Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-14
2002-09-24
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S733100, C439S573000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06454575
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to a power plug connector having press-fit contacts for being mounted on a printed circuit board of a server.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known that each server is equipped with a power plug connector for connecting with a complementary cable assembly which connects with a power supply system for supplying power to a printed circuit board on which the power plug connector is mounted. Referring to
FIGS. 7 and 8
, a related power plug connector comprises a two-piece insulative housing
8
consisting of an upper housing
80
and a lower housing
81
and a plurality of contacts
9
retained therein. The upper housing
80
defines a plurality of upper passageways
82
and the lower housing
81
defines a plurality of lower passageways
83
corresponding to the upper passageways
82
. Each contact
9
includes a mating portion
90
, a mounting portion
92
perpendicular to the mating portion
90
, and a projection
94
formed at the junction of the mating portion
90
and the mounting portion
92
. In assembly, the contacts
9
are first downwardly inserted into the lower passageways
83
of the lower housing
81
. The upper housing
80
is then secured to the lower housing
81
with fasteners and the projections
94
of the contacts
9
are received in the upper passageways
82
. Thus, the contacts
9
are retained in the housing
8
.
However, securing the contacts
9
to the housing
8
in the above-mentioned manner is time-consuming. During the assembly process, the upper passageways
82
of the upper housing
80
must be accurately aligned with the lower passageways
83
of the lower housing
81
. Since the upper housing
80
and the lower housing
81
are individually molded, the manufacturing is complicated, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost. Further, when the power plug connector is subject to vibration, the engagement between the upper housing
80
and the lower housing
81
is easy to become loose. This will cause the contacts
9
to be unreliably secured in the housing
8
. As a result, an electrical engagement between the power plug connector and the cable assembly may be adversely affected.
Hence, an improved power plug connector having press-fit contacts secured in a unitarily molded housing thereof is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a power plug connector having press-fit contacts reliably secured to an insulative housing thereof, thereby ensuring a reliable electrical engagement between the power plug connector and a complementary cable assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a power plug connector having a unitarily molded insulative housing for stably retaining a plurality of contacts therein.
In order to achieve the objects set forth, a power plug connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a unitarily molded insulative housing and a plurality of press-fit contacts retained in the housing. The housing defines a receiving cavity in a mating face thereof, a plurality of passageways upwardly extending from a mounting face thereof and communicating with the receiving cavity, and a plurality of upwardly extending recesses each communicating with a corresponding passageway. The contacts are press-fit into the housing from the mounting face. Each contact includes a mating portion received in the receiving cavity, a mounting portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the mating portion and received in the corresponding passageway, and a retention portion upwardly extending from the mounting portion. The retention portion is received in a corresponding recess and has a plurality of barbs thereon for retaining the retention portion in the recess. Thus, the contact is reliably secured to the housing.
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: 5228873 (1993-07-01), Hirai
patent: 5263882 (1993-11-01), Peterson
patent: 5667392 (1997-09-01), Kocher et al.
patent: 6171126 (2001-01-01), Wu et al.
patent: 6275389 (2001-08-01), Huang et al.
patent: 6293823 (2001-09-01), Kasuga
Jones Dennis B.
Wu Jerry
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