Electrical connector jack

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, the tine contact portion of each tine having a tine contact first portion and a tine contact second portion, the tine contact first portion being positioned for contact by the corresponding one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle;
• 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, the spring member portion of each spring arm having a spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion being positioned for engagement with the spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion having a recess sized to capture the spring engagement portion to restrict lateral movement of the spring engagement portion.

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, each contact tine having a tine contact first portion and a tine contact second portion, the tine contact first portion being positioned for contact by the 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 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, each spring member having a spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion being positioned for engagement with the spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion including a pair of lateral members spaced apart sufficiently to receive and retain therebetween the spring engagement portion to limit lateral movement thereof when the tine contact second portion is in engagement with the spring engagement portion.

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, each contact tine having a tine contact first portion and a tine contact second portion, the tine contact first portion being positioned for contact by the 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 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, each spring member having a spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion being positioned for engagement with the spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion having a recess sized to capture the spring engagement portion to restrict lateral movement of the spring engagement portion.

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 of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the tine contact portion of each contact tine having a tine contact first portion and a tine contact second portion, the tine contact first portion being positioned for contact by the corresponding 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, each spring member having a spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion being positioned for engagement with the spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion including a pair of lateral members spaced apart sufficiently to receive and retain therebetween the spring engagement portion to limit lateral movement thereof when the tine contact second portion is in engagement with the spring engagement portion.

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 of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the tine contact portion of each contact tine having a tine contact first portion and a tine contact second portion, the tine contact first portion being positioned for contact by the corresponding 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, each spring member having a spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion being positioned for engagement with the spring engagement portion, the tine contact second portion having a recess sized to capture the spring engagement portion to restrict lateral movement of the spring engagement portion.