Abstract:
A battery connector ( 100 ) adapted for mating with a complementary connector of a mobile phone includes a header ( 1 ), a socket ( 2 ) which can be movable in a lengthwise direction on the header and a plurality of contacts ( 3 ) retained in the header. The header defines a plurality of receiving cavities ( 111 ) for receiving the contacts. The socket includes a plurality of blocks ( 22 ) each defining a pair of chamfers ( 221 ) for correctly leading the complementary connector into the battery connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention generally relates to a battery connector and more particularly, to a battery connector used in a portable electronic device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Battery connectors have been employed for holding various forms of batteries. U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,949 issued on Aug. 29, 2000 discloses a conventional battery connector adapted for mating with a complementary connector of a portable device.  FIG. 1  shows a top view of the conventional battery connector. The conventional battery connector includes an insulative housing  20 A and a plurality of contacts  21 C retained in the housing  20 A. The housing  20 A defines a plurality of lead-in channels  22  for correctly leading the complementary connector thereinto. However, if the complementary connector mates with the battery connector inaccurately, terminals of the complementary connector are axially offset from the channels of the battery connector and easily be distorted or broken by the battery connector since the terminals only be leaded into the battery connector via the unmovable lead-in channels  22  of the battery connector.  
         [0005]     Hence, an improved battery connector is desired to overcome the above problems and meet the increased transmission demand.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery connector with a better electrical performance.  
         [0007]     In order to attain the object above, a battery connector adapted for mating with a complementary connector of a mobile phone includes a header, a socket which can be movable in a lengthwise direction on the header and a plurality of contacts retained in the header. The header defines a plurality of receiving cavities for receiving the contacts. The socket includes a plurality of blocks each defining a pair of chamfers for correctly leading the complementary connector into the battery connector.  
         [0008]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the 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  
       [0009]     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a conventional battery connector according to a prior art;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a battery connector according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 2  showing contacts assembled within a header;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the battery connector;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is another assembled view of the battery connector; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the battery connector. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]     A battery connector  100  according to the present invention adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board (not shown), illustrated in  FIG. 2 , includes a header  1 , a socket  2  for attaching to the header  1  and a plurality of contacts  3 .  
         [0018]     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the header  1  includes a base portion  11  and a pair of arms  15  forwardly extending from opposite sides of the base portion  11 . The base portion  11  defines a plurality of partitions  12  with a predetermined interval provided in a lengthwise direction of the base portion  11 , thereby forming a plurality of receiving cavities  111  for receiving the contacts  3 . The header  1  further includes an end portion  13  upwardly extending from a rear portion of the base portion  11 . The end portion  13  connects with the partitions  12  and defines a plurality of channels  132  communicating with corresponding receiving cavities  111  and adjacent to the partitions  12 . The end portion  13  forms a longitudinal rib  131  forwardly projecting from a front portion thereof. Each arm  15  includes a step portion  151  for resisting the socket  2  formed in a front portion thereof, as will be detailed hereinafter.  
         [0019]     The socket  2  includes a main body  21  and defines a plurality of passageways  221  with a determined interval in a lengthwise direction of the main body  21 , thereby forming a plurality of block  22 . The passageways  221  and the corresponding receiving cavities  111  of the header  1  cooperatively form a plurality of receiving rooms  16  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) for receiving the contacts  3 . Each block  22  includes a pair of chamfers  221  in opposite sides thereof for conveniently leading a complementary connector (not shown) thereinto and a pair of resistance face  222  interiorly extending from the corresponding chamfers  221  for resisting the contacts  3 , as will be detailed hereinafter. A pair of flanges  23  transversely extends from opposite sides of the main body  21 .  
         [0020]     Each contact  3  has a flat  31  and a pair of cantilevered beams  32  upwardly and forwardly extending from opposite sides of the flat  31  and toward each other. The cantilevered beams  32  include a pair of abutments  34  outwardly extending and toward each other in a free end thereof and a pair of bends  33  interiorly bent and mutually moving closer. The height of each abutment  34  is substantially equal to the height of the corresponding resistance face  222 . Each cantilevered beam  32  forms a resistance portion  321  for engaging with the corresponding channel  132  of the header  1 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , in assembly, the contacts  3  are inserted into the header  1 , with the resistance portions  321  latching into the channels  132  of the header  1 . The cantilevered beams  32  are provided between the arms  15  of the header  1 . Then, the socket  2  is assembled on the header  1 , with the flanges  23  seated on the arms  15  of the header  1  and being resisted by the stepped portion  151  and the longitudinal rib  131 . At the same time, the contacts  3  are received in the corresponding receiving room  16  with the abutments  34  being resisted against the corresponding resistance faces  222 . The socket  2  can move between the arms  15  in a lengthwise direction on the header  1 . Furthermore, there is a space between the block  22  of the socket  2  and the arms  15  of the header  1 , and “a” represents the width of the space, depicted in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates a condition that the battery connector  100  engages with the complementary connector. Dashed line I illustrates the battery connector  100  is correctly inserted into the complementary connector, and dashed line II and III respectively show the battery connector  100  is inserted into the complementary connector with an upmost offset, wherein b represents the upmost offset. It should be noted that the width “a” is wider than the width of “b”. When the battery connector  100  is correctly inserted into the complementary connector, the bends  33  of the contacts  3  are deflected outwardly and allow the complementary connector favorably entering the battery connector  100 . If the battery connector  100  is inserted into the complementary connector with no more than upmost offset, the socket  2  is driven to a preferable disposition in the lengthwise direction (represented by double arrows “c”) by an interference force produced between the battery connector  100  and the complementary connector, thereby further impelling the contacts  3  to the correct position. Due to the width “a” is wider than width “b”, the socket  2  obtains enough room to move in the lengthwise direction on the header  1 , thereby avoiding the deformation or broken of terminals of the complementary connector.  
         [0023]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, 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.