Patent Publication Number: US-8974248-B2

Title: Universal serial bus connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a connector, and more particularly to a universal serial bus connector. 
     2. The Related Art 
     As is known to all, a conventional universal serial bus connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals, an insulating cover and a shielding shell surrounding the insulating housing and the insulating cover. The insulating housing defines a receiving space penetrating through a middle of a front surface thereof. Each of the terminals has a fastening portion, a contact portion connecting with one end of the fastening portion and a soldering portion connecting with the other end of the fastening portion. The terminals are disposed to the insulating housing with the contact portions thereof being exposed to the receiving space or being exposed beyond a top surface of the insulating housing and the soldering portions thereof projecting behind the insulating housing. The insulating cover is fastened to a rear end of the insulating housing and a rear end of the insulating cover projects behind the insulating housing. The soldering portions of the terminals penetrate through the insulating cover and are exposed to a top surface of the rear end of the insulating cover. The conventional universal serial bus connector is soldered with a cable which includes a plurality of core wires. The core wires of the cable are soldered with the soldering portions of the terminals. 
     However, the rear end of the insulating cover of the conventional universal serial bus connector projects behind the insulating housing that increases an exposed volume of the conventional universal serial bus connector. As a result, the conventional universal serial bus connector needs a larger space to be occupied. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a universal serial bus connector. The universal serial bus connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, an insulating cover, a terminal module and a shielding shell. The insulating housing includes a first base body, and a second base body protruding upward from one side of a top surface of the first base body. The first base body defines a first inserting groove penetrating through a front surface thereof and a first holding groove penetrating through a rear surface thereof. The second base body defines a second inserting groove penetrating through a top surface and a front surface thereof and a second holding groove penetrating through a bottom of a rear surface thereof and communicating with the second inserting groove. The first terminals are disposed to the first base body of the insulating housing. Each of the first terminals has a first fastening portion, a first contact portion extending forward from a front of the first fastening portion, a first bending portion bent upward from a rear of the first fastening portion and a first soldering portion extending rearward from a top of the first bending portion. A top of the first contact portion is exposed to the first inserting groove. A rear end of the first soldering portion of each first terminal projects behind the insulating housing. The second terminals are disposed to the first base body of the insulating housing. Each of the second terminals has a second fastening portion, a second contact portion extending forward from a front of the second fastening portion, a second bending portion bent downward from a rear of the second fastening portion and a second soldering portion extending rearward from a bottom of the second bending portion. A bottom of the second contact portion is exposed to the first inserting groove. A rear end of the second soldering portion of each second terminal projects behind the insulating housing. The insulating cover is fastened to a rear end of the first base body of the insulating housing. The insulating cover has a main body and a first supporting portion protruding rearward from a middle of a rear surface of the main body. The main body of the insulating cover is received in the first holding groove and the rear surface of the main body is flush with the rear surface of the first base body. The first supporting portion of the insulating cover projects behind the rear end of the first base body of the insulating housing. The rear ends of the first soldering portions of the first terminals and the rear ends of the second soldering portions of the second terminals are exposed to a top of the first supporting portion. The terminal module is fastened to a rear end of the second base body of the insulating housing. The terminal module includes an insulating base and a plurality of third terminals integrally molded to the insulating base. The insulating base has a base portion, a tongue portion protruding forward from a middle of a lower portion of a front surface of the base portion and a second supporting portion protruding rearward from a bottom of a rear surface of the base portion. The tongue portion of the insulating base is received in the second holding groove of the second base body. The base portion of the insulating base is blocked behind the rear surface of the second base body. The second supporting portion of the insulating base projects behind the second base body and a rear surface of the second supporting portion is flush with the rear surface of the first base body. The third terminal of the terminal module has a third fastening portion integrally molded in the insulating base, a third contact portion extending forward, then arched upward and further extending forward from a front of the third fastening portion to project beyond a front surface of the insulating base and a third soldering portion extending rearward from a rear of the third fastening portion to be exposed to a top of the second supporting portion. Tops of the third contact portions are exposed to the second inserting groove. The shielding shell surrounds the insulating housing, the insulating cover and the terminal module. 
     As described above, the main body of the insulating cover is received in the first holding groove of the insulating housing, and the tongue portion of the insulating base of the terminal module is received in the second holding groove of the insulating housing and the rear surface of the second supporting portion is flush with the rear surface of the first base body, so that an exposed volume of the universal serial bus connector is decreased. As a result, an occupying space of the universal serial bus 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 a universal serial bus connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the universal serial bus connector of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the universal serial bus connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another exploded view of the universal serial bus connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially perspective view of the universal serial bus connector of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of an insulating housing of the universal serial bus connector of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2   FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , an universal serial bus connector  100  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The universal serial bus connector  100  includes an insulating housing  10 , a plurality of first terminals  20 , a plurality of second terminals  30 , an insulating cover  40 , a terminal module  50  and a shielding shell  80 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , the insulating housing  10  includes a rectangular first base body  11 , and a rectangular second base body  12  protruding upward from one side of a top surface of the first base body  11 . The first base body  11  defines a first inserting groove  111  penetrating through a middle of a front surface thereof and a first holding groove  112  penetrating through a middle of a rear surface thereof. The first base body  11  defines a plurality of first terminal grooves  113  penetrating through a top surface of a bottom wall and a rear wall of the first inserting groove  111  and communicating with the first holding groove  112 , and a plurality of second terminal grooves  114  penetrating through a bottom surface of a top wall and the rear wall of the first inserting groove  111  and communicating with the first holding groove  112 . Two rear ends of two inner surfaces of two opposite side walls of the first terminal groove  113  are concaved oppositely to form two first fastening slots  115 . Two rear ends of two inner surfaces of two opposite side walls of the second terminal groove  114  are concaved oppositely to form two second fastening slots  116 . The second base body  12  defines a second inserting groove  121  penetrating through a top surface and a front surface thereof and a second holding groove  122  penetrating through a bottom of a rear surface thereof and communicating with the second inserting groove  121 . The second base body  12  defines a plurality of third terminal grooves  123  penetrating through a top surface of a bottom wall and a rear wall of the second inserting groove  121  and communicating with the second holding groove  122 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , two tops of two inner surfaces of two opposite side walls of the second holding groove  122  are concaved oppositely to form two first buckling grooves  124 . Two bottoms of the two inner surfaces of the two opposite side walls of the second holding groove  122  are concaved oppositely to form two second buckling grooves  125 . The front surface of the first base body  11  defines a limiting groove  13  passing through a bottom edge thereof, and the limiting groove  13  is located under the first inserting groove  111 . Two inner surfaces of two opposite side walls of the first holding groove  112  are concaved oppositely to form two fixing grooves  14 . Two rear surfaces of the two opposite side walls of the first holding groove  112  are concaved inward to form two restricting grooves  15 . A middle of a bottom surface of a bottom wall of the first holding groove  112  protrudes downward to form a first locating portion  16 . A junction of a top wall and one side wall of the first holding groove  112  protrudes outward to form a second locating portion  17 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , each of the first terminals  20  has an elongated first fastening portion  21  disposed horizontally, a first contact portion  22  extending forward from a front of the first fastening portion  21 , a first bending portion  23  bent upward from a rear of the first fastening portion  21 , and a first soldering portion  24  extending rearward from a top of the first bending portion  23 . Two opposite sides of a rear end of the first fastening portion  21  protrude oppositely to form two first teeth portions  25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , each of the second terminals  30  has an elongated second fastening portion  31  disposed horizontally, a second contact portion  32  extending forward from a front of the second fastening portion  31 , a second bending portion  33  bent downward from a rear of the second fastening portion  31 , and a second soldering portion  34  extending rearward from a bottom of the second bending portion  33 . Two opposite sides of a rear end of the second fastening portion  31  protrude oppositely to form two second teeth portions  35 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the insulating cover  40  has a main body  41  and a first supporting portion  42  protruding rearward from a middle of a rear surface of the main body  41 . The main body  41  of the insulating cover  40  defines an opening  43  penetrating through a middle of a front surface thereof. The insulating cover  40  defines a plurality of insertion slots  44  penetrating through a top surface of the first supporting portion  42  and further penetrating through the rear surface of the main body  41  to communicate with the opening  43 . Two opposite side surfaces of the main body  41  protrude outward to form two fixing blocks  45 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the terminal module  50  includes an insulating base  60  and a plurality of third terminals  70  integrally molded to the insulating base  60 . The insulating base  60  has a base portion  61 , a tongue portion  62  protruding forward from a middle of a lower portion of a front surface of the base portion  61  and a second supporting portion  63  protruding rearward from a bottom of a rear surface of the base portion  61 . Two tops of two opposite side surfaces of the tongue portion  62  of the insulating base  60  protrude outward to form two axe-shaped first buckling portions  64 . Two bottoms of the two opposite side surfaces of the tongue portion  62  of the insulating base  60  protrude outward to form two rectangular second buckling portions  65 . The third terminal  70  of the terminal module  50  has a third fastening portion  71  integrally molded in the insulating base  60 , a third contact portion  72  extending forward, then arched upward and further extending forward from a front of the third fastening portion  71  to project beyond a front surface of the insulating base  60  and a third soldering portion  73  extending rearward from a rear of the third fastening portion  71  to be exposed to a top of the second supporting portion  63 . The third soldering portions  73  of the third terminals  70  are in alignment with one another. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the shielding shell  80  has a bottom plate  81 , two lateral plates  82  extending upward from two opposite sides of the bottom plate  81  and a top plate  83  extending towards each other from two tops of the two lateral plates  82 . A middle of a front edge of the bottom plate  81  is bent upward to form a limiting piece  811 . A middle of a rear edge of the bottom plate  81  is recessed inward to form a first locating groove  812 . Two bottoms of two rear edges of the two lateral plates  82  define two restricting pieces  821 . One side of a rear edge of the top plate  83  is recessed inward to form a second locating groove  831 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , when the universal serial bus connector  100  is assembled, at first, the first terminals  20  and the second terminals  30  are disposed to the first base body  11  of the insulating housing  10 . Specifically, the first fastening portion  21  of each first terminal  20  is fastened to the first terminal groove  113 . The two first teeth portions  25  are fastened to the two first fastening slots  115  and interfere with two inner surfaces of two opposite side walls of the two first fastening slots  115 . The first contact portion  22  of each first terminal  20  is received in the first terminal groove  113  and a top of the first contact portion  22  is exposed to the first inserting groove  111 . The first bending portion  23  of each first terminal  20  and a front end of the first soldering portion  24  of each first terminal  20  are located in the first holding groove  112 . A rear end of the first soldering portion  24  of each first terminal  20  projects behind the insulating housing  10 . The second fastening portion  31  of each second terminal  30  is disposed to the second terminal groove  114 . The two second teeth portions  35  are fastened to the two second fastening slots  116  and interfere with two inner surfaces of two opposite side walls of the two second fastening slots  116 . The second contact portion  32  of each second terminal  30  is received in the second terminal groove  114  and a bottom of the second contact portion  32  is exposed to the first inserting groove  111 . The second bending portion  33  of each second terminal  30  and a front end of the second soldering portion  34  of each second terminal  30  are located in the first holding groove  112 . A rear end of the second soldering portion  34  of each second terminal  30  projects behind the insulating housing  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , next, the insulating cover  40  is fastened to a rear end of the first base body  11  of the insulating housing  10 . Specifically, the main body  41  of the insulating cover  40  is received in the first holding groove  112  and the rear surface of the main body  41  is flush with the rear surface of the first base body  11 . The two fixing blocks  45  of the insulating cover  40  are fixed in the two fixing grooves  14  of the insulating housing  10  so that the insulating cover  40  is fastened to the rear end of the first base body  11  of the insulating housing  10 . The first supporting portion  42  of the insulating cover  40  projects behind the rear end of the first base body  11  of the insulating housing  10 . The rear ends of the first soldering portions  24  of the first terminals  20  and the rear ends of the second soldering portions  34  of the second terminals  30  are inserted into the insertion slots  44  of the insulating cover  40  through the opening  43  of the insulating cover  40  and exposed to a top of the first supporting portion  42 . The rear ends of the first soldering portions  24  and the rear ends of the second soldering portions  34  are in alignment with one another. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the terminal module  50  is fastened to a rear end of the second base body  12  of the insulating housing  10 . Specifically, the tongue portion  62  of the insulating base  60  is received in the second holding groove  122  of the second base body  12 . The first buckling portions  64  of the insulating base  60  are buckled in the first buckling grooves  124  and the second buckling portions  65  of the insulating base  60  are buckled in the second buckling grooves  125 . The base portion  61  of the insulating base  60  is blocked behind a rear surface of the second base body  12 . The second supporting portion  63  of the insulating base  60  projects behind the second base body  12  and a rear surface of the second supporting portion  63  is flush with the rear surface of the first base body  11 . The third contact portions  72  of the third terminals  70  are received in the third terminal grooves  123  and tops of the third contact portions  72  are exposed to the second inserting groove  121 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , at last, the shielding shell  80  surrounding the insulating housing  10 , the insulating cover  40  and the terminal module  50 . Specifically, the insulating housing  10  together with the first terminals  20 , the second terminals  30 , the insulating cover  40  and the terminal module  50  is inserted forward in the shielding shell  80 . The limiting piece  811  of the shielding shell  80  is limited in the limiting groove  13  of the insulating housing  10 . The first locating portion  16  is located in the first locating groove  812  and the second locating portion  17  is located in the second locating groove  831 . The restricting pieces  821  of the shielding shell  80  are bent towards each other by a jig (not shown) to be restricted in the restricting grooves  15  of the insulating housing  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the universal serial bus connector  100  is soldered with a cable (not shown) which includes a plurality of core wires (not shown). The core wires of the cable are soldered with the rear ends of the first soldering portions  24  of the first terminals  20 , the rear ends of the second soldering portions  34  of the second terminals  30  which are exposed to the first supporting portion  42  of the insulating cover  40  and the third soldering portions  73  of the third terminals  70  which are exposed to the top of the second supporting portion  63  of the insulating base  60 . 
     As described above, the main body  41  of the insulating cover  40  is received in the first holding groove  112  of the insulating housing  10 , and the tongue portion  62  of the insulating base  60  of the terminal module  50  is received in the second holding groove  122  of the insulating housing  10  and the rear surface of the second supporting portion  63  is flush with the rear surface of the first base body  11 , so that an exposed volume of the universal serial bus connector  100  is decreased. As a result, an occupying space of the universal serial bus connector  100  is decreased.