Patent Publication Number: US-6210231-B1

Title: Electrical connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a mini USB connector including a unitary shell enclosing an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts therein. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     As electronic technology advances, electronic products become increasingly smaller and higher speed. During high-speed signal transmission, electromagnetic interference becomes a problem which can seriously affect the quality of the signal transmission. At present, metal shields are often used to reduce the effects of interference. Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 86210437 and 86212282 disclose use of such shielding. However, the shields disclosed in the above Taiwan Patent Applications are generally constructed of two telescopic shells that fit and slide one within the other. The two telescopic shells are separately manufactured and assembled together. Such structures not only reduce the effectiveness of the shielding but also increase the cost of manufacturing the electrical connector because of the assembly required. Hence, an improved electrical connector having a unitary shell is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a connector including a unitary shell which encloses an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts therein. 
     To fulfil the above object, an electrical connector of the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the housing, a unitary shell enclosing the housing and the contacts therein and an insulative cover partially enclosing the shell. The housing includes a body portion and a tongue portion protruding beyond a first face of the body portion. The unitary shell includes a first shielding portion and a second shielding portion connected together via a strip and three tabs formed therebetween. The first and the second shielding portions are bent from a single flat piece of metal to form a rectangular frame having two opposite edges thereof engaging with each other to enclose the body portion and the tongue portion of the housing, respectively. 
     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 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged perspective view of FIG. 1 showing an insulative housing being assembled to a unitary shell; 
     FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but taken from a different perspective; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional assembled view of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled electrical connector of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an electrical connector  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  2 , a plurality of contacts  3  received in the housing  2 , a unitary shell  4  enclosing the housing  2  and the contacts  3  therein and an insulative cover  5  partially insert molded over the unitary shell  4 . The housing  2  includes a body portion  20  and a tongue portion  22  protruding beyond a first face  23  of the body portion  20 . The housing  2  defines a plurality of apertures  24  through the tongue portion  22  and a second face  25  of the body portion  20  opposing the first face  23 . The body portion  20  forms a protrusion  26  in each of two opposite side faces  200  thereof. 
     Each contact  3  includes a retention portion  30 , a mating portion  32  and a tail portion  34 . Each contact  3  is received in a corresponding aperture  24  of the housing  2  with the mating portion  32  exposed out of the tongue portion  22  and the tail portion  34  extending beyond the second face  25  of the body portion  20 . 
     The unitary shell  4  includes a first shielding portion  40  and a second shielding portion  42 . The first and the second shielding portions  40 ,  42  are stamped from one piece of metal sheet and are joined together via a strip  43  unitarily stamped and formed therebetween. Then the first and the second shielding portions  40 ,  42  are bent to respectively form a rectangular frame. The frame of the first shielding portion  40  has two opposite edges which engage with each other at a side of the frame. The frame of the second shielding portion  42  has two opposite edges which engage with each other along a top, a side and a bottom of the frame to obtain a greater strength of the frame. The first shielding portion  40  defines an opening  46  in each of two opposite side faces thereof for receiving the protrusions  26  of the body portion  20  of the housing  2 . The first shielding portion  40  forms a first tab  47  protruding from an edge thereof adjacent to the second shielding portion  42  toward the second shielding portion  42  to abut against the second shielding portion  42 . The second shielding portion  42  forms a pair of second tabs  45  each protruding from an edge thereof adjacent to the first shielding portion  40  toward the first shielding portion  40  to abut against the first shielding portion  40 . The housing  2  having the contacts  3  is assembled tongue portion  22  first into the unitary shell  4  with the body portion  20  and the tongue portion  22  respectively enclosed in the first and the second shielding portions  40 ,  42 , and the protrusions  26  received in the openings  46 . The insulative cover  5  is insert molded over the first shielding portion  40 , the strip  43 , the first and the second tabs  47 ,  45  and a section of the second shielding portion  42  to strengthen the unitary shell  4 . 
     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.