Patent Publication Number: US-10312644-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 105206096, filed on Apr. 28, 2016, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present invention relates generally to a connector for a shielding device, and more particularly to a connector set with an axial offset. 
     Brief Description of the Related Art 
     A screw-on F-type connector may be employed to connect a coaxial cable to a cable-TV decoder, a digital hard-disk recorder for a video cassette recorder (VCR) or digital versatile/video disc (DVD), a satellite receiver, a video games, a TV signal distribution splitter or a switch. 
     A connector for an electronic device is generally provided with two opposite ends, a first one of which may join another connector for a coaxial cable, such as F-type coaxial cable connector and a second one of which may join the electronic device, such as shielding device. A through hole at the second end of the connector for the electronic device may allow a signal transmitting metal line to pass through the through hole to connect with circuitry in the electronic device. The through hole has an axial center coaxial with an axial center of a main body of the connector for the electronic device. When the connector for the coaxial cable is screwed to the connector for the electronic device, the connector for the electronic device may be caused to be coaxially rotated. This situation creates some critical problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure provides a connector for an electronic device. Two openings at two opposite ends of a sleeve of the connecter for the electronic device have an axial offset such that the bonding of the connector for the electronic device to a frame of the electronic device can be strengthened. The torque created when a connector for a coaxial cable has a nut being screwed onto the connector for the electronic device can be further resisted by the frame. 
     The connector for the electronic device may include a sleeve provided with an outer thread on an outer periphery of the sleeve, wherein the outer thread is configured to be screwed with a nut of a connector for a coaxial cable. The sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein a first opening is at the first end and a second opening is at the second end, wherein the first and second openings have an axial offset. 
     These, as well as other components, steps, features, benefits, and advantages of the present disclosure, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure. They do not set forth all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Conversely, some embodiments may be practiced without all of the details that are disclosed. When the same reference number or reference indicator appears in different drawings, it may refer to the same or like components or steps. 
       Aspects of the disclosure may be more fully understood from the following description when read together with the accompanying drawings, which are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as limiting. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematically perspective view showing a connector for an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematically perspective exploded view showing the connector for the electronic device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematically cross-sectional exploded view showing the connector for the electronic device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematically cross-sectional view showing the connector for the electronic device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a schematically perspective views showing the connector for the electronic device is mounted onto a frame of the electronic device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5C  is a schematically cross-sectional view showing the connector for the electronic device is mounted onto the frame of the electronic device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     While certain embodiments are depicted in the drawings, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments depicted are illustrative and that variations of those shown, as well as other embodiments described herein, may be envisioned and practiced within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Illustrative embodiments are now described. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for a more effective presentation. Conversely, some embodiments may be practiced without all of the details that are disclosed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the disclosure provides a connector  100  for an electronic device configured to be mounted to a frame of a shielding shell of the electronic device, wherein the shielding shell is configured for shielding interference of electromagnetic waves. The connector for the electronic device is designed with axial-offset openings, that is, two openings at two opposite ends of the connector for the electronic device have an axial offset such that the bonding of the connector for the electronic device to the frame of the electronic device can be strengthened. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the connector  100  for the electronic device includes a sleeve  10 , a tube  20 , a first fixing element  30 , a second fixing element  40 , a third fixing element  50  and a metal trace  60 . The tube  20 , first fixing element  30 , second fixing element  40 , third fixing element  50  and metal trace  60  may be first assembled into an assembly, and then the assembly is mounted into the sleeve  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the sleeve  10  made of a conductive material, such as metal, copper, aluminum, silver, nickel, zinc, iron or an alloy of the above-mentioned materials, is provided with an outer thread  102  at an outer periphery of the sleeve  10  and has an axial center at a first axis A 1  in the sleeve  10 . The sleeve  10  has a first end  104 , i.e., rear end, having a connector  90  for a coaxial cable as seen in  FIG. 5C  to be screwed thereto and a second end  106 , i.e., front end, mounted to the frame  70  of the shielding shell of the electronic device as seen in  FIG. 5B . An opening  104   a  in the sleeve  10  is formed at the first end  104  of the sleeve  10  and an opening  108   a  in the sleeve  10  is formed at the second end  106  of the sleeve  10 , wherein the opening  104   a  communicate with the opening  108   a . The openings  104   a  and  108   a  have an axial offset, that is, the opening  104   a  in the sleeve  10  has an axial center at the first axis A 1  in the sleeve  10  and the opening  108   a  in the sleeve  10  has an axial center at a second axis A 2  in the sleeve  10 , wherein the first and second axes A 1  and A 2  are parallel and offset from each other. The opening  104   a  has a greater diameter than the opening  108   a . The sleeve  10  has an outer flange  108  protruding from its outer periphery at the second end  106  thereof. The sleeve  10  has a step formed with two radially-extending surfaces  110  and  112  parallel to and non-coplanar with each other and vertical to the first and second axes A 1  and A 2  and an axially-extending surface  111  vertical to the radially-extending surfaces  110  and  112  and parallel to the first and second axes A 1  and A 2 . The axially-extending surface  111  may have two opposite sides joining the radially-extending surfaces  110  and  112  respectively. The sleeve  10  includes multiple arcuate protrusions  114  axially protruding in the first axis A 1  from the radially-extending surface  110  and a central protrusion  116  axially protruding in the first axis A 1  from the radially-extending surface  110 . Each of the arcuate protrusions  114  has inner and outer arcuate surfaces  114   a  and  114   b  opposite to each other with respect to the first axis A 1 . The central protrusion  116  has an arcuate surface with respect to the second axis A 2  to be coplanar with a sidewall of the opening  108   a . The arcuate protrusions  114  and central protrusion  116  are configured to be riveted to the frame of the shielding shell of the electronic device. The outer flange  108  is formed with a cylindrical periphery having an axial center at the first axis A 1 , wherein the cylindrical periphery of the outer flange  108  vertically joins the radially-extending surfaces  110  and  112  and joins the axially-extending surface  111 . The sleeve  10  has an annular step on an inner wall of the sleeve  10 , wherein the annular step is formed with a first inner annular surface  121  with respect to an axial center at the first axis A 1 , a second inner annular surface  122  with respect to an axial center at the first axis A 1  and a radially-extending surface  120  vertical to the first and second inner annular surfaces  121  and  122  and the first axis A 1 , wherein the radially-extending surface  120  joins the first and second inner annular surfaces  121  and  122  and the first inner annular surface  121  is formed with a greater diameter than the second inner annular surface  122  is formed. The tube  20  may be inserted into the sleeve  10  and surrounded by the first inner annular surface  121 . The tube  20  has a front end abutting in an axial direction against the radially-extending surface  120  of the annular step of the sleeve  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the tube  20  may an insulating material, such as polymer, plastic material or rubber, including multiple bumps  202  outwardly protruding from an outer cylindrical periphery thereof. When the tube  20  is inserted into the sleeve  10 , the sleeve  10  has the first inner annular surface  121  pressing the bumps  202  of the tube  20  such that the tube  20  may be fixed to the first inner annular surface  121  of the tube  20 . A through hole  20   a  having an axial center at the first axis A 1  passes through in the tube  20 . An annular step on a sidewall of the through hole  20   a  is formed with a first inner annular surface  203  with respect to an axial center at the first axis A 1 , a second inner annular surface  204  with respect to an axial center at the first axis A 1  and a radially-extending surface  206  vertical to the first and second inner annular surfaces  203  and  204  and the first axis A 1 , wherein the radially-extending surface  206  joins the first and second inner annular surfaces  203  and  204  and the first inner annular surface  203  is formed with a smaller diameter than the second inner annular surface  204  is formed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the first fixing element  30  may be formed of an insulating material, such as polymer, plastic material or rubber, including multiple outer flexible elements  301  configured to be flexibly moved in a radial direction with respect to the first axis A 1 . When the first fixing element  30  is being assembled with the tube  20 , the first fixing element  30  may be inserted from a front end of the tube  20  into the through hole  20   a  in the tube  20 , in which the tube  20  is provided with multiple protrusions  205  inwardly protruding in radial directions vertical to the first axis A 1  from the second inner annular surface  204  of the tube  20  to press the outer flexible elements  301  of the first fixing element  30  to be contracted. When the first fixing element  30  is well assembled with the tube  20 , the outer flexible elements  301  of the first fixing element  30  are expanded such that the protrusions  205  of the tube  20  may abut in an axial direction against the outer flexible elements  301  of the first fixing element  30  to limit the first fixing element  30  from moving forward in an axial direction relative to the tube  20 . The first fixing element  30  may include an annular step on an outer cylindrical periphery of the first fixing element  30 , wherein the annular step of the fixing element  30  is formed with a first outer annular surface  302  with respect to an axial center at the first axis A 1 , a second outer annular surface  304  with respect to an axial center at the first axis A 1  and a radially-extending surface  304   a  vertical to the first axis A 1 , wherein the radially-extending surface  304   a  joins the first and second outer annular surfaces  302  and  304  and the first outer annular surface  302  is formed with a smaller diameter than the second outer annular surface  304  is formed. The radially-extending surface  304   a  of the first fixing element  30  may abut in an axial direction against the radially-extending surface  206  of the tube  20 , the first inner annular surface  203  of the tube  20  is sleeved onto the first outer annular surface  302  of the first fixing element  30  and the second inner annular surface  204  of the tube  20  is sleeved over the second outer annular surface  304  of the first fixing element  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the second fixing element  40  having a tubular shape may be formed of a conductive material, such as metal, copper, aluminum, silver, nickel, zinc, iron or an alloy of the above-mentioned materials, configured to be inserted into a through hole  30   a  passing through the first fixing element  30  and having an axial center at the first axis A 1 . The first fixing element  30  may have an inner annular flange  306  inwardly protruding in radial directions vertical to the first axis A 1  from a sidewall of the through hole  30   a  in the first fixing element  30 . The inner annular flange  306  is configured to abut in an axial direction against a rear end of the second fixing element  40 . A through hole  40   a  passes through the second fixing element  40  and has an axial center at the first axis A 1 . The second fixing element  40  has two flexible metal sheets  402  bent inwardly from a cylindrical wall of the second fixing element  40  and positioned opposite to each other with respect to the first axis A 1 . Each of the flexible metal sheets  402  has a fixed end coupling the cylindrical wall of the second fixing element  40  and a free end configured to contact a metal core of a coaxial cable. An opening  403  at a rear end of the through hole  40   a  in the second fixing element  40  has an axial center at the first axis A 1 , and an opening  404  at a front end of the through hole  40   a  in the second fixing element  40  has an axial center at the first axis A 1 . The opening  403  has a greater diameter than that of the opening  404 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the third fixing element  50  may be formed of an insulating material, such as polymer, plastic material or rubber, including a first annular portion  502  having a cylindrical periphery with an axial center at the first axis A 1  and a second annular portion  504  having a cylindrical periphery with an axial center at the second axis A 2 , wherein the first annular portion  502  has a greater diameter than that of the second annular portion  504 . The second annular portion  504  integrally joins the first annular portion  502  into a single piece. A through hole  50   a  having an axial center at the second axis A 2  is formed in the third fixing element  50 . A cavity  505  communicating with the through hole  50   a  is formed in the third fixing element  5  to receive a rear end of the second fixing element  40 , wherein the cavity  505  has a greater diameter than that of the through hole  50   a . The second annular portion  504  may be inserted into the opening  108   a  at the front end of the sleeve  10  to protrude from the radially-extending surface  110  of the sleeve  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the metal trace  60  may be formed of a conductive material, such as metal, copper, aluminum, silver, nickel, zinc, iron or an alloy of the above-mentioned materials. The metal trace  60  is provided with a first axial-extension portion  602 , which has an axial center at the first axis A 1 , configured to be inserted into the opening  404  in the second fixing element  40 , a second axial-extension portion  604 , which has an axial center at the second axis A 2 , configured to be inserted into the through hole  50   a  in the third fixing element  50  and a radial-extension portion  606  connecting the first axial-extension portion  602  to the second axial-extension portion  604 . The radial-extension portion  606  of the metal trace  60  may be received in the cavity  505  in the third fixing element  50 . After the second axial-extension portion  604  is inserted into the metal trace  60  is inserted into the through hole  50   a , the metal trace  60  may have a protruding portion protruding from a front surface of the second annular portion  504  to be bent to form an electrical contact  610  configured to contact a pad of a circuit board and a bent portion  608  connecting the electrical contact  610  to the second axial-extension portion  604 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the third fixing element  50  may be considered as a first insulating element having a portion, i.e., a rear portion of the second annular portion  504 , received in the opening  108   a . The through hole  50   a  in the first insulating element  50  having an axial center at the second axis  50   a  receives the second axial-extension portion  604  of the metal trace  60 . The cavity  505  in the first insulating element  50  having a greater diameter than that of the through hole  50   a  in the first insulating element  50  receives the radial-extension portion  606  of the metal trace  60  and a front portion of the first axial-extension portion  60  of the metal trace  60 . The second fixing element  40  may be a metal element assembled in the sleeve  104 . The opening  404  in the metal element  40  having an axial center at the first axis A 1  may be sleeved onto a rear portion of the first axial-extension portion  602  of the metal trace  60 . The opening  403  in the metal element  40  has a greater diameter than that of the opening  404  in the metal element  40 . The opening  403  having an axial center at the first axis A 1  communicates with the opening  404 . The metal element  40  may include the flexible metal sheets  402  coupling the cylindrical wall of the metal element  40  and bent inwardly from the cylindrical wall of the second fixing element  40  to the through hole  40   a  in the metal element  40 . The first fixing element  30  may be a second insulating element assembled in the sleeve  104  and sleeved onto the metal element  40 . The through hole  30   a  in the second insulating element  30  having an axial center at the first axis A 1  receives a rear portion of the metal element  40 . The second insulating element  30  has the inner annular flange  306  inwardly protruding, in radial directions vertical to the first axis A 1 , to the through hole  30   a  in the second insulating element  30  and abutting in an axial direction against the metal element  40 . The tube  20  is assembled in the sleeve  10  and sleeved onto the second insulating element  30 . The through hole  20   a  in the tube  20  has an axial center at the first axis A 1  and receives the second insulating element  30 . The tube  20  has an inner annular flange, provided with the radially-extending surface  206 , inwardly protruding, in radial directions vertical to the first axis A 1 , to the through hole  20   a  in the tube  20 . The second insulating element  30  has an outer annular flange, provided with the radially-extending surface  304   a , outwardly protruding, in radial directions vertical to the first axis A 1 , from a cylindrical wall of the second insulating element  30  and abutting in an axial direction against the inner annular flange of tube  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A to 5B , the connector  100  may be mounted onto a frame  70  of a shielding shell of an electronic device, wherein the shielding shell may be configured for shielding interference of electromagnetic waves. The electronic device may include a main board assembled in a space surrounded by the frame  70  of the shielding shell. Multiple openings  74  in a sideboard  72  of the frame  70  may have shapes and sizes corresponding to those of the arcuate protrusions  114  and central protrusion  116 . The arcuate protrusions  114  and central protrusion  116  and the second annular portion  504  of the first insulating element  50  may be inserted into the corresponding openings  74  and then the arcuate protrusions  114  may be riveted onto the sideboard  72 , in which a punch may be applied onto the arcuate protrusions  114  to be deformed each with an enlarged portion having a width in a dimension greater than a width in the dimension of the corresponding opening  74  to prevent the arcuate protrusions  114  from being dropped off from the corresponding openings  74 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5C , after the connector  100  is mounted onto the sideboard  72  of the frame  70 , a connector  90  for a coaxial cable  80  may be screwed onto the connector  100 . The connector  90  for the coaxial cable  80  may be a screw-on F-type connector. The connector  90  for the coaxial cable  80  may include a nut  92  having an inner thread configured to be screwed onto the outer thread  102  of the sleeve  10  such that the nut  92  electrically coupled to the sleeve  10  may be electrically connected to an electrical ground. The coaxial cable  80  may include a metal core  82  configured to be inserted into the through holes  30   a  and  40   a  and to contact the flexible metal sheets  402 . Thereby, the flexible metal sheets  402  may clip the metal core  82 . The metal element  40  may connect the metal core  82  to the metal trace  60 . However, the nut  92  should stop being screwed on the sleeve  10  when the connector  90  for the coaxial cable  80  has an inner sleeve  94  abutting against the rear end of the sleeve  10 . In fact, the nut  92  cannot immediately stop. At this time, the bonding of the arcuate protrusions  114  to the frame  70  may prevent the connector  100  from being dropped off from the sideboard  72 . Further, the second annular portion  504  inserted into one of the openings  74  in the sideboard  72  has an axial center at the second axis A 2  offset from an coaxial center of the nut  92  of the connector  90  at the first axis A 1 , and thereby the offset bonding of the second annular portion  504  to one of the openings  74  in the sideboard  72  may further resist a torque of the nut  92  being screwed onto the sleeve  10 . Accordingly, the bonding of the connector  100  to the sideboard  72  of the frame  70  maybe strengthened. 
     The components, steps, features, benefits and advantages that have been discussed are merely illustrative. None of them, nor the discussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope of protection in any way. Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated. These include embodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different components, steps, features, benefits and advantages. These also include embodiments in which the components and/or steps are arranged and/or ordered differently. 
     Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain. Furthermore, unless stated otherwise, the numerical ranges provided are intended to be inclusive of the stated lower and upper values. Moreover, unless stated otherwise, all material selections and numerical values are representative of preferred embodiments and other ranges and/or materials may be used. 
     The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims, and such scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the prosecution history that follows, and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents thereof.