Waterproof Ear-Jack Connector Baffle and Terminal Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ear-jack connectors in electronic devices are not waterproof, leading to potential damage from water ingress, and existing solutions that add protection stoppers increase the size of the connector, which is unfavorable for thinner designs.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof ear-jack connector design that incorporates a baffle sealing the tail opening and a contact terminal that plugs a hole on the baffle, eliminating the need for additional protection stoppers and maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protection stopper or structural piece is added to block water, then waterproofing is achieved, but the size of the ear-jack connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the waterproofing function with the existing contact terminal structure. The contact terminal is designed to both establish electrical contact and seal the plastic hole simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate protection stoppers. This integration resolves the contradiction by achieving waterproofing without adding extra components that would increase connector size.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact terminal is given multiple functions: it serves as both the electrical contact element and the waterproof sealing element. By making the contact terminal universal, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated protection stoppers, thereby maintaining compact connector dimensions while achieving reliable waterproofing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing protection stoppers are used for waterproofing, then water blocking is achieved, but the ear-jack connector size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water blocking function into the contact terminal itself. The contact terminal is designed to protrude through the baffle and seal the plastic hole, serving dual purposes of electrical connection and water protection. This merger prevents water ingress without requiring additional length-determining protection stoppers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the waterproofing function from separate protection stoppers and integrates it directly into the contact terminal structure. By taking out the need for dedicated sealing components and embedding the sealing capability within the contact terminal, the connector maintains its compact dimensions while achieving effective water blocking.
Data Source
AI summary
A waterproof ear-jack connector includes: an ear-jack connector housing, a contact terminal, and a baffle. The ear-jack connector housing is disposed with a space running through the ear-jack connector housing, the space is used for accommodating an earphone plug; the baffle is located at a tail opening of the ear-jack connector housing, and tightly contacts the tail opening of the ear-jack connector housing, so as to seal the tail opening of the ear-jack connector housing; the contact terminal tightly presses against an inner wall of the space, and passes through from a hole disposed on the baffle; and the shape of the hole matches a cross section of the contact terminal, so that the hole is plugged by the contact terminal. The ear-jack connector itself is equipped with a waterproof function, thereby facilitating the thinning of an electronic product.