# US 10,374,362 B2 · Integrated protector for a connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,362 B2 - Document ID: US10374362B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/720,496 - Filed: 2017-09-29 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-05 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Brett W. Degner; Rui Zhou; Mahmoud R. Amini; Daniele G. de Iuliis; James M. Jeon; Erik A. Gutfeldt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374362B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling - H01R 13/4536: {Inwardly pivoting shutter} - H01R 12/722: {coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits} - H01R 24/62: Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract Connector receptacles having protective doors. A protective door can block a card, module, or connector insert from being inserted at an oblique angle to protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage due to an improper insertion. The protective door can normally be closed in the absence of a card inserted in the connector receptacle. The door can be a front of a cam. A spring or magnet can bias the door in the closed position when no card is inserted. The door can be arranged to stay closed when a card is inserted at an oblique angle. When the card is inserted properly, the cam can rotate about an axis and the door can open allowing the card to access to the contacts of the connector receptacle. A second door in front of the protective door can be included to provide enhanced functionality and to provide a more uniform appearance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector receptacle comprising: a housing having a front opening to receive a card; a plurality of contacts, each having a contacting surface to form an electrical connection with a corresponding contact on the card; and a cam including a door having a face, the face to engage a leading edge of the card as the card is inserted into the connector receptacle, the cam rotatable about a first axis, wherein when the door is closed, the door is between the contacting surfaces of the plurality of contacts and the front opening in the housing, wherein the face of the door comprises a first feature to allow the cam to open by rotating about the first axis when the card is properly inserted, and wherein the face of the door comprises a second feature to prevent the door from opening by preventing the cam from rotating about the first axis when the card is improperly inserted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector receptacle of claim 1 wherein the first feature comprises a forward ramp, where the forward ramp is angled from the first axis away from the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connector receptacle of claim 2 wherein the second feature comprises a reverse ramp, where the reverse ramp is angled at an opposite direction as the forward ramp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector receptacle of claim 1 wherein the first axis extends laterally along a top of and near the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connector receptacle of claim 4 wherein the first feature comprises a forward ramp, where the forward ramp extends from the top of the front opening in the housing to a bottom of the front opening in the housing, where the forward ramp is near the first axis near the top of the housing and at a first position deeper in the housing near the bottom of the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The connector receptacle of claim 5 wherein the second feature comprises a reverse ramp, where the reverse ramp extends from the first position in the housing near the bottom of the front opening in the housing to a second position deeper in the housing near the top of the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The connector receptacle of claim 5 wherein the second feature comprises a flat surface, where the flat surface extends from the first position in the housing near the bottom of the front opening in the housing to a second position at approximately the same depth in the housing near the top of the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connector receptacle of claim 7 further comprising a magnet to bias the door closed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The connector receptacle of claim 7 wherein the first feature is located at a side of the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The connector receptacle of claim 7 wherein the first feature is located near a side of the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The connector receptacle of claim 7 further comprising a spring to bias the door closed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connector receptacle of claim 11 wherein the face of the door is partially covered by an elastomer. ### Claim 13 A connector receptacle comprising: a housing having a front opening to receive a card; a plurality of contacts, each having a contacting surface to form an electrical connection with a corresponding contact on the card; a first cam including a first door having a face, the face to engage a leading edge of the card as the card is inserted into the connector receptacle, the first cam rotatable about a first axis, wherein when the first door is closed, the first door is between the contacting surfaces of the plurality of contacts and the front opening in the housing; and a second cam including a second door having a face, the face to engage the leading edge of the card as the card is inserted into the connector receptacle, the second cam rotatable about the first axis, wherein when the second door is closed, the second door is between the first door and the front opening in the housing, wherein the face of the first door comprises a first feature to allow the first cam to open by rotating about the first axis when the card is properly inserted, and wherein the face of the first door comprises a second feature to prevent the first door from opening by preventing the first cam from rotating about the first axis when the card is improperly inserted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The connector receptacle of claim 13 further comprising an alignment pin to fit in a recess in a device enclosure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The connector receptacle of claim 13 wherein the second door can open when the card is improperly inserted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The connector receptacle of claim 13 further comprising a spring to bias the first door and the second door closed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The connector receptacle of claim 13 wherein the first axis extends laterally along a top of and behind the front opening in the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The connector receptacle of claim 17 wherein the first feature comprises a forward ramp, where the forward ramp extends from the top of the front opening in the housing to a bottom of the front opening in the housing, where the forward ramp is nearer to the front opening in the housing near a top of the housing and further from the front opening in the housing near a bottom of the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The connector receptacle of claim 18 wherein the second feature comprises a reverse ramp, where the reverse ramp extends from the top of the front opening in the housing to the bottom of the front opening in the housing, where the reverse ramp is nearer to the front opening in the housing near the bottom of the housing and further from the front opening in the housing near the top of the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The connector receptacle of claim 18 wherein the second feature comprises a flat surface, where the flat surface extends from the top of the front opening in the housing to the bottom of the front opening in the housing, where the flat surface is approximately the same depth from the front opening in the housing near the bottom of the housing as it is from the front opening in the housing near the top of the housing.