Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

2000-04-13

2001-09-25

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With supporting means for coupling part

Having resilient means engaging panel opening

Reexamination Certificate

active

06293822

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector with fixing devices for securely mounting the connector on a printed circuit board for ensuring a reliable electrical signal transmission between the connector and the printed circuit board.
With the rapid development of electronic technology, electronic products are required to have highly reliable signal transmission capabilities. To achieve this reliability, electrical connectors for firmly fixed to their corresponding circuit board so that terminals of the connector can be securely connected with circuit traces on the printed circuit board. A fixing device is needed to fix the connector at a preselected position relative to the printed circuit board in order to prevent the connector from floating during soldering.
Related inventions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,085,589 and 5,004,430. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional electrical connector
7
is used for mounting on a printed circuit board (not shown). The electrical connector
7
comprises an insulative housing
70
which defines a plurality of passageways
77
for receiving corresponding contacts
9
therein. A D-shaped projection
76
extends from a front side of body portion
71
and is covered by a metal shroud
8
. The body portion
71
defines a pair of fixing holes
75
at lateral sides thereof for receiving corresponding fixing screws
11
extending therethrough. A pair of flat plates
73
is formed at lateral sides of the housing
70
. A pair of locking holes
74
is defined in the plates
73
for receiving corresponding boardlocks
102
integral formed a pair of fixing elements
10
.
After assembly, the boardlocks
102
extend through the locking holes
74
and fix the electrical connector
7
to the printed circuit board. However, since the insulative housing
70
has no positioning means for accommodating the fixing elements
10
. The fixing elements
10
are difficult to retain properly positioned in the corresponding locking holes
74
during assembly. Furthermore, if the insulative housing
70
has an elongated shape, the conventional fixing elements
10
can not reliably fix the electrical connector
7
to the circuit board.
Thus there is a need for an improved fixing device for reliably attaching the electrical connector to the circuit board.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a fixing device for reliably securing the electrical connector to a circuit board.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a fixing device which can be easily assembled to the electrical connector.
To fulfill the above-mentioned objects, an electrical connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises an insulative housing having a D-shaped projection extending from a front side thereof. The insulative housing defines a plurality of passageways for receiving corresponding contacts therein. A metal shroud is shaped with a frame for receiving the corresponding D-shaped projection therein. A pair of extending plates respectively extends from lateral sides of the housing. Each extending plate defines a receiving space therein. A protrusion is formed adjacent to a rear end of the receiving space. The protrusion forms a pair of channels at lateral sides thereof.
The electrical connector further comprises a first and a second type of fixing devices. The first type of fixing device has an elongated body which defines a mating opening therein. A pair of front and rear boardlocks respectively extend from front and rear ends of the body. The second type of fixing device has a similar configuration to that of the first type except that the second type of fixing device only has a pair of rear boardlocks. After the boardlocks have been extended through the extending plates of the housing and into corresponding holes defined in a circuit board, the electrical connector is securely mounted on the circuit board.
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: 5356313 (1994-10-01), Niwa et al.
patent: 5709556 (1998-01-01), Tan et al.
patent: 5797769 (1998-08-01), Yang et al.
patent: 6083044 (2000-07-01), Wang et al.
patent: 6086418 (2000-07-01), Chang
patent: 6095853 (1994-10-01), Huang et al.

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