Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-23
2003-11-25
Gushi, Ross (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S079000, C439S736000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06652294
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a board-to-board connector having securely retained contacts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A board-to-board connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages, and a plurality of terminals received in the passages. Each terminal includes a contact section retained in the housing, a solder tail section projecting from the housing for soldering to a printed circuit board, and a retention section between the contact section and the solder tail section for retaining the terminal in the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,342 discloses an electrical connector
3
for a printed circuit board (PCB)
20
. The electrical connector
3
comprises an insulative housing
30
receiving a plurality of terminals
40
therein. The housing
30
defines a plurality of Z-shaped passageways therethrough. Each passageway comprises a laterally extending receiving aperture
32
defining a bottom cut
33
, a lateral slot
38
and a longitudinal groove
37
between the receiving aperture
32
and the lateral slot
38
. The longitudinal grooves
37
and bottom cuts
33
of the receiving apertures
32
are respectively exposed forwardly and downwardly for facilitating insertion of the terminals
40
into the housing
30
. Each terminal
40
has a configuration substantially corresponding to that of the passageway, and comprises a contact head
41
for mating with a mating terminal of a mating connector, an intermediate portion
47
and a wiring portion
48
. A pair of barbs
44
′ are formed on the contact head
41
. In assembly, the contact heads
41
of the terminals
40
are inserted into corresponding receiving apertures
32
with the barbs
44
′ abutting against the ceiling of corresponding receiving apertures
32
, the intermediate portions
47
being respectively received in the longitudinal grooves
37
via the bottom cuts
33
, and the wiring portions
48
respectively extending through the lateral slots
38
for soldering to the PCB
20
. However, the barbs
44
′ are too tiny to securely retain the terminals
40
in the housing
30
. Since the longitudinal grooves
37
and the receiving apertures
32
are forwardly exposed, when the terminals
40
engage with or disengage from corresponding mating terminals of the mating connector, the intermediate portions
47
of the terminals
40
tend to forwardly escape from the longitudinal grooves
37
, resulting in an undesired detachment of the terminals
40
from the housing
30
.
Hence, an improved electrical connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which has contacts securely retained therein.
An electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing, and a plurality of first contacts and second contacts retained in the housing. The housing defines a plurality of upper passageways arranged in an upper row for respectively receiving the first contacts, and a plurality of lower passageways arranged in a lower row for respectively receiving the second contacts. The housing forms a plurality of pairs of retaining poles thereon. Each first contact defines a pair of apertures engaging with a corresponding pair of retaining poles. Free ends of the retaining poles are riveted on the first contacts for securely retaining the first contacts in the housing. The housing has an upper wall defining a plurality of pairs of apertures. Each first contact comprises a pair of upwardly projecting barbs engaging in a corresponding pair of apertures thereby securely retaining the first contacts in the housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3697933 (1972-10-01), Black et al.
patent: 4116520 (1978-09-01), Zimmerman et al.
patent: 4597625 (1986-07-01), Seidler
patent: 4767342 (1988-08-01), Sato
patent: 4878849 (1989-11-01), Talwar et al.
patent: 5037316 (1991-08-01), Fukushima et al.
patent: 5201661 (1993-04-01), Ii
patent: 5735696 (1998-04-01), Niitsu
patent: 5938456 (1999-08-01), Kozel et al.
patent: 6039590 (2000-03-01), Kunishi
patent: 6095827 (2000-08-01), Dutkowsky et al.
patent: 6113440 (2000-09-01), Fijten et al.
patent: 6219913 (2001-04-01), Uchiyama et al.
patent: 456631 (2001-09-01), None
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