Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

1999-10-21

2001-02-06

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Retaining means

C439S378000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06183287

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and particularly to an electrical connector assembly having a guiding structure for ensuring proper orientation when mating two connectors of the assembly.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,342,221, 5,131,867, German Patent No. DE 4025571A1 and Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 80208826; 82200584; 83105748; 83301429; and 83110257 disclose related electrical connectors. A conventional electrical connector assembly as illustrated in
FIG. 1
comprises a male connector
5
and a female connector
6
to be assembled together. The male and female connectors
5
,
6
include dielectric housings
50
,
60
, a plurality of silos
52
, and corresponding receptacles
62
. Each silo
52
receives a terminal (not shown) therein for electrically engaging a contact (not shown) received in the corresponding receptacle
62
. For preventing improper engagement orientation, each silo
52
has a flattened corner for engaging with the corresponding receptacle
62
(FIGS.
2
A and
2
B). The conventional design prevents improper engagement, however, a mold for forming the conventional connector is difficult to manufacture and assemble thereby increasing production costs. Thus, a connector for preventing improper engagement and having a simplified structure is requisite.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly having male and female connectors with a guiding structure for preventing improper mating orientation therebetween.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly manufactured from a simple mold thereby reducing production costs.
To fulfill the above-mentioned objects, according to a preferred embodiment of present invention, an electrical connector assembly includes a male connector and a female connector. The male connector comprises an insulative body, a plurality of silos projecting from the body, a plurality of contacts received in the silos, a guiding arm formed on a top surface of the body and a pair of fixing bars extending from distal ends of the body. The female connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of receptacles formed in the housing for engaging with the corresponding silos, an engaging slot formed in a top surface of the housing, and a plurality of terminals received in the receptacles for electrically contacting the corresponding contacts of the male connector. In assembly, the guiding arm of the male connector is inserted into the engaging slot of the female connector for guiding the connectors and preventing improper engagement therebetween. The silos and the receptacles are manufactured with the same rectangular cross-section thereby reducing producing production costs.
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: 5131867 (1998-02-01), Peloza et al.
patent: 5342221 (1994-08-01), Peterson
patent: 5716227 (1998-02-01), Detter
patent: 5775932 (1998-07-01), Saito et al.
patent: 6024594 (1998-02-01), Self, Jr. et al.

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