Electrical connector assembly

Details Electrical connector assembly Electrical connector assembly

2000-12-19

2001-10-23

Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...

Distinct contact secured to panel circuit

C439S541500, C439S377000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305951

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and particularly to an electrical connector assembly used in an electronic device, through which an external media storage device connects with a printed circuit board of the electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional electrical connector assembly
9
, shown in
FIG. 6
, is used for electrically connecting an external media storage device
8
to a printed circuit board
7
of an electronic device (not shown). The connector assembly
9
comprises a first connector
90
and a second connector
92
. The external media storage device
8
first engages with the first connector
90
from a horizontal direction, then the first connector
90
is inserted into the second connector
92
from a vertical direction, the second connector
92
being previously surface mounted on the printed circuit board
7
. No spacer is provided for the first connector
90
, which can lead to bending and to possible permanent damage to terminal pins
900
of the first connector
90
when the terminal pins
900
are inserted into the second connector
92
. Moreover, the terminal pins
900
are exposed out of a housing (not labeled) of the first connector
90
for a relatively long distance, without any protective means. Therefore, the terminal pins
900
are readily damaged during assembly or transportation. Finally, there is no means in the prior art assembly which provides a guiding function to help the first connector to be correctly mounted to the media storage device
8
. Hence, an improved electrical connector assembly is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly for connecting a media storage device to a printed circuit board of an electronic device, wherein the assembly has a first connector with a positioning part thereon for guiding the first connector to smoothly connect with the media storage device.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly for connecting a media storage device to a printed circuit board of an electronic device, wherein the assembly has a first connector and a spacer for protecting contacts of the first connector from damage, and for guiding a connection of the first connector to a second connector mounted on the printed circuit board.
To achieve the aforementioned objects, an electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector, a guiding spacer and a second connector. The first connector forms an insulative first housing receiving a plurality of first contacts therein. Each first contact has a first end for electrically engaging with a corresponding pin of a media storage device and a second end extending beyond the first housing. A pair of guiding posts is formed at two opposite ends of a top wall of the first housing. A guiding spacer comprises a rectangular top wall and four side walls defining a chamber therebetween. The second ends of the first contacts extend through spacing holes defined through the rectangular top wall of the guiding spacer and into the chamber. A supporting wall projects upwardly from a longitudinal side of the rectangular top wall of the spacer and abuts against a rear end of the top wall of the first housing for securing the spacer to the first connector. The second connector has an insulative second housing fittingly inserted into the chamber and retains a plurality of second contacts therein. Each second contact has a contacting portion electrically engaging with the second end of a corresponding first contact and a tail portion for being soldered to the printed circuit board using surface mounting technology.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5636999 (1997-06-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 5688130 (1997-11-01), Huang
patent: 6116920 (2000-09-01), Yu et al.
patent: 6227874 (2001-05-01), Yu

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Electrical connector assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Electrical connector assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrical connector assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2614649