Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Supporting plural – independent coupling parts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-02-27
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Supporting plural, independent coupling parts
C439S570000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193547
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical card connector, and especially to an electrical card connector having an integrally molded shell and a guiding rack for guiding a mating electrical card inserted thereto and for securing the integrally molded shell and other components of the connector.
Components of a computer are commonly designed to meet miniaturization requirements while providing high quality functional capabilities. Electrical card connectors for portable computers have developed from a single card type to a double card type for effectively expanding applications of the computer. Recently, an electrical card connector with an integrally molded metal shell in place of similar insulative components has become commonly used. Such a shell usually forms inwardly bent tabs at appropriate positions for guiding the insertion of a mating electrical card. However, the tabs can not provide enough support and may deform when a relatively large insertion force is exerted to thereon. In addition, the tabs can not effectively assemble an upper shell and a lower shell. Furthermore, a stand-off is necessary for promoting an efficient use of space of the connector within a computer.
A pertinent prior art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,047 as seen in
FIG. 1
which discloses a connector having an integrally molded shell
1
comprising an upper shell
11
and a lower shell
12
. A space (not labeled) is formed between the upper and lower shells
11
,
12
. Each shell
11
,
12
defines a plurality of rectangular apertures, wherein two of the apertures
111
,
121
are for receiving tabs
131
of a stand-off
13
. A protrusion
132
is formed at a middle portion of the stand-off
13
for insertion into the space between the upper and lower shells
11
,
12
thereby securing the stand-off
13
to the shell
1
. Moreover, a mounting seat
133
extends from a bottom edge of the stand-off
13
and defines a through hole
134
therein for attaching to a mother board. However, the stand-off
13
is only attached to the shell
1
by engagement with the tabs
131
. Thus, when a relatively large force is exerted on the connector, the tabs
131
can not maintain engagement with the shell due to the limited engagement area therebetween.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide an electrical card connector having an upper and a lower shells for receiving a pair of headers therein and a guiding rack forming a plurality of projecting blocks thereon for integrally fixing the upper and lower shells and a stand-off together.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical card connector having a guiding rack attached to an upper and lower shells thereby facilitating engagement of electrical card connectors inserted into the connector and facilitating the attachment of other components such as a stand-off.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an upper and a lower shells are assembled together to form a receiving space therebetween. A pair of headers are received in the space. A rear surface is formed on one side of the headers opposite a front mating surface thereof. A plurality of slots are formed between the front mating and rear surfaces for receiving a plurality of conductive contacts therein.
A guiding rack is provided on one side of the upper and lower shells for guiding mating electrical cards to be inserted into the connector. The guiding rack is fixed to the upper and lower shells by inteferentially fitting projecting blocks of the guiding rack into apertures of the upper and lower shells. The guiding rack also facilitates the assembly of other components to the upper and lower shells. Furthermore, two stand-offs are directly fixed to corresponding projecting blocks of the guiding rack thereby securing the shell and the stand-offs to the electrical card connector.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5176523 (1993-01-01), Lai
patent: 5249983 (1993-10-01), Hirai
patent: 5318452 (1994-06-01), Brennian, Jr. et al.
patent: 5324204 (1994-06-01), Lwee
patent: 5490791 (1996-02-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 5688143 (1997-11-01), McHugh et al.
patent: 5879187 (1999-03-01), Cheng et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
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