Electrical connector with protective spacer

Details Electrical connector with protective spacer Electrical connector with protective spacer

2003-10-21

2004-11-23

Zarroli, Michael C. (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S079000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06821161

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) for supplying power to a computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 4
, a prior art electrical connector
2
electrically mounted on a PCB (not shown) for supplying power to a computer system (not shown) comprises an insulative housing
20
defining a plurality of channels
202
and a plurality of contacts
22
partially received in the housing
20
. The contacts
20
are partially received in the housing
20
and extend out of the housing
20
via the corresponding channels
202
. In order to electrically connecting to the PCB, each contact
22
defines a tail portion
220
, which is out of the housing
20
and proximately perpendicular to the channels
202
for engaging with corresponding holes (not shown) of the PCB. Each tail portion
220
is long enough to ensure reliable connection between the contact
22
and the PCB. However, the length of the tail portion
220
of the contact
22
is too great that the tail portion
220
will be bended to an incorrect position not perpendicular to the channel
202
during the process of mounting the connector
2
onto the PCB by incorrect exterior force. The tail portion
220
of the contact
22
will be curved or even broken, and as a result, the contact
22
cannot engage with the PCB correctly.
Hence, a new electrical connector is desired to overcome the above-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which has a spacer for protecting contacts from being damaged during the course of mounting the connector onto a PCB.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, an electrical connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an insulative housing defining a plurality of channels, a plurality of contacts received in the housing and a spacer engaged with the housing. The contacts are partially received in the housing and extend out of the housing via the corresponding channels. Each contact defines a tail portion, which is out of the housing and receives through the channel. The spacer comprises a base defining a pair of fastening arms and a pair of guiding blocks. The base of the spacer defines a plurality of island platforms thereon, each island platform defining a passageway therethrough. The tail portion of the contact electrically connects to the PCB via a corresponding passageway, which enhances the intension of the tail portion and prevents the contact from being damaged during the course of mounting the connector onto the PCB.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:


REFERENCES:
patent: 5713746 (1998-02-01), Olson et al.
patent: 6093060 (2000-07-01), Wiebking et al.
patent: 6179629 (2001-01-01), Lai et al.
patent: 6210218 (2001-04-01), Chang
patent: 6354875 (2002-03-01), Wu
patent: 6508676 (2003-01-01), Xu
patent: 6561829 (2003-05-01), Maeda et al.
patent: 2001/0023142 (2001-09-01), Miwa et al.
patent: 2002/0192988 (2002-12-01), Droesbeke et al.
patent: 2003/0109151 (2003-06-01), Xu
patent: 2004/0029428 (2004-02-01), Wu

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