Patent Publication Number: US-6702616-B1

Title: Retaining terminal structure of connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a retaining terminal structure of a connector, and more particularly, to a retaining terminal structure serving as ground guidance and providing retaining and positioning effects when being corresponded and assembled to the connector, thereby reducing a number of terminals and retaining components at an interior of the connector for further decreasing steps and production expenses needed for assembly thereof. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     Connectors are extensively applied in electronic appliances as links between signal sources and various electronic appliances or equipments. These connectors allow the signal sources to carry out bi-directional transmissions of signals or power supplies with the connected electronic appliances or equipments. Should incomplete connection or loosening occur in any of the above components, complications such as interferences or short-circuits are likely to happen, and thus leading to interruptions or malfunctions of signal lines therein. Therefore, it is vital to reinforce connection structures between a plug and a receptacle of a connector for maintaining unobstructed wire linkage thereof. 
     In a prior connector, connection techniques are developed according to material characteristics of connecting terminals, or corresponding retaining structures of plastic housings thereof for connection. However, it is well-known among connector industrialists that, in order to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD), a crucial design factor of a connector is to maintain normal conductance and ground guidance of connecting terminals of two corresponding plug and receptacle of a connector. Yet, owing to complication trend of signals to be transmitted, numbers of connecting terminals needed in connectors are multiplied accordingly. Therefore, it is evident that integrated structures having retaining structures and grounding elements of connectors shall bring great advantages toward production cost and defective rate thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the invention is to provide a retaining terminal structure of a connector having quick assembly and excellent retaining effects, thereby enhancing strength of the connector. 
     The secondary object of the invention is to provide a retaining terminal structure of a connector capable of serving as a terminal structure for ground guidance after being assembled, thereby reducing a number of components within the connector and for further decreasing assembly steps and production expenses of the connector. 
     To achieve the aforesaid objects, the invention comprises a pair of corresponding retaining terminals disposed at two sides at an interior of a connector. The retaining terminal is an L-shaped integral formed by metal extrusion. A top portion of the retaining terminal is formed with a butting portion for ground guidance. A longitudinal side of the retaining terminal formed with a retaining portion serving as a retaining member when being corresponded in the connector. Using the integrated design that provides ground guidance, and retaining and position effects, a number of terminals and retaining components within a connector is reduced, thereby decreasing assembly steps and production expenses of the connector. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows an elevational view according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows an elevational view illustrating a retaining terminal in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows an exploded elevational view illustrating a retaining terminal in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows a front view illustrating a retaining terminal in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a top sectional view along A—A for illustrating a retaining terminal in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows an elevational sectional view along A—A for illustrating a retaining terminal in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     To better understand the invention, detailed descriptions shall be given with the accompanying drawings hereunder. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a retaining terminal  3  in a connector according to the invention comprises an L-shaped corner portion  34 , a retaining portion  33 , a butting portion  31  and a positioning portion  32 . The L-shaped corner portion  34  is for providing the retaining terminal  3  with positioning benchmark of insertion when the retaining terminal  3  is disposed at the connector, and also for preventing displacement of the retaining portion  33  at the side during retaining process thereof. 
     A top portion of the retaining terminal  3  is extended forward to form a butting portion  31 . The butting portion  31  is an arched and elastic piece for ground guidance. A top rear end of the retaining terminal  3  is formed with a positioning portion  32 . The positioning portion  32  is a hunched elastic piece serving as a positioning limit when inserting and pushing the retaining terminal  3  forward. A longitudinal side of the L-shaped corner portion  34  of the retaining terminal  3  is extended forward to form a retaining portion  33 . The retaining portion  33  is an elastic piece bent with a right angle, and serves as a retaining member when being placed in the connector. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  showing an elevational view, an exploded view and a front view of a preferred embodiment according to the invention, respectively, the retaining terminal  3  according to the invention is embedded within a receptacle connector housing  1 . The receptacle connector housing  1  comprises a base  10 , a metal housing  11  and a plurality of connecting terminals  12 . 
     The base  10  is an insulation integral formed by plastic extrusion, and is also formed with an inner accommodation chamber  103   a  and an outer accommodation chamber  103  for inserting a plug connector  2  as shown in FIG.  5 . In addition, the inner accommodation chamber  103   a  is disposed with a plurality of slots  104  for placing the connecting terminals  12  that act as terminals connecting and guiding signals. 
     Outer lateral sides of the base  10  are provided with a pair of symmetrical lugs  105  and  105 ′, and are enveloped with a metal housing  11 . The lugs  105  and  105 ′ function as a base for securing the entire receptacle connector housing  1 , and the metal housing  11  is enveloped round the entire receptacle connector housing  1  and functions as round guidance for a connected motherboard or a host housing. Rear walls of the base  10  are opened and provided with a pair of symmetrical L-shaped slots  101  and  101 ′ for corresponding with an outer accommodation chamber  103   b  at the interior of the base  10 . The L-shaped slots  101  and  101 ′ are for placing a corresponding pair of retaining terminals  3  and  3 ′, and one end of the L-shaped slots  101  and  101 ′ is respectively disposed with a positioning slot  102  serving as a positioning limit when inserting and pushing the positioning portion  32  of retaining terminal  3  forward. 
     Using designs of the L-shaped corner portion  34  of the retaining terminal  3  and the L-shaped slots  101  of the base, the retaining terminal  3  according to the invention is accurately corresponded and assembled to the base  10 . The retaining portion  33  and the butting portion  31  of the retaining terminal  3  are extended into the outer accommodation chamber  103   b  of the base  10 . The retaining terminal  3  is considered to have completed thorough assembly with the base  10  when the positioning portion  32  of the retaining terminal  3  and the positioning slot  102  have reached the positioning limit thereof by pushing forward. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the plug connector  2  is formed with an insertion end  24  on a base  20  thereof, and the insertion end  24  is embedded with a plurality of connecting terminals  23 . Two sides of the base  10  are disposed with two corresponding fastening pieces  21  and  21 ′ for correspondingly binding the retaining terminals  3  and  3 ′. The base  20  is further enveloped with a metal housing  22  for ground guidance. 
     When the plug connector  2  is joined with the receptacle connector housing  1 , the insertion end  24  of the plug connector  2  is corresponded to the inner accommodation chamber  103   a  of the receptacle connector housing  1 , such that the connecting terminals  12  and  23  are conducted. At this point, the fastening pieces  21  and  21 ′ of the plug connector  2  are retained with the retaining portion  33  of the retaining terminal  3  situated in the outer accommodation chamber  103   b , thereby completing assembly of the plug connector  2  and the receptacle connector housing  1 . Wherein, the fastening pieces  21  and  21 ′, and the retaining terminal  3  are made of metal materials, as well as having appropriate elasticity and excellent conductance, and therefore the retaining portion  33  and the fastening pieces  21  and  21 ′ are capable of appropriate elastic deformation. 
     When the plug connector  2  and the receptacle connector housing  1  are assembled, the metal housing  22  enclosing an outer periphery of the base  20  is butted against and joined with the butting portion  31  of the retaining terminal  3  in the outer accommodation chamber  103   b . Through conductance of the retaining terminal  3  with the metal housing  11  of the receptacle connector housing  1 , grounding between the plug connector  2  and the receptacle connector housing  1  is conducted with a motherboard or a computer host housing connected by the receptacle connector housing  1 . 
     Conclusive from the above, the retaining terminal structure of a connector in accordance with the invention is capable of providing a terminal structure having quick assembly and excellent retaining effects, as well as serving as ground guidance after being embedded, thereby reducing a number of components needed in a connector for further decreasing steps and production expenses of assembly. 
     It is of course to be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.