Patent Publication Number: US-9425558-B1

Title: Electrical connector having an outer shielding covered by a cover with a resilient plate extending upward and rearward

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector. 
     2. The Related Art 
     A conventional electrical connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals and a shielding shell. The insulating housing defines an assembling opening penetrating through a rear of a bottom of the insulating housing. A tail end of each of the terminals defines a soldering portion. The shielding shell has a rear plate. The terminals are assembled to the insulating housing. The soldering portion of each of the terminals projects into the assembling opening and is soldered to a circuit board by a surface mount technology. The shielding shell is fastened to the insulating housing. The rear plate is fastened behind the insulating housing and the soldering portion. 
     However, if a soldering problem of the conventional electrical connector is generated after the soldering portion is soldered to the circuit board, the electrical connector is hardly reworked on account of the shielding shell being fastened to the insulating housing and the rear plate being fastened behind the insulating housing and the soldering portion. As a result, a defect rate of the electrical connector is higher and a manufacturing cost of the electrical connector is increased. 
     Thus, it is essential to provide an innovative electrical connector which is capable of being reworked, so that a defect rate of the electrical connector is lower and a manufacturing cost of the innovative electrical connector is decreased. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for being mounted to a circuit board. The electrical connector includes a main body, a plurality of terminals, an outer shielding shell and a cover. The main body is mounted to the circuit board. The terminals are fastened to the main body and are arranged transversely. Rear ends of the terminals are mounted to the circuit board, and front ends of the terminals are exposed out of the main body. The outer shielding shell surrounds the main body together with the terminals. A front end of the main body is spaced from an inner surface of a front end of the outer shielding shell to form an insertion space between the front end of the main body and the front end of the outer shielding shell. The cover is covered outside the outer shielding shell. A rear end of the cover defines a resilient plate slantwise extending upward and rearward. A rear edge of the resilient plate is bent perpendicular to the resilient plate to form a rear plate. The resilient plate is separably mounted to an outside of the outer shielding shell to make the rear plate disposed behind or above the main body and the outer shielding shell. 
     As described above, the cover is covered outside the outer shielding shell, the rear end of the cover defines the resilient plate slantwise extending upward and rearward, and the rear plate is disposed behind the main body and the outer shielding shell, if a soldering problem of the electrical connector is generated, the resilient plate is tilted upward by virtue of the elastic force, the rear plate moves upward to be located above the main body and the outer shielding shell, so that the electrical connector is capable of being reworked. As a result, a defect rate of the electrical connector is lower and a manufacturing cost of the electrical connector is decreased. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another exploded view of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially perspective view showing that a middle shielding plate is molded to an insulating housing of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially perspective view showing that first terminals are molded to a first dielectric body of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially perspective view showing that second terminals are molded to a second dielectric body of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing that the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention is without an outer shielding shell and a cover; 
         FIG. 9  is a right view of the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion X of the electrical connector of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing that the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention is in a reworking status; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the cover of the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , an electrical connector  100  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The electrical connector  100  for being mounted to a circuit board (not shown), includes a main body  10 , a plurality of terminals  20 , an outer shielding shell  30  and a cover  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the main body  10  includes a middle shielding component  11 , a base body  12 , a first dielectric body  13  and a second dielectric body  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the middle shielding component  11  has a main plate  111 , a blocking slice  112  extended downward from a rear edge of the main plate  111 , two first soldering arms  113  extended downward from two sides of a bottom edge of the blocking slice  112 , a front plate  114  bent downward from a front edge of the main plate  111 , a tongue plate  115  extended forward from a bottom edge of the front plate  114 , and two abutting pieces  116  extended forward from two sides of a front edge of the tongue plate  115 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the base body  12  has a base portion  121 , a connecting portion  127  extended forward from a middle of a front surface of the base portion  121 , and a tongue portion  128  extended forward from a middle of a front surface of the connecting portion  127 . The base portion  121  is of a substantially rectangular shape seen from a front view. Two junctions between front ends of a top surface and two side surfaces of the base portion  121  are of arc shapes. Two junctions between rear ends of the top surface and the two side surfaces of the base portion  121  project beyond the two junctions between the front ends of the top surface and the two side surfaces of the base portion  121 , so the two junctions between the rear ends of the top surface and the two side surfaces of the base portion  121  are defined as two blocking portions  122 . The base portion  121  defines a receiving opening  123  penetrating through a middle of the rear end of the top surface, a middle of a rear end of a bottom surface and a rear surface of the base portion  121 . Two opposite sides of a rear end of a bottom of the receiving opening  123  extend oppositely to form two assembling openings  124  respectively penetrating through two opposite sides of the rear end of the bottom surface of the base portion  121 . 
     Two opposite sides of the rear end of the top surface of the base portion  121  are recessed downward to form two first recesses  125  communicating with the receiving opening  123 . Top walls of the two assembling openings  124  protrude downward to form two propping portions  126 . Two opposite sides of the connecting portion  127  are recessed inward to form two fastening grooves  1271 . The base body  12  defines a plurality of first terminal grooves  1291  arranged transversely, and a plurality of second terminal grooves  1292  arranged transversely. Each of the first terminal grooves  1291  penetrates through a bottom surface, a lower portion of a front surface and a lower portion of a rear surface of a front wall of the receiving opening  123  and bottom surfaces of the connecting portion  127  and the tongue portion  128 . Each of the second terminal grooves  1292  penetrates through a top surface, an upper portion of the front surface and an upper portion of the rear surface of the front wall of the receiving opening  123  and top surfaces of connecting portion  127  and the tongue portion  128 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the first dielectric body  13  has a first base board  131 , and a first blocking board  132  extended downward from a front of a bottom surface of the first base board  131 . The second dielectric body  14  has a second base board  141 , and a second blocking board  142  extended downward from a rear of a bottom surface of the second base board  141 . The second base board  141  defines a second recess  143  penetrating through middles of a top surface and two opposite side surfaces of the second base board  141 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the terminals  20  include a plurality of first terminals  21  and a plurality of second terminals  22 . Junctions between front ends of a top surface and two side surfaces of each of the first terminals  21  define two first chamfers  2121 . Each of the first terminals  21  has a first fastening arm  211 , a first connecting arm  212  extended downward from a front of the first fastening arm  211 , a first contact arm  213  extended forward from a bottom of the first connecting arm  212 , and a first soldering portion  214  extended downward from a rear of the first fastening arm  211 . The first chamfers  2121  are defined at junctions between front ends of a top surface and two side surfaces of the first contact arm  213 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , junctions between front ends of a bottom surface and two side surfaces of each of the second terminals  22  define two second chamfers  2221 . Each of the second terminals  22  has a second fastening arm  221 , a second connecting arm  222  extended downward from a front of the second fastening arm  221 , a second contact arm  223  extended forward from a bottom of the second connecting arm  222 , a third connecting arm  224  extended downward from a rear of the second fastening arm  221 , and a second soldering arm  225  extended rearward from a bottom of the third connecting arm  224 . The second chamfers  2221  are defined at junctions between front ends of a bottom surface and two side surfaces of the second contact arm  223 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the outer shielding shell  30  has a bottom plate  313 . Two opposite sides of the bottom plate  313  are bent upward to form two lateral plates  312 . Two tops of the two lateral plates  312  are bent towards each other and interconnected with each other to form a top plate  311 . The outer shielding shell  30  further has a receiving space  31  surrounded among the top plate  311 , two lateral plates  312  and the bottom plate  313 . Junctions between the two lateral plates  312  and the bottom plate  313  of the outer shielding shell  30  and junctions between the two lateral plates  312  and the top plate  311  of the outer shielding shell  30  are of arc shapes. A middle of a rear edge of the top plate  311  extends rearward to form an extending plate  32 . Two opposite sides of a front edge of the extending plate  32  are spaced from the rear edge of the top plate  311  to form two gaps  33 . A junction between the top plate  311  and the extending plate  32  defines a rectangular perforation  34 . Two portions of the extending plate  32  are punched downward to form two limiting pieces  35 . Two opposite sides of the extending plate  32  are bent downward to form two side plates  36 . Front ends of bottom edges of the two side plates  36  of the extending plate  32  are extended outward and then are bent downward to form two insertion feet  37 . Each of the side plates  36  of the outer shielding shell  30  defines a fastening hole  38 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the cover  40  has a base plate  41 , and two first fastening plates  42  bent downward from two opposite sides of the base plate  41 . A rear end of the cover  40  defines a T-shaped resilient plate  45  slantwise extending upward and rearward. A middle of a rear edge of the base plate  41  is recessed forward to form a first notch  44 . The front wall of the first notch  44  is bent upward and rearward and further extends upward and rearward to form the T-shaped resilient plate  45 . The resilient plate  45  has a bending portion  451  connected with the front wall of the first notch  44 . Two opposite sides of the resilient plate  45  are bent perpendicular to the resilient plate  45  to form two second fastening plates  46 . Each of the second fastening plates  46  is punched inward to form a fastening piece  47 . A rear edge of the resilient plate  45  is bent perpendicular to the resilient plate  45  to form a rear plate  48 . Bottom edges of the two first fastening plates  42  are recessed upward to form two second notches  49 . A top wall of each of the second notches  49  extends downward, then is bent outward and further extends downward to form a soldering feet  43 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the electrical connector  100  further includes an inner shielding shell  15 . The inner shielding shell  15  includes a first inner shielding shell  151  and a second inner shielding shell  152 . The first inner shielding shell  151  has a third base plate  1511 , two first locating plates  1512  extended upward from two opposite sides of the third base plate  1511 , and a first propping plate  1513  bent downward from a rear of the third base plate  1511 . Two opposite sides of the first propping plate  1513  slantwise extend downward and rearward to form two first elastic arms  1514 . Each of the first locating plates  1512  is punched outward to form a buckling portion  1515 . The second inner shielding shell  152  has a fourth base plate  1521 , two second locating plates  1522  extended downward from two opposite sides of the fourth base plate  1521 , and a second propping plate  1523  bent upward from a rear of the fourth base plate  1521 . Two opposite sides of the second propping plate  1523  slantwise extend upward and rearward to form two second elastic arms  1524 . Each of the second locating plates  1522  defines a buckling hole  1525 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 12 , the middle shielding component  11  is integrally molded to the base body  12 . Two opposite sides of the main plate  111 , two opposite sides of the blocking slice  112 , the front plate  114  and a rear end of the tongue plate  115  are molded in the base portion  121 . A front end of the tongue plate  115  and rear ends of the two abutting pieces  116  are molded in the connecting portion  127  and the tongue portion  128 . Front ends of the abutting pieces  116  project beyond a front surface of the tongue portion  128 . A middle of the main plate  111 , a middle of the blocking slice  112  and the first soldering arms  113  are received in the receiving opening  123 . The first soldering arms  113  are mounted to the circuit board. 
     The main body  10  is mounted to the circuit board. One end of the circuit board is assembled to the receiving opening  123  and the assembling openings  124 . The terminals  20  are fastened to the main body  10  and are arranged transversely. Rear ends of the terminals  20  project into the receiving opening  123  and are mounted to the circuit board. Front ends of the terminals  20  are exposed out of the main body  10 . Specifically, the first terminals  21  are fastened to the first dielectric body  13  and are arranged transversely. Front ends of the first terminals  21  project beyond a front surface of the first dielectric body  13 . Rear ends of the first terminals  21  project beyond a bottom surface of the first dielectric body  13 . The first dielectric body  13  is fastened to a front of the receiving opening  123  and is located under the main plate  111 . The rear ends of the first terminals  21  are located in front of the blocking slice  112  and project into the receiving opening  123 . The front ends of the first terminals  21  are fastened to the base portion  121 , the connecting portion  127  and the tongue portion  128 , and are exposed beyond a bottom surface of the tongue portion  128 . 
     The first base board  131  is fastened to the front of the receiving opening  123 . A rear surface of the first base board  131  abuts against a front surface of the blocking slice  112 . A front surface of the first blocking board  132  abuts against the front wall of the receiving opening  123 . A rear surface of the first blocking board  132  is flush with the rear surface of the front wall of the receiving opening  123 . The first fastening arm  211  is fastened to the first base board  131 . The first connecting arm  212  is fastened in the first blocking board  132 . The first contact arm  213  projects beyond a front surface of the first blocking board  132  and is fastened to one of the first terminal grooves  1291 . A front end of the first contact arm  213  is exposed beyond the bottom surface of the tongue portion  128 . A top end of the first soldering portion  214  is fastened in the first base board  131 . A bottom end of the first soldering portion  214  projects beyond the bottom surface of the first base board  131 . The first soldering portion  214  projects into the receiving opening  123  to be soldered on the circuit board. The first soldering portions  214  of the first terminals  21  are arranged in two rows. The first soldering portions  214  of the first terminals  21  arranged in each row are arranged transversely. 
     The second terminals  22  are fastened to the second dielectric body  14  and are arranged transversely. Front ends of the second terminals  22  project beyond a front surface of the second dielectric body  14 . Rear ends of the second terminals  22  project beyond a bottom surface of the second dielectric body  14 . The second dielectric body  14  is fastened to the receiving opening  123  and is located above the main plate  111 . The rear ends of the second terminals  22  are located behind the blocking slice  112  and project into the receiving opening  123 . The front ends of the second terminals  22  are fastened to the base portion  121 , the connecting portion  127  and the tongue portion  128 , and are exposed beyond a top surface of the tongue portion  128 . 
     The second base board  141  is fastened to the receiving opening  123  and is located above the main plate  111 . The second blocking board  142  is fastened to a rear of the receiving opening  123 . A front surface of the second blocking board  142  abuts against a rear surface of the blocking slice  112 . The second recess  143  is corresponding to and communicated with the first recesses  125 , so the second recess  143  and the first recesses  125  together form a limiting groove  50 . A rear end of the second fastening arm  221  and a top end of the third connecting arm  224  are fastened to the second base board  141 . A front end of the second fastening arm  221 , the second connecting arm  222  and the second contact arm  223  project beyond a front surface of the second base board  141  and are fastened to one of the second terminal grooves  1292 . The second contact arm  223  is exposed beyond the top surface of the tongue portion  128 . A bottom end of the third connecting arm  224  and the second soldering arm  225  project beyond a bottom surface of the second blocking board  142 . The second soldering arm  225  projects into the receiving opening  123  and projects beyond bottom surfaces of the propping portions  126  to be soldered to the circuit board. The bottom surfaces of the propping portions  126  abut against a top surface of the circuit board and the second soldering arm  225  projects beyond the bottom surfaces of the propping portions  126  so as to ensure that the second soldering arm  225  is soldered to a bonding pad (not shown) of the circuit board. 
     The inner shielding shell  15  encloses the connecting portion  127  and rear ends of the first contact arm  213  and the second contact arm  223 . Specifically, the third base plate  1511  is located at a bottom surface of the connecting portion  127 . The two first locating plates  1512  are fastened in the fastening grooves  1271 . The first propping plate  1513  abuts against the lower portion of the front surface of the front wall of the receiving opening  123 . The fourth base plate  1521  is located at a top surface of the connecting portion  127 . The two second locating plates  1522  are fastened in the fastening grooves  1271  and are attached to the first locating plates  1512 . The buckling portion  1515  is buckled in the buckling hole  1525 . The second propping plate  1523  abuts against the upper portion of the front surface of the front wall of the receiving opening  123 . 
     The outer shielding shell  30  surrounds the main body  10  together with the terminals  20  and the inner shielding shell  15 . A front end of the main body  10  is received in the receiving space  31 . The front end of the main body  10  is spaced from an inner surface of a front end of the outer shielding shell  30  to form an insertion space  60  between the front end of the main body  10  and the front end of the outer shielding shell  30 . Specifically, a front end of the base portion  121  is inserted into the front end of the outer shielding shell  30 . The insertion space  60  is formed among the front end of the base portion  121 , the connecting portion  127 , the tongue portion  128  and the front end of the outer shielding shell  30 . The first elastic arms  1514  and the second elastic arms  1524  elastically abut against the bottom plate  313  and the top plate  311 . Rear surfaces of the two lateral plates  312  of the outer shielding shell  30  respectively abut against the two blocking portions  122 . The extending plate  32  is disposed on a top surface of a rear end of the main body  10 . The extending plate  32  is disposed on the rear end of the top surface of the base portion  121  and the top surface of the second base board  141  of the second dielectric body  14 . The two limiting pieces  35  are limited in two opposite sides of the limiting groove  50  for preventing the outer shielding shell  30  from moving forward. The two side plates  36  are fastened to the rear ends of the two side surfaces of the base portion  121 . The insertion feet  37  are mounted to the circuit board. 
     The cover  40  is covered outside the outer shielding shell  30 . The cover  40  is covered on the top plate  311  of the outer shielding shell  30 . The resilient plate  45  is separably mounted to an outside of the outer shielding shell  30  to make the rear plate  48  disposed behind or above the main body  10  and the outer shielding shell  30 . Specifically, the base plate  41  is mounted on a top surface of the top plate  311  and two opposite sides of a front end of a top surface of the extending plate  32 . The two first fastening plates  42  are respectively fastened to two outer surfaces of the two lateral plates  312  of the outer shielding shell  30  and front ends of outer surfaces of the two side plates  36  of the outer shielding shell  30 . The soldering feet  43  are located in front of the insertion feet  37 . The soldering feet  43  is mounted to the circuit board. The bending portion  451  of the resilient plate  45  is located over the perforation  34 . The resilient plate  45  is disposed on a rear end and a middle of the front end of the top surface of the extending plate  32 . The rear plate  48  is disposed behind the main body  10  and the outer shielding shell  30 . The second fastening plates  46  are attached to rear ends of the outer surfaces of the two side plates  36  of the outer shielding shell  30 . The rear plate  48  is disposed behind the rear surface of the base portion  121 , a rear surface of the extending plate  32  and rear surfaces of the two side plates  36 . The fastening piece  47  is fastened to the fastening hole  38 . 
     When the second terminals  22  are soldered to the circuit board by a surface mount technology (SMT), if a soldering problem of the electrical connector  100  is generated, the second fastening plates  46  are respectively pulled away from the two side plates  36  to make the fastening piece  47  break away from the fastening hole  38 . The resilient plate  45  is tilted upward by virtue of an elastic force, the rear plate  48  moves upward to be located above the rear surfaces of the base portion  121 , the extending plate  32  and the two side plates  36 , so that the electrical connector  100  is capable of being reworked. The bending portion  451  of the resilient plate  45  is located over the perforation  34  to ensure a flatness between the cover  40  and the outer shielding shell  30  after the cover  40  is covered on the outer shielding shell  30 . The junctions between the front ends of the top surface and the two side surfaces of each of the first terminals  21  define the first chamfers  2121 , and the junctions between the front ends of the bottom surface and the two side surfaces of each of the second terminals  22  define the second chamfers  2221  to improve a differential effect impedance so as to improve a transmission quality of electrical signals of the first terminals  21  and the second terminals  22 . The front ends of the abutting pieces  116  project beyond the front surface of the tongue portion  128 . When a small foreign matter is located at the front surface of the tongue portion  128 , the front ends of the abutting pieces  116  are capable of preventing the tongue portion  128  from being damaged when the electrical connector  100  is interconnected with a docking connector (not shown). An insertion portion (not shown) of the docking connector is inserted into the insertion space  60  of the electrical connector  100 . 
     As described above, the cover  40  is covered outside the outer shielding shell  30 , the rear end of the cover  40  defines the resilient plate  45  slantwise extending upward and rearward, and the rear plate  48  is disposed behind the main body  10  and the outer shielding shell  30 , if the soldering problem of the electrical connector  100  is generated, the resilient plate  45  is tilted upward by virtue of the elastic force, the rear plate  48  moves upward to be located above the main body  10  and the outer shielding shell  30 , so that the electrical connector  100  is capable of being reworked. As a result, a defect rate of the electrical connector  100  is lower and a manufacturing cost of the electrical connector  100  is decreased.