the corresponding second channels  112 ,  113 . The barbs  233  and  243  are respectively retained in the corresponding slits  109 . The locating tabs  231  and  244  respectively extend in the corresponding second retaining grooves  119 ,  120  for securely retaining the contacts  23 ,  24  in the housing  10 . The contacting protrusion  241  projects into the plug-insertion hole of the housing  10 . The tail portions  235 ,  246  each extend downwardly and inwardly out of the housing  10 . 
     The fifth contact  25  is fixedly retained in the slot  108 . The barbs  255  of the fifth contact  25  are respectively retained in the corresponding cutouts  110  of the slot  108  for securely retaining the fifth contact  25  in the housing. The tail portion  253  extends downwardly and inwardly out of the housing  10 . 
     The contact tabs  217 ,  226 ,  237 ,  247  and  254  of the tail portions  216 ,  225 ,  235 ,  246  and  253  substantially lie in a common plane for electrically engaging with appropriate circuit traces on a top surface of a printed circuit board (not shown). 
     In use, the audio jack  1  is retained between the circuit board and a fixing portion of an electrical device, for example, a casing of a mobile phone, for fixing the housing of the audio jack. The fixing portion of the electrical device presses downwardly an upper surface of the audio jack so that the contact tabs  217 ,  226 ,  237 ,  247  and  254  electrically engage with the circuit traces on the top surface of the printed circuit board. The locating tabs  211 ,  221 ,  231  and  244  are retained respectively in the corresponding retaining grooves  117 ,  118 ,  119  and  120  for preventing undesired movement of the contacts  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  relative to the housing  10  in a top-to-bottom direction. The barbs  255  latch in the cutouts  110  of the housing  10  for preventing movement of the contact  25 . In this way, the contacts  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  are motionlessly and securely retaining in the housing  10  without movement. The contact tabs  217 ,  226 ,  237 ,  247  and  254  lie in a common plane. So the connection between the each contact  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and  25  and the plug  30  is reliable. 
     When the plug  30  is inserted into the housing  10 , the plug  30  pushes the curve portion  218  of the first contact  21  sideway and the contact portion  219  of the first contact  21  is deflected to move away from the dome-shaped protrusion  236  of the third contact  23 , thereby breaking an electrical connection therebetween. The curve portion  218  of the first contact  21  contacts a constituent electrode of the plug  30  to establish an electrical connection between the plug  30  and the audio jack. At the same time, the contacting protrusion  222  of the second contact  22 , the contacting protrusion  241  of the fourth contact  24  bear against the plug  30 . The arcuate arm  252  of the fifth contact  25  abuts against the plug  30 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.