# US 12,184,002 B2 · Connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,184,002 B2 - Document ID: US12184002B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/603,583 - Filed: 2020-04-23 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-25 - Assignees: Molex Incorporated - Applicants: Molex, LLC - Inventors: Daishi Gondo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184002B2 ## CPC - H01R 12/716: {Coupling device provided on the PCB} - H01R 12/57: surface mounting terminals - H01R 12/707: {Soldering or welding} - H01R 12/71: for rigid printing circuits or like structures - H01R 13/405: Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting - H01R 13/447: Shutter or cover plate - H01R 13/502: composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) - H01R 13/504: different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic welding, or swaged together - H01R 13/627: Snap or like fastening - H01R 13/6275: {Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 13/631: for engagement only - H01R 13/6395: {for wall or panel outlets} - H01R 24/00: Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure (contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64) - H01R 12/7088: {Arrangements for power supply} - H01R 12/73: connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures - H01R 13/20: Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together - H01R 13/629: Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract To provide a connector that is compact and reliable and can easily be produced, in addition to achieving narrow spacing between protruding parts having a plurality of terminals mounted thereto. Such a connector is therefore provided that includes half body parts, each of which includes a connector main body and a plurality of terminals mounted to the connector main body, and a main body end part formed on each end of the connector main body with the connector main bodies of the half body parts opposite each other. The connector main body is an integrated member and includes a protruding part that extends in the longitudinal direction thereof and holds the terminals, along with an embedded part connected to each end in the longitudinal direction of the protruding part. The main body end part includes a cover part that covers at least part of the embedded part of the connector main body. The cover part is a member integrated with the embedded part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector, comprising: a first half body part including a first housing having opposite first and second ends, a first embedded part connected to the first end of the first housing, a second embedded part connected to the second end of the first housing, the first housing and the first and second embedded parts extending in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of conductive first terminals mounted to the first housing, and wherein the first housing is a member integrated with the first terminals; a second half body part including a second housing having opposite first and second ends, a third embedded part connected to the first end of the second housing, a fourth embedded part connected to the second end of the second housing, the second housing and the third and fourth embedded parts extending in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of conductive second terminals mounted to the second housing, wherein the second housing is a member integrated with the second terminals; wherein the first and second housings are opposite to each other and are separated from each other by a through hole extending between the first ends and the second ends of the housings; and a first cover part that covers at least part of the first and third embedded parts such that the first cover part is a member integrated with the first and third embedded parts; and a second cover part that covers at least part of the second and fourth embedded parts such that the second cover part is a member integrated with the second and fourth embedded parts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first and third embedded parts are completely covered by the first cover part, wherein the first cover part has a first end wall inner surface between the first and second housings, and the second and fourth embedded parts are completely covered by the second cover part, wherein the second cover part has a second end wall inner surface between the respective housings, the end wall inner surfaces facing each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector according to claim 1, wherein each embedded part has an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, upper and lower surfaces connecting the inner surface and the outer surface, and an end surface located at one end in the longitudinal direction, wherein the inner surfaces of the first and third embedded parts face each other, and the inner surfaces of the second and fourth embedded parts face each other, at least the inner surface, the outer surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the end surface of the first and third embedded parts are covered by the first cover part, and at least the inner surface, the outer surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the end surface of the second and fourth embedded parts are covered by the second cover part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector according to claim 1, wherein each embedded part includes an inclined inner surface, the inclined inner surfaces of the first and third embedded parts facing each other such that a first gap becomes larger between the first and third embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, the first cover part includes a first end wall inner surface between the first and third embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, the first end wall inner surface is formed by injecting a molding material for the first cover part into the gap between the inclined inner surfaces of the first and third embedded parts, and the inclined inner surfaces of the second and fourth embedded parts facing each other such that a second gap becomes larger between the second and fourth embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, the second cover part includes a second end wall inner surface between the second and fourth embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, the second end wall inner surface is formed by injecting a molding material for the second cover part into the gap between the second inclined inner surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a first extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the first housing and the first embedded part, a second extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the first housing and the second embedded part, a third extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the second housing and the third embedded part, and a fourth extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the second housing and the fourth embedded part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The connector according to claim 5, wherein each extension end part is inwardly inclined in a width direction of the respective housing, and each cover part has a width less than a width of the first and second housings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A connector pair, comprising the connector according to claim 1 and a mating connector to mate with the connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) A connector pair, comprising the connector according to claim 2 and a mating connector to mate with the connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The connector according to claim 2, further comprising a first extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the first housing and the first embedded part, a second extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the first housing and the second embedded part, a third extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the second housing and the third embedded part, and a fourth extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the second housing and the fourth embedded part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The connector according to claim 9, wherein each extension end part is inwardly inclined in a width direction of the respective housing, and each cover part has a width less than a width of the first and second housings. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) A connector pair, comprising the connector according to claim 3 and a mating connector to mate with the connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The connector according to claim 3, further comprising a first extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the first housing and the first embedded part, a second extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the first housing and the second embedded part, a third extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the second housing and the third embedded part, and a fourth extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the second housing and the fourth embedded part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The connector according to claim 12, wherein each extension end part is inwardly inclined in a width direction of the respective housing, and each cover part has a width less than a width of the first and second housings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) A connector pair, comprising the connector according to claim 4 and a mating connector to mate with the connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The connector according to claim 4, further comprising a first extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the first housing and the first embedded part, a second extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the first housing and the second embedded part, a third extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the first end of the second housing and the third embedded part, and a fourth extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction between the second end of the second housing and the fourth embedded part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The connector according to claim 15, wherein each extension end part is inwardly inclined in a width direction of the respective housing, and each cover part has a width less than a width of the first and second housings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) A connector pair, comprising the connector according to claim 5 and a mating connector to mate with the connector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) A connector pair, comprising the connector according to claim 6 and a mating connector to mate with the connector. ### Claim 19 A connector, comprising: a first half body part including a first housing having opposite first and second ends, a first embedded part connected to the first end of the first housing, a second embedded part connected to the second end of the first housing, the first housing and the first and second embedded parts extending in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of conductive first terminals mounted to the first housing, and wherein the first housing is a member integrated with the first terminals; a second half body part including a second housing having opposite first and second ends, a third embedded part connected to the first end of the second housing, a fourth embedded part connected to the second end of the second housing, the second housing and the third and fourth embedded parts extending in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of conductive second terminals mounted to the second housing, wherein the second housing is a member integrated with the second terminals, wherein each embedded part includes an inclined inner surface, the inclined inner surfaces of the first and third embedded parts facing each other such that a first gap becomes larger between the first and third embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, and the inclined inner surfaces of the second and fourth embedded parts facing each other such that a second gap becomes larger between the second and fourth embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, wherein the first and second housings are opposite to each other; and a first cover part covering at least part of the first and third embedded parts such that the first cover part is a member integrated with the first and third embedded parts, the first cover part includes a first end wall inner surface between the first and third embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, the first end wall inner surface is formed by injecting a molding material for the first cover part into the gap between the inclined inner surfaces of the first and third embedded parts; and a second cover part covering at least part of the second and fourth embedded parts such that the second cover part is a member integrated with the second and fourth embedded parts, and the second cover part includes a second end wall inner surface between the second and fourth embedded parts in the longitudinal direction of the housing, the second end wall inner surface is formed by injecting a molding material for the second cover part into the gap between the second inclined inner surfaces. ### Claim 20 A connector, comprising: a first half body part including a first housing having opposite first and second ends, a first extension end part extending in a longitudinal direction from the first end of the first housing, a first embedded part extending in the longitudinal direction from the first extension end part, a second extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction from the second end of the first housing, a second embedded part extending in the longitudinal direction from the second extension end part, wherein the first and second extension end parts are each inwardly inclined in a width direction of the first housing; a plurality of conductive first terminals mounted to the first housing, and wherein the first housing is a member integrated with the first terminals; a second half body part including a second housing having opposite first and second ends, a third extension end part extending in a longitudinal direction from the first end of the second housing, a third embedded part extending in the longitudinal direction from the third extension end part, a fourth extension end part extending in the longitudinal direction from the second end of the second housing, a fourth embedded part extending in the longitudinal direction from the fourth extension end part, wherein the third and fourth extension end parts are each inwardly inclined in a width direction of the second housing; a plurality of conductive second terminals mounted to the second housing, wherein the second housing is a member integrated with the second terminals; wherein the first and second housings are opposite to each other; a first cover part covering at least part of the first and third embedded parts such that the first cover part is a member integrated with the first and third embedded parts; and a second cover part covering at least part of the second and fourth embedded parts such that the second cover part is a member integrated with the second and fourth embedded parts, each cover part has a width less than a width of the first and second housings.