Low profile electrical connector with improved board lock

Details Low profile electrical connector with improved board lock Low profile electrical connector with improved board lock

1999-12-08

2001-04-03

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With supporting means for coupling part

Having resilient means engaging panel opening

C439S939000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06210219

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a low profile connector with an improved board lock for mounting on a circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A surface-mounted electrical connector used for mating with a complementary connector is often mounted on a circuit board using the lowest surface of the connector. The total height required by the connector and the circuit board equals the height of the connector plus the thickness of the circuit board. Much space inside of a computer is occupied, which is counter to the present trend forward miniaturization in the telecommunication industry. A connector with a lower profile is desired. Examples of such electrical connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,334,049; 5,709,556 and 5,702,271. However, the board locks disclosed in these connector designs do not engage with the connectors as securely as could be desired. A tighten engagement between the board lock and the connector will allow the connector to be fixed to a printed circuit board more reliably. Hence, an improved electrical connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector mountable onto a circuit board such that the topmost surface of the connector has a minimized height above the circuit board;
A second object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a pair of improved board locks which securely mount the electrical connector on the printed circuit board in cooperation with a bracket of the electrical connector;
A third object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a pair of grounding members mounted on both ends of the shield for establishing a grounding contact with a panel of the computer.
To achieve the above objects, a low profile electrical connector of the present invention comprises a housing, a plurality of terminals received in the housing, a shield covering the housing, a pair of grounding members attached to the shield, a bracket mounted on a printed circuit board engageable with the housing, and a pair of board locks mounted to the bracket and engageable with the printed circuit board. The bracket includes a base comprising a top face and a bottom face, a pair of spacing plates projecting upwardly from a top face of the base, and two mounting portions situated at a front of the base. A bottom end of the mounting portion is lower than the bottom face of the base. The bottom face of the base is mounted to an edge of the circuit board. A finger extends forward from the grounding member, which is engaged with a front face of the shield, to establish electrical grounding contact with a panel of a computer.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5334049 (1994-08-01), Kachlic
patent: 5702271 (1997-12-01), Steinman
patent: 5709556 (1998-01-01), Tan et al.
patent: 5865645 (1999-02-01), Embo et al.
patent: 6074225 (2000-06-01), Wu et al.
patent: 6077115 (2000-06-01), Yang et al.
patent: 6083044 (2000-07-01), Wang et al.
patent: 6095853 (2000-08-01), Huang et al.

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