Shielded connector assembly

Details Shielded connector assembly Shielded connector assembly

1999-12-27

2001-07-10

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield

Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...

Reexamination Certificate

active

06257929

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and particular to a shielded connector assembly which ensures a reliable and convenient assembly of a shielding shell and a housing thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors are commonly shielded to prevent signals transmitted therethrough from being adversely affected by exterior electromagnetic interference (EMI). An outer shell is usually used as a shield as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,125,853 and 5,304,069 as well as in Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 84207642 and 81210869.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, a conventional electrical connector assembly
6
comprises an insulative housing
60
retaining a plurality of terminals
64
therein, a contact spacer
61
, a shield
62
and a means for attaching the connector assembly
6
to other related elements. A plurality of engaging projections
602
,
604
is formed on opposite upper and lower sides of the housing
60
. A plurality of engaging tabs
620
,
622
extends rearwards from the shield
62
corresponding to the engaging projections
602
,
604
of the housing
60
. An engaging opening
621
,
623
is defined in each engaging tab
620
,
622
of the shield
62
, respectively, for engaging with the corresponding engaging projections
602
,
604
of the housing
60
thereby mounting the shield
62
to the housing
60
.
However, since the engaging projections
602
,
604
of the housing
60
have no flexibility in themselves, they are not easy to engage with the engaging tabs
620
,
622
. The engaging tabs
620
,
623
first need to be deflected outward for engaging with the engaging projections
602
,
604
. Consequently, the engagement between the engaging projections
602
,
604
and engaging tabs
620
,
623
are loosed and prone to disengage from each other, thereby resulting in poor shielding thereof.
Therefore, an improvement in the engagement between a shield and a housing of a connector assembly is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide a shielded connector assembly ensuring good shielding protection thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shielded connector assembly which achieves good shielding protection by employing a reliable engagement between a shield and a housing thereof.
A shielded connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing retaining a plurality of contacts therein, a contact spacer and an outer shell. The housing forms a pair of flexible hooks on each of opposite longitudinal sides thereof. Each flexible hook extends in a direction parallel to the direction of assembly in which the shell engages with the housing. The shell defines a pair of engaging openings in each longitudinal side thereof corresponding to the flexible hooks of the housing. When the shell to assembled to the housing, the engaging openings of the shell come into engagement with the corresponding flexible hooks of the housing in the mating direction. Thus, the shell firmly engages with the housing without an outward deflection thereof due to the flexibility of the flexible hooks of the housing. Consequently, the engagement between the shell and the housing is tight as opposed to the loosen engagement of the prior art.
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: 5660558 (1997-08-01), Osanai et al.
patent: 5725386 (1998-03-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5785557 (1998-07-01), Davis
patent: 5921814 (1999-07-01), Maruyama

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