Electrical connector jack

Abstract

A connector jack usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts. The jack includes a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein, a circuit board, and a plurality of contact tines extending within the receptacle. Each tine has a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board and a second free end, and is positioned in the receptacle for contact by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The jack also includes a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle, each positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the tines to be engaged thereby when moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, and apply a supplemental force thereto to increase contact force and tine resiliency.

1. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
 a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;  
 a circuit board positioned adjacent to the receptacle;  
 a plurality of contact tines, each having a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board, a second free end and a contact portion between the first and second ends, the tine contact portions being positioned within the receptacle to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first force on the tine contact portion against the corresponding plug contact in response to having been moved in the first direction; and  
 a plurality of resilient, non-conductive elongated spring arms, each having an independently movable spring member portion within the receptacle positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the tine contact portions to be engaged by the corresponding tine contact portion when moved, in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each spring arm being configured for the spring member portion thereof to apply a second force on the corresponding tine contact portion against the corresponding plug contact in response to having been moved in the first direction to produce a contact force between the corresponding tine contact portion and plug contact substantially equal to the sum of the first and second forces and to assist return movement of the corresponding tine contact portion in a second direction opposite the first direction when the plug is removed from the receptacle.  
 
     
     
       2. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
 a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;  
 a circuit board;  
 a plurality of contact tines extending within the receptacle, each having a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board and a second free end, the contact tines being positioned within the receptacle to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each contact tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in response to having been contacted and moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact; and  
 a plurality of resilient, elongated spring members extending within the receptacle, each positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact tines to be engaged by the corresponding contact tine when moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force on the corresponding contact tine to produce a second contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in addition to the first contact force in response to the corresponding contact tine having been contacted and moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact.  
 
     
     
       3. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
 a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;  
 a circuit board;  
 a plurality of contact tines, each having a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board, a second free end and a contact portion between the first and second ends, the contact portions each having a first side and an opposite second side, the contact tines extending within the receptacle and positioned for the first sides of the contact portions to be engaged by correspondingly positioned ones of the plug contacts to move the engaged contact tines in a first generally transverse direction when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each contact tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first force in a second direction opposite the first direction against the correspondingly positioned plug contact in response to being moved by the plug contact; and  
 a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle, each being adjacent to the second side of the contact portion of a correspondingly positioned one of the contact tines in position to be engaged thereby when the correspondingly positioned contact tine is moved in the first direction by the correspondingly positioned plug contact when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the spring members each being configured to apply a second force against the correspondingly positioned contact tine in the second direction to produce a contact force between the engaged correspondingly positioned contact tine and the plug contact substantially equal to the sum of the first and second forces and to assist return movement of the engaged correspondingly positioned contact tine in the second direction when the plug is removed from the receptacle.  
 
     
     
       4. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
 a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;  
 a plurality of contact tines, each with at least a portion thereof positioned within the receptacle to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each contact tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in response to having been contacted and moved by the corresponding plug contact; and  
 a plurality of resilient spring members, each with at least a portion thereof positioned within the receptacle adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact tines to be engaged by the corresponding contact tine when moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force on the corresponding contact tine to produce a second contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in addition to the first contact force in response to the corresponding contact tine having been contacted and moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact.  
 
     
     
       5. The connector jack of  claim 4  wherein each of the contact tines has a first end supported by a support member, a second free end and a contact portion between the first and second ends positioned to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts. 
     
     
       6. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
 a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;  
 a plurality of contact tines extending within the receptacle with each in position for contact by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and movement in response thereto from a first position to a second position when the plug is in the receptacle; and  
 a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle and positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact tines to be engaged by the corresponding contact tine when moved from the first position to the second position by the corresponding plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force against the corresponding contact tine in a direction from the second position toward the first-position to produce a contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle.  
 
     
     
       7. The connector jack of  claim 6  wherein each of the contact tines has a first end supported by a support member, a second free end and a contact portion between the first and second ends positioned to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts. 
     
     
       8. The connector jack of  claim 6  wherein each spring member is configured to apply the force against the corresponding contact tine when the corresponding contact tine is in the second position in a sufficient amount to at least assist in moving the corresponding contact tine to the first position when the plug is removed from the receptacle. 
     
     
       9. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
 a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;  
 a plurality of contact tines, each having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of each contact tine having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and  
 a plurality of resilient spring members, each positioned adjacent to the second side of a correspondingly positioned one of the contact tines, whereby the spring members corresponding to the contact tines engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contacts each apply a reaction force to the corresponding engaged contact tine to generate a contact force between the corresponding engaged contact tine and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.  
 
     
     
       10. The connector jack of  claim 9  wherein each of the contact tines has a first end supported by a support member and a second free end with the contact portion located between the first and second ends in a position to be engaged by the correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
       11. The connector jack of  claim 9  wherein the spring members each have at least a portion positioned within the receptacle and adjacent to the second side of the correspondingly positioned one of the contact tines, whereby the spring member portions corresponding to the contact tines engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contacts each apply the reaction force to the corresponding engaged contact tine to generate the contact force between the corresponding engaged contact tine and the correspondingly positioned plug contact. 
     
     
       12. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
 a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;  
 a plurality of contact tines, each having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned ones  one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and  
 a plurality of resilient spring members, each configured to apply a reaction force to one of the contact tines when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact in a direction to generate a supplemental contact force between the contact tine and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.  
 
     
     
       13. The connector jack of  claim 12  wherein each of the contact tines has a first end supported by a support member and a second free end with the contact portion located between the first and second ends in a position to be engaged by the correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
       14. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
   a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        a plurality of contacts, each having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and        a plurality of resilient spring members, each configured to apply a reaction force to one of the contacts when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact in a direction to generate a contact force between the contact member and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.     
     
     
       15. The connector jack of  claim 14  wherein the contact portion of each of the plurality of contacts has a substantially flat side positioned to be engaged by the correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
       16. The connector jack of  claim 14  wherein each of the resilient spring members comprises a nonconductive spring arm. 
     
     
       17. A connector jack, usable with a plug having at least one plug contact, the jack comprising:
   a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        at least one electrical conductor having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by the at least one plug contact when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and        a resilient spring member configured to apply a reaction force to the at least one electrical conductor when engaged by the at least one plug contact in a        direction to generate a contact force between the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one plug contact.     
     
     
       18. The connector jack of  claim 17  wherein the contact portion of the at least one electrical conductor has a substantially flat side positioned to be engaged by the at least one plug contact when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
       19. The connector jack of  claim 17  wherein the resilient spring member comprises a nonconductive spring arm. 
     
     
       20. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
   a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        a plurality of electrical conductors to be engaged by correspondingly positioned ones of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and        a plurality of resilient spring members, each configured to apply a reaction force to one of the electrical conductors when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact in a direction to generate a contact force between the electrical conductor and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.     
     
     
       21. The connector jack of  claim 20  wherein each of the plurality of electrical conductors comprises a contact portion to be engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the contact portion having a substantially rectangular cross- sectional shape.   
     
     
       22. The connector jack of  claim 20  wherein each of the plurality of electrical conductors has a substantially flat side positioned to be engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
       23. The connector jack of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of resilient spring members comprises a nonconductive spring arm. 
     
     
       24. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
   a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        a plurality of contact members extending within the receptacle with each in position for contact by a corresponding one of the plug contacts when the plug is in the receptacle; and        a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle and positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact members to be engaged by the corresponding contact member when contacted by the corresponding plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force against the corresponding contact member to produce a contact force between the corresponding contact member and plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle.     
     
     
       25. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
   a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        a plurality of contact members, each having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of each contact tine having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and        a plurality of resilient spring members, each positioned adjacent to the second side of a correspondingly positioned one of the contact members, whereby the spring members corresponding to the contact members engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contacts each apply a reaction force to the correspondingly engaged contact member to generate a contact force between the        correspondingly engaged contact member and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.     
     
     
       26. A method of connecting a plug having a plurality of plug contacts to a connector jack, comprising:
   inserting the plug into a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        bringing the plurality of plug contacts into electrical engagement with a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and        applying, through a plurality of resilient spring members positioned within the receptacle in proximity with the plurality of electrical contacts, a force to one of the electrical contacts when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact to thereby generate a contact force between the electrical contact and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.     
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the receptacle are positioned within the receptacle intermediate the plug contacts and the resilient spring members when the plug contacts are brought into electrical contact with the plurality of electrical contacts within the receptacle. 
     
     
       28. A method of connecting a plug having a plurality of plug contacts to a connector jack, comprising:
   inserting the plug into a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        bringing the plurality of plug contacts into electrical engagement with a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and        deflecting a plurality of resilient spring members positioned in proximity with the plurality of electrical contacts to thereby generate a reaction force on the electrical contacts when engaged by the corresponding plug contacts.     
     
     
       29. A method of connecting a plug having at least one plug contact to a connector jack, comprising:
   inserting the plug into a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;        bringing the at least one plug contact into electrical engagement with at least one electrical contact positioned within the receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and        deflecting at least one resilient spring member in proximity with the at least one electrical contact to thereby generate a reaction force on the at least one electrical contact in a direction toward the at least one plug contact when engaged by the at least one plug contact.     
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29  wherein the at least one electrical contact is positioned within the receptacle intermediate the at least one plug contact and the at least one resilient spring member when the at least one plug contact is brought into electrical contact with the at least one electrical contact.