Electrical connectors – Including or for use with tape cable – With mating connection region formed by bared cable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-05-15
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with tape cable
With mating connection region formed by bared cable
C439S497000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231378
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector having a stuffer for abutting a flexible printed circuit into contact with a plurality of terminals, the inventive feature being on improved shield for the connector.
An electrical connector for connection with a FPC (flexible printed circuit) usually comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals received in the housing, and an EMI shield adapted to surround the housing. The housing and the shield must remain in fixed positions relative to each other, particularly during connection and disconnection with a mating electrical connector. The conductive shield is generally constructed from two halves; a cooperating latching system being formed on both halves for securing each half together with the housing. More manufacturing steps and greater coordination during assembly are required. Additionally, a shield assembled from two halves is more susceptible to EMI since gaps between halves are easily introduced through assembly error. A shield having a unitary construction which can be smoothly and reliably assembled to a connector housing is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for connection with a flexible printed circuit having a shield with a unitary construction.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for connection with a flexible printed circuit having a shield which can be smoothly and reliably assembled onto the insulative housing, and which further will not separate from the housing during mating and unmating with a complementary electrical connector.
Accordingly, an electrical connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals received in the housing, an insulative stuffer and a conductive shield surrounding the housing.
The housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, two side walls and a baffle between the top wall and the bottom wall. A receptacle and a plurality of channels are defined between the top wall and the baffle; a slot and a plurality of passageways are defined between the baffle and the bottom wall. Each terminal has an upper positioning portion and a contact portion both received in a corresponding channel, and a lower positioning portion received in a corresponding passageway. The shield is of a unitary construction and has a top panel covering the top wall of the housing, a bottom panel, a pair of front panels connected between the top panel and the bottom panel, a pair of lateral panels, and a grounding panel. The top panel, the bottom panel, the front panels and the lateral panels together define a space for enclosing the housing. The grounding panel is connected to the top panel and, in assembly, enters into the receptacle of the housing between the upper positioning portions and the contact portions of the terminals. The stuffer has a main body for movably being received within the receptacle. In operation, the stuffer downwardly presses the grounding panel against an inserted flexible printed circuit to firmly clamp the flexible printed circuit between the contact portion of the terminals and the grounding panel.
In accordance with a main feature of the present invention, a top wall of the housing defines a groove, and a clipping portion is correspondingly formed in the top panel of the shield for engaging with the groove. A flange is also formed at a rearward edge of the top panel for engaging with a rear edge of the top wall of the housing. These features secure the top panel of the shield to the top wall of the housing, protecting against separation of the shield from the housing during mating with a complementary 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: 5370552 (1994-12-01), Chishima et al.
patent: 5401186 (1995-03-01), Nozaki et al.
patent: 5474468 (1995-12-01), Chishima et al.
patent: 5580272 (1996-12-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5738545 (1998-04-01), Igarashi et al.
patent: 6066000 (2000-05-01), Masumoto et al.
Lee Ta Chin
Wu Ming Chuan
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
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