Abstract:
An electrical connector ( 100 ) comprises an insulative housing ( 1 ) defining a receiving cavity ( 121 ) therein and a slot ( 13 ) thereon, at least one terminal arranged in the housing, a sleeve ( 4 ) retained in an inside of the receiving cavity and a clip ( 5 ) inserted into the slot ( 13 ) to lock the sleeve ( 4 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector with an inner sleeve therein. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A conventional audio jack or power connector generally includes an insulative housing defining a mating portion with a plug insertion columnar hole thereof and a sleeve assembled inside the columnar hole, which acts as a grounding contact to release electrostatic charge and completes the electrical connection. In common use, a counter connector is used to be inserted into the mating portion to establish electrical engagement and pulled out to cutoff the engagement. However, during the iterative operating process, the inner sleeve may break off the mating portion thereby resulting in disconnection of the electrical connector with the counter connector. Therefore, a new design can solve the problem is required. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with a clip to prevent an inner sleeve from breaking off the electrical connector. 
         [0006]    In order to achieve above-mentioned objects, an electrical connector comprises an insulative housing defining a receiving cavity therein and a slot thereon, at least one terminal arranged in the housing, a sleeve retained in an inside of the receiving cavity and a clip inserted into the slot to lock the sleeve. 
         [0007]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front, left perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector from another view; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electrical connector  100  according with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  1 , a plurality of terminals in the housing and a shield  3  surrounding an outer surface of the housing. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the insulative housing  1  comprises a main body  11  in shape of a rectangular block and a cylindrical mating portion  12  projected integrally from a front side of the main body  11 . A plug insertion space or receiving cavity  121  is defined through the front side of the mating portion  12  and the back of the main body  11  along a front-to-back direction to allow insertion of a plug (not shown). A slot  13  is defined in an interface between the mating portion  12  and the main body  11  and extends downwardly from the upper surface of the main body  11  to communicate with the plug insertion space  121 . A plurality of terminal grooves  111  is defined at the rear wall of the housing and extends forwardly along a back-to-front direction at sides of the insertion space. The terminals  2  are inserted into the terminal grooves  111  from rear of the housing  1 . 
         [0016]    In this embodiment, the connector sets three groups of terminals, a first terminal group  21  comprising a moveable terminal  211  and a fixing terminal  212 , a second terminal group  22  comprising three terminals cooperating with each other, and a third terminal group  23  comprising one single terminal. The assemble process and work theory of the terminal is conventional, which can refer to U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,088. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a sleeve  4  made from metal material comprises a base portion  41  received in the mating portion  12 . An annular groove  412  is provided between two annular protrusions  410 ,  411  along an outer perimeter surface at one end of the sleeve  4 . An annular blocking portion  42  is formed at front distal end opposite to said end of the sleeve. The sleeve  4  is inserted into the mating portion  12  along the front-to-back direction, with the blocking portion  42  being blocked by the front surface of the mating portion and the annular groove  412  aligned with the slot  13  defined on the mating portion  12 . 
         [0018]    A metal clip  5  in shape of an arch is separately formed to retain the sleeve  4 . The clip  5  comprises a connecting beam  52  and a pair of clipping portions  51  arranged symmetrically at opposite ends of the connecting beam  52 . The clipping portions  51  are provided with an arc inside edge, which corresponds with the annular groove  412 . At two sides of the contacting beam  52 , a plurality of tips  511  is provided to retain the clip  5  in the housing. Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the clip  5  is inserted into the housing  1  through the slot  13  vertical to the sleeve  4 . The clipping portions  51  are foisted into the annular groove  412  and blocked by the two protrusions  410 ,  411 . The connecting beam  52  of the clip  5  projects out of the slot  13 , therefore the clip  5  can be easily drawn out. A tuber  14  is formed on the housing at the back of the slot  13  to further retain the connecting beam  52  of the clip  5 . The metal clip  5  fixes the sleeve  4  in the mating portion  12  smoothly, and prevents it from moving forwardly or backwardly. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing  1  is covered with the shield  3 . The rectangle shaped shield  3  comprises two side walls  31 , a top wall  32  and a back wall  33 . Two windows  311  are respectively defined at middle of the two side walls for cooperating with the protrusions  112  formed on the housing  1  to maintain the shield  3  on the housing. A pair of soldering legs  312  respectively extend downwardly from a bottom edge of the side wall  31 . At the front end of the top wall, a round opening  321  is defined to receive the connecting beam  52  of the clip  5 . 
         [0020]    In the present embodiment of the invention, the sleeve  4  made from metal material can provide a shielding function when the electrical connector is connecting with the counter connector (not shown), which can offer an excellent electrical performance. Besides, the sleeve  4  can connect with the third group of terminal  23  and act as a grounding path of the connector. 
         [0021]    In other embodiments according with the present invention, the top wall  32  of the shield  3  can be a complete plate without a round opening  321  and the clip  5  is formed integrally and extending downwardly from the front edge of the top wall. Therefore, a grounding path also can be formed by the sleeve  4 . 
         [0022]    The present invention is not limited to the electrical connector mentioned above. This disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made in detail, especially in matter of shapes, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention.