Reinforcing bars in I/O connectors
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsJohn B. Ardisana, II, Eric S. Jol, Jason S. Sloey, Dhaval N. Shah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reinforcing bars or a reinforcing element with holes can be embedded within the shell of a receptacle connector to strengthen the shell, and potentially provide shielding. For example, a receptacle connector having a plurality of contacts configured to mate with corresponding contacts of a corresponding plug connector can include a shell having an opening for receiving the corresponding plug connector. The shell can include an upper portion and reinforcing bars embedded within the upper portion. The shell can include an upper portion and a reinforcing element with holes embedded within the upper portion. Methods for manufacturing the shell are also provided.
Claims24
A receptacle connector for an electronic device, the receptacle connector for receiving a corresponding plug connector, the receptacle connector comprising:
- a plurality of contacts configured to mate with corresponding contacts of the corresponding plug connector;
- and
- a shell having an opening for receiving the corresponding plug connector, the shell comprising:
- an upper portion having an electromagnetic shielding portion adjacent to each of the plurality of contacts;
- and
- reinforcing bars embedded within and spanning a substantial portion of the electromagnetic shielding portion, the reinforcing bars configured to provide electromagnetic shielding.
A receptacle connector for an electronic device, the receptacle connector for receiving a corresponding plug connector, the receptacle connector comprising:
- a plurality of contacts configured to mate with corresponding contacts of the corresponding plug connector;
- and
- a shell having an opening for receiving the corresponding plug connector, the shell comprising:
- an upper portion having an electromagnetic shielding portion adjacent to each of the plurality of contacts;
- and
- a reinforcing element having holes and embedded within and spanning a substantial portion of the electromagnetic shielding portion, the reinforcing element configured to provide electromagnetic shielding.
A method of manufacturing a receptacle connector for an electronic device, the receptacle connector for receiving a corresponding plug connector, the method comprising:
- suspending a plurality of contacts within a die, the die for forming a shell of the receptacle connector, the plurality of contacts suspended in a first region of the die;
- suspending a reinforcing element within the die, the reinforcing element suspended in a second region of the die that corresponds to an electromagnetic shielding portion of the shell formed by the die, the second region adjacent to each of the plurality of contacts suspended in the first region, the reinforcing element spanning a substantial portion of the second region, the reinforcing element configured to provide electromagnetic shielding;
- injecting material into the die to form at least part of the shell;
- and
- removing the shell from the die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.