# US 2017/0288360 A1 · Electrical connector and method of making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288360 A1 - Document ID: US20170288360A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/476,980 - Filed: 2017-04-01 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited - Applicants: Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited - Inventors: JUN ZHAO; TAO YAO; CAI-YUN ZHANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288360A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/5219: {Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal} - H01R 13/6587: for mounting on PCBs - H01R 12/724: {containing contact members forming a right angle} - H01R 24/60: Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement - H01R 43/005: {for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a number of conductive contacts affixed to the insulative housing, a middle shielding plate affixed to the insulative housing, a shielding shell enclosing the insulative housing for forming a mating room; and an outer metal shell enclosing the shielding shell. The insulative housing has a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion. The electrical connector further includes a sealer with an o-ring at a front end thereof. The sealer is insert-molded with the shielding shell for forming a waterproof structure enclosing the insulative housing. A front end of the outer metal shell resists the sealer. The outer metal shell encloses the sealer, making the sealer attach to shielding shell firmly. The sealer achieves a good waterproof effect. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing including a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion; a plurality of upper and lower terminals affixed to the insulative housing; a middle shielding plate affixed to the insulative housing and located between the upper terminals and the lower terminals; a metallic shielding shell attached to the insulative housing to form a mating room; an outer metal shell at least partially covering the shielding shell; and a sealer insert-molded with the shielding shell to form a waterproof structure enclosing the insulative housing; wherein a front end of the outer metal shell resists the sealer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the shielding shell comprises an outer surface, an inner surface received in the mating room, and a front edge located in front of the mating room; and the sealer comprises an o-ring located at a front end thereof and a sealing plate extending backwardly from the o-ring, the o-ring enclosing the outer surface of a front end of the shielding shell and the front edge, the sealing plate enclosing the outer surface of the shielding shell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base portion comprises a connecting portion received in the mating room, and the tongue portion extends forwardly out of the mating room. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a waterproof board, and wherein the base portion has an annular channel, a filling groove being formed between the annular channel and the inner surface of the shielding shell, the waterproof board filling in the filling groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the insulative housing comprises an upper module affixing the upper terminals, a lower module affixing the lower terminals, and an insulator, and the annular channel is formed between a rear end of the upper and lower modules and a rear end of the insulator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer metal shell is attached to the sealer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shielding shell comprises a riveting seam, and the sealer is formed after solidification of liquid silicone and seals the riveting seam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the o-ring comprises an inclining portion located at a front end of an inner surface thereof, and the inner surface of the shielding shell slides smoothly with a rear end of the inner surface of the o-ring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a fixing groove located at an upper surface thereof, the shielding shell comprises an upper wall and a fixing plate extending backwardly from a rear end of the upper wall, and the fixing plate is affixed to the fixing groove. ### Claim 10 A method of making an electrical connector, comprising the steps of: providing an insulative module affixed with a plurality of conductive contacts; providing a shielding shell insert-molded with plastic material for forming a waterproof structure, the plastic material forming a sealer after solidification, the sealer having an o-ring; enclosing the insulative module within the waterproof structure; and affixing an outer metal shell to the waterproof structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: forming a sealing plate extending backwardly from the o-ring; covering an outer surface of a front end of the shielding shell by said o-ring; and attaching the sealing plate to the outer surface of the shielding shell. ### Claim 12 An electrical connector comprising: a terminal module including a plurality of terminals disposed in an insulative housing; a metallic shielding shell having a tubular main body to form a mating room and enclosing the terminal module, said shielding shell made of sheet metal and defining a riveting seam extending therethrough along a front-to-back direction; and an insulative sealer overmolded upon an exterior surface of the shielding shell to commonly form a waterproof structure; wherein said sealer includes a front ring circumferentially enclosing a front end region of the shielding shell, and a sealing plate unitarily extending rearwardly from the front ring along the front-to-back direction and covering the riveting seam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, further including a metallic outer shell covering the shielding shell and cooperating with the shielding shell to sandwich the sealing plate therebetween in a vertical direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 13, wherein the riveting seam extends through the shielding shell along the front-to-back direction while the sealing plate only covers a front portion of said riveting seam in said vertical direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, further including a waterproof board made of glue disposed in the housing to seal gaps between the housing and an interior surface of the shielding shell, wherein said waterproof board is at least partially overlapped with the sealing plate in the vertical direction to assure no water leakage via said riveting seam from an exterior. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein said front ring is of an “O” configuration and protectively grasps a front edge of the shielding shell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 16, wherein the housing includes a tongue portion extending forwardly beyond the front edge of the shielding shell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein said shielding shell further includes a fixing plate extending rearwardly from a rear edge of the main body at a higher level, and said riveting seam extends through said fixing plate while said sealing plate is terminated before reaching the fixing plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein in the terminal module, the terminals are integrally formed with the housing via an insert-molding process. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outer shell is soldered upon the shielding shell.