Electrical connector assembly with improved locking means

Details Electrical connector assembly with improved locking means Electrical connector assembly with improved locking means

1999-12-29

2001-05-22

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

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

Retaining means

Reexamination Certificate

active

06234828

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUNDING SHROUD OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector assembly, and particularly to a connector assembly with improved locking means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional electrical connector assembly disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application No. 84201383 comprises a first electrical connector
80
and a second electrical connector
91
adapted for being mated together. The first connector
80
comprises a pair of locking means
81
deflectably positioned in opposite sides thereof. The second connector
91
defines a pair of openings
92
complementary to the pair of locking means
81
. When the first and the second connectors
80
,
91
are mated together, the pair of locking means
81
are interferentially received in the pair of openings
92
, respectively, thereby preventing a disengagement of the first connector
80
from the second connector
91
. However, the presence of the two openings
92
enlarges the second connector
91
and makes the manufacture of the second connector
91
more difficult, thereby increasing its cost. Hence, an improved electrical connector assembly is required.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly with a locking means that can be manufactured at a low cost.
To fulfil the above object, an electrical connector assembly comprises first and second electrical connectors which mate to each other. The first connector includes a first insulative housing, a plurality of first contacts received in the first housing and a grounding shroud enclosing a first mating portion of the first housing. The grounding shroud defines two openings. The second electrical connector includes a second insulative housing, a plurality of second contacts received in the second housing and two latches respectively positioned inside the second housing. Each latch has an engaging portion comprising two tabs laterally extending from side edges thereof, respectively. When the first and the second connectors are fully mated together, the tabs of the two latches are engageably received in the two openings of the grounding shroud, respectively, thereby joining the first and the second electrical connectors together.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5727970 (1998-03-01), Koguchi et al.
patent: 5775931 (1998-07-01), Jones
patent: 5788528 (1998-08-01), Orr, Jr. et al.
patent: 6056578 (2000-05-01), Lin

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