Forward and reverse plugging USB socket

Abstract

A USB socket capable of being plugged forwards and backwards comprises a metal outer shell and a plug connector, the metal outer shell is communicated in the front-back direction to form a containing cavity, the plug connector is fixedly arranged in the containing cavity in a sleeved mode, the metal outer shell comprises an annular shell body and installation grooves formed in the inner wall faces of the upper side and the lower side of the containing cavity, and the USB socket further comprises grounding pieces fixed in the installation grooves of the metal outer shell. The grounding piece comprises a piece body which is fixed in the mounting groove and a contact elastic arm which obliquely extends into the accommodating cavity. The USB socket can effectively provide a grounding path between the socket and the metal shell of the plug.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electrical connections, and more particularly to a reversible USB socket. Background Technology

[0002] Type-C USB interfaces are widely used in various electronic devices for data transfer and charging. They have also led to the development of different design schemes with different functional focuses and structures to adapt to different application environments and customer needs, such as high current, waterproof, and high-frequency data transfer.

[0003] Current handheld devices, such as mobile phones, generally require a certain degree of waterproofing. The USB interface, serving as an external charging and data transmission port, needs to be exposed on the outside of the device for charging or data transfer. Therefore, the USB socket itself must be waterproof to ensure the device's waterproofing. Traditional USB sockets typically include a connector and a metal shell fitted over the connector. To facilitate waterproofing, the metal shell usually consists of a seamless tube (generally manufactured using a drawing process) and an outer shell spot-welded to the seamless tube. To ensure the seamless tube is seamless and its inner wall is smooth, and no limiting structure can be machined, a metal strip needs to be embedded in the connector for spot welding to the seamless tube. This solution is relatively complex and costly. Chinese Patent No. 202020158328.7 discloses a powder metallurgy solution for the outer shell, which uses powder metallurgy to form a seamless metal shell with a limiting structure. This solution is relatively simpler and more reliable than the stamping-formed metal shell solution. The metal casing of the USB socket in the above scheme is used for inserting the USB plug. Although the metal casing of the USB plug and the metal casing of the USB socket may have contact and conduction, the conduction is not stable, and the grounding path formed is unreliable, which is not conducive to shielding high-frequency transmission. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a reversible USB socket with a good grounding shielding path.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a reversible USB socket, including a metal shell with a receiving cavity formed through the front and back and a plug-in component sleeved and fixed in the receiving cavity. The metal shell includes an annular shell and mounting grooves formed on the inner walls of the upper and lower sides of the receiving cavity. The USB socket also includes a grounding plate fixed in the mounting groove of the metal shell. The grounding plate includes a plate body fixed in the mounting groove and a contact spring arm that extends obliquely into the receiving cavity.

[0006] Preferably, the metal casing is a seamless tube structure manufactured using powder metallurgy, and the grounding plate includes a plate body that fits into the mounting groove, and the plate body is fixed together with the annular shell by spot welding.

[0007] Preferably, the mounting groove has an opening at the front end, and the mounting groove includes mounting groove sidewalls located on both sides of the mounting groove in the lateral direction and a mounting groove rear wall located on the rear side of the mounting groove. The mounting groove sidewalls are provided with slots, and the grounding piece has outer portions on both sides of its lateral direction that are inserted into the slots. The grounding piece is fixed to the annular shell by spot welding through the outer portions.

[0008] Preferably, the outer edge of the sheet is torn to form an elastic tear fastening portion, one end of which extends beyond the surface of the sheet and is tightly secured to the slot to prevent the grounding sheet from falling off.

[0009] Preferably, the outer edge of the sheet is torn to form an elastic tear fastening part, one end of the tear fastening part extends beyond the surface of the sheet, and a slot is provided at the corresponding position of the slot. After the tear fastening part is inserted, it is locked into the slot to limit the grounding sheet.

[0010] Preferably, the grounding plate has a cut hole cut out at the position of the contact spring arm. The contact spring arm includes a horizontal extension extending backward from the plate, an inclined extension arm extending backward from the horizontal extension and inclined toward the receiving cavity, a barb portion bent away from the end of the inclined extension arm in a direction away from the receiving cavity, and a contact portion formed at the bend between the inclined extension arm and the barb portion. The contact portion extends into the receiving cavity.

[0011] Preferably, the rear end of the inner wall of the receiving cavity of the metal shell is recessed to form a recessed portion. The connector includes a first terminal module, a second terminal module, a middle plate located between the first terminal module and the second terminal module, and an insulating body that holds the first terminal module, the second terminal module, and the middle plate together. The insulating body includes a base, a mating tongue extending forward from the base, and a tail formed behind the base. A partition is formed between the base and the tail. The base is at least partially inserted into the recessed portion for limiting. The outer periphery of the partition is surrounded by the inner wall of the receiving cavity.

[0012] Preferably, the first terminal module includes a first terminal group and a first insulator that holds the first terminal group together. The second terminal module includes a second terminal group and a second insulator that holds the second terminal group together. Each conductive terminal of the first terminal group and the second terminal group includes a contact portion exposed on the surface of the mating tongue, a holding portion extending rearward from the contact portion and wrapped by the insulating body, and a solder leg extending rearward from the holding portion to the rear side of the insulating body. The base and the tail are connected together by the first terminal group and the second terminal group.

[0013] Preferably, the partition is filled with waterproof adhesive, and the partition is surrounded by the inner wall of the receiving cavity. After the waterproof adhesive is filled, it cures to form a waterproof adhesive block.

[0014] Preferably, the annular shell of the metal housing has a front sealing groove on the outer side of its front end, and the annular shell protrudes outward from the rear side of the front sealing groove to form an outward protrusion. A front sealing ring is formed in the front sealing groove by sleeve or by adhesive molding. The USB socket also includes a fixed shell fixed to the outside of the metal housing. The fixed shell includes a first fixed shell and a second fixed shell. Both the first fixed shell and the second fixed shell include a top wall attached to the upper or lower surface of the annular shell, an arc-shaped side wall formed by bending and extending laterally from both sides of the top wall, and a welding surface formed by bending laterally outward from the arc-shaped side wall. The welding surfaces of the first fixed shell and the second fixed shell are attached together and spot welded. The rear ends of the second fixed shell are bent upward on both sides to form crimp hooks. The crimp hooks are used to hold the crimp hooks forward by other objects inside the device, so that the USB socket maintains a forward thrust to keep the front sealing ring tightly crimped with the outer frame of the device body to achieve a seal.

[0015] This application's reversible USB socket features an installation groove on the inner wall of the metal casing, with a grounding plate inside the groove. The grounding plate is conductively connected to the metal casing of the plug, creating a grounding path between the plug's metal casing and the socket's metal casing, thus achieving better shielding. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the reversible USB socket of this application;

[0018] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the reversible USB socket of this application;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the metal casing of the reversible USB socket of this application;

[0020] Figure 4 For along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view shown by the dashed line BB;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a 3D view of the grounding plate of the reversible USB socket.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the connector of the reversible USB socket of this application;

[0023] Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the connector of the reversible USB socket of this application;

[0024] Figure 8 For along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view shown by the dashed line AA.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0026] Connector-A; Metal housing-10; Annular housing-11; Front sealing groove-12; Outer protrusion-13; Receiving cavity-14; Mounting groove-15; Mounting groove sidewall-151; Slot-152; Mounting groove rear wall-153; Front sealing ring-16; Recessed portion-17; Fixed housing-20; First fixed housing-21; Second fixed housing-22; Top wall-211; Arc-shaped sidewall-212; Welding surface-213; Crimping hook-214; Waterproof adhesive block-18; Grounding piece-30; Plate-31; Outer side portion-32; Tear fastener- 33; Cut hole - 34; Contact spring arm - 35; Horizontal extension - 351; Inclined extension arm - 352; Contact part 353; Barb part - 354; First terminal module - 41; Second terminal module - 42; Middle plate - 43; Contact part - 411; Holding part - 412; Solder foot - 413; First insulator - 414; First terminal group - 415; Second terminal group - 421; Second insulator - 422; Insulating body - 44; Base - 441; Transition part - 442; Butt tongue - 443; Tail part - 444; Partition part - 445. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments and corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them.

[0028] This application is based on Figure 1The X direction is the front in the front-to-back direction, the Y direction is the right side in the horizontal direction, and the Z direction is the top in the vertical direction.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the reversible USB socket of this application includes a connector A, a metal shell 10 sleeved on the connector A, a fixed shell 20 welded and fixed on the metal shell 10, a waterproof adhesive block 18 for sealing the connector A and the metal shell 10 with adhesive, a front sealing ring 16 provided at the front end of the metal shell 10, and a grounding piece 30 fixed inside the metal shell 10.

[0030] Please continue reading. Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the connector A includes a first terminal module 41, a second terminal module 42, a middle plate 43, and an insulating body 44 that holds the first terminal module 41 and the second terminal module 42 together.

[0031] The first terminal module 41 includes a first terminal group 415 and a first insulator 414 that holds the first terminal group 415 integrally. The second terminal module 42 includes a second terminal group 421 and a second insulator 422 that holds the second terminal group 421 integrally. Each conductive terminal of the first terminal group 415 and the second terminal group 421 includes a contact portion 411, a holding portion 412 extending rearward from the contact portion 411, and a solder foot 413 extending rearward from the holding portion 412. The middle plate 43 can be provided separately or integrally formed on the second insulator 422 with the second terminal group 421. The middle plate 43 is prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0032] The insulating body 44 is formed by stacking the first terminal module 41, the second terminal module 42 and / or the middle plate 43 together and then injection molding it again.

[0033] The insulating body 44 includes a base 441, a transition portion 442 extending forward from the base 441, a mating tongue 443 extending forward from the transition portion 442, and a tail portion 444 formed behind the base 441. A partition portion 445 is formed between the base 441 and the tail portion 444. The space occupied by the partition portion 445 is free of plastic. The base 441 and the tail portion 444 are connected as one unit via a first terminal group 415 and a second terminal group 421. The waterproof adhesive block 18 is filled into the partition portion 445 and cured.

[0034] Please continue reading. Figures 3 to 5As shown, the metal housing 10 includes an annular housing 11 with a receiving cavity 14 extending through the front and rear, mounting grooves 15 formed on the upper and lower inner walls of the receiving cavity 14, and a front sealing groove 12 formed at the front end of the annular housing 11.

[0035] The annular housing 11 has an outwardly protruding portion 13 on the rear side of the front sealing groove 12, and the front sealing groove 12 is formed on the front side of the outwardly protruding portion 13. A front sealing ring 16 is provided in the front sealing groove 12. The front sealing ring 16 can be pre-formed and then fitted into the front sealing groove 12, or it can be formed into the front sealing groove 12 by dispensing adhesive and then curing. The front sealing ring 16 formed by the latter method is bonded to the front sealing groove 12, resulting in a better sealing effect.

[0036] The inner wall surfaces on both sides of the receiving cavity 14 have recessed portions 17 at the rear end. After the connector A is inserted into the receiving cavity 14 from the rear end, the base 441 of the insulating body 44 is engaged in the recessed portions 17 on both sides to limit the connector A. The recessed portions 17 may also be formed by recessing around the circumference of the receiving cavity 14.

[0037] The front opening of the mounting groove 15 includes mounting groove sidewalls 151 located on both sides of the mounting groove 15 laterally and a mounting groove rear wall 153 located at the rear of the mounting groove 15. A slot 152 is provided on the mounting groove sidewall 151, through which the grounding piece 30 is inserted into the mounting groove 15. The recess 17 is located behind the mounting groove rear wall 153.

[0038] The grounding plate 30 includes a plate body 31 and at least one contact spring arm 35 stamped on the plate body 31. Specifically, the plate body 31 has outer portions 32 that insert into the slot 152 on both lateral sides. The edges of the outer portions 32 are stamped and torn to form tear fastening portions 33 that protrude to one side. The tear fastening portions 33 have a certain elasticity, so that the outer portions 32 are pressed into the slot 152. The outer portions 32 are also electrically fixed to the annular housing 11 by spot welding at corresponding positions. In one embodiment, the slot 152 is provided with a slot (not shown). After the grounding plate 30 is inserted, the tear fastening portion 33 is engaged in the slot.

[0039] The plate 31 has a cutout 34 at the position corresponding to the contact spring arm 35. The contact spring arm 35 extends rearward from the front side of the cutout 34 and includes a horizontal extension portion 351 extending rearward from the front side of the cutout 34, an inclined extension arm 352 extending rearward from the horizontal extension portion 351 and toward the receiving cavity 14, a barb portion 354 bent away from the rear end of the inclined extension arm 352 in a direction away from the receiving cavity 14, and a contact portion 353 formed at the end of the inclined extension arm 352. The contact portion 353 extends into the receiving cavity 14 to make conductive contact with the metal shell of the mating plug. There is a gap between the barb portion 354 and the inner wall surface of the mounting groove 15 to provide deformation space for the contact spring arm 35.

[0040] In another embodiment, in order to reduce the thickness of the metal shell 10, the mounting groove 15 is only provided with a groove structure with an open front end, and the slot 152 structure is not required. The grounding piece 30 can be directly spot-welded to the annular shell 11 within the space of the mounting groove 15.

[0041] Please continue reading. Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 8 As shown, the fixing housing 20 is fixed to the outside of the metal housing 10 to fix the USB socket to a printed circuit board or other object. The fixing housing 20 includes a first fixing housing 21 and a second fixing housing 22. Both the first fixing housing 21 and the second fixing housing 22 include a top wall 211 attached to the upper or lower surface of the annular housing 11, an arc-shaped side wall 212 formed by bending and extending laterally from both sides of the top wall 211, and a soldering surface 213 formed by bending laterally outward from the arc-shaped side wall 212. The soldering surfaces 213 of the first fixing housing 21 and the second fixing housing 22 are attached together and spot-welded for fixation, while the top wall 211 is spot-welded to the outer surface of the annular housing 11.

[0042] The rear sides of the second fixed housing 22 are bent upward to form crimp hooks 214. The crimp hooks 214 are used to press against the crimp hooks 214 forward by other objects inside the device, so that the USB socket maintains a forward thrust so that the front sealing ring 16 is tightly crimped against the outer frame of the device body to achieve a seal.

[0043] During assembly, the connector A is first inserted from the rear end forward into the receiving cavity 14 of the metal housing 10. The base 441 of the insulating body 44 is pressed into the recess 17 at the rear end of the metal housing 10 to restrict and limit the forward movement of the connector A. Then, waterproof adhesive is injected from the rear into the partition 445, filling it with adhesive. The partition 445 is surrounded by the inner wall of the metal housing 10 so that the waterproof adhesive simultaneously adheres to the inner wall of the metal housing 10. After the waterproof adhesive cures, it forms the waterproof block 18, achieving a seal and waterproofing.

[0044] This application's reversible USB socket achieves better shielding by providing a mounting groove 15 on the inner wall of the metal casing 10, and then providing a grounding plate 30 in the mounting groove 15. The grounding plate 30 is conductive to the metal casing of the plug, so that the metal casing of the plug and the metal casing of the socket are connected to form a grounding path, which in turn achieves better shielding.

[0045] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0046] The above embodiments only illustrate preferred implementations of this utility model, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A reversible USB socket, comprising a metal outer shell with a receiving cavity forming a through-hole, and a plug fitting sleeved and fixed within the receiving cavity, characterized in that, The metal housing includes an annular shell and mounting grooves formed on the inner walls of the upper and lower sides of the receiving cavity. The USB socket also includes a grounding plate fixed in the mounting groove of the metal housing. The grounding plate includes a plate body fixed in the mounting groove and a contact spring arm extending obliquely into the receiving cavity.

2. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The metal outer shell is a seamless tube structure manufactured using powder metallurgy. The grounding plate includes a plate body that fits into the mounting groove, and the plate body is fixed to the annular shell by spot welding.

3. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting groove has an opening at the front end. The mounting groove includes mounting groove sidewalls located on both sides of the mounting groove in the lateral direction and a mounting groove rear wall located on the rear side of the mounting groove. Slots are provided on the mounting groove sidewalls. The grounding piece has outer portions on both sides of its lateral direction that can be inserted into the slots. The grounding piece is fixed to the annular shell by spot welding through the outer portions.

4. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The outer edge of the plate is torn to form an elastic tear fastening part, one end of which extends beyond the surface of the plate and is tightly secured to the slot to prevent the grounding plate from falling off.

5. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The outer edge of the sheet is torn to form an elastic tear fastening part. One end of the tear fastening part extends beyond the surface of the sheet. A slot is provided at the corresponding position of the slot. After the tear fastening part is inserted, it is locked into the slot to limit the grounding sheet.

6. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The grounding plate has a cut hole cut out at the position of the contact spring arm. The contact spring arm includes a horizontal extension extending backward from the plate, an inclined extension arm extending backward from the horizontal extension and inclined towards the receiving cavity, a barb portion bent away from the end of the inclined extension arm in a direction away from the receiving cavity, and a contact portion formed at the bend between the inclined extension arm and the barb portion. The contact portion extends into the receiving cavity.

7. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The inner wall of the receiving cavity of the metal shell is recessed at the rear end to form a recessed portion. The connector includes a first terminal module, a second terminal module, a middle plate located between the first terminal module and the second terminal module, and an insulating body that holds the first terminal module, the second terminal module, and the middle plate together. The insulating body includes a base, a mating tongue extending forward from the base, and a tail formed behind the base. A partition is formed between the base and the tail. The base is at least partially inserted into the recessed portion for limiting. The outer periphery of the partition is surrounded by the inner wall of the receiving cavity.

8. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The first terminal module includes a first terminal group and a first insulator that holds the first terminal group together. The second terminal module includes a second terminal group and a second insulator that holds the second terminal group together. Each conductive terminal of the first terminal group and the second terminal group includes a contact portion exposed on the surface of the mating tongue, a holding portion extending rearward from the contact portion and wrapped by the insulating body, and a solder foot extending rearward from the holding portion to the rear side of the insulating body. The base and the tail are connected together by the first terminal group and the second terminal group.

9. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Waterproof adhesive is injected into the partition, which is surrounded by the inner wall of the receiving cavity. After the waterproof adhesive is filled, it solidifies to form a waterproof adhesive block.

10. The reversible USB socket as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The annular shell of the metal housing has a front sealing groove on its outer front end. The annular shell protrudes outward from the rear side of the front sealing groove to form an outward protrusion. A front sealing ring is formed in the front sealing groove by sleeve or by adhesive molding. The USB socket also includes a fixed shell fixed to the metal housing. The fixed shell includes a first fixed shell and a second fixed shell. Both the first fixed shell and the second fixed shell include a top wall attached to the upper or lower surface of the annular shell, an arc-shaped side wall formed by bending and extending laterally from both sides of the top wall, and a welding surface formed by bending laterally outward from the arc-shaped side wall. The welding surfaces of the first fixed shell and the second fixed shell are attached together and spot welded. The rear ends of the second fixed shell are bent upward on both sides to form crimp hooks. The crimp hooks are used to hold the crimp hooks forward by other objects inside the device, so that the USB socket maintains a forward thrust to keep the front sealing ring tightly crimped with the outer frame of the device body to achieve a seal.

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