BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a similar view of FIG. 1, but taken from another aspect;
FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the electrical connector;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention is provided. The electrical connector comprises a insulated housing 1 with a substantially rectangular shape, a plurality of conductive terminals 2 located in the housing 2, a shielding member 3 mounted to and encircling the housing 2 and a pair of locking members for connecting with a printed circuit board where the electrical connector is mounted.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing comprises a base 10 extending along a longitudinal direction and a mating portion extending forward from a front surface of the base 10 along a mating direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The mating portion defines a mating surface 19 and comprises a first sidewall 11, a second sidewall 12 parallel to and spacing a distance from the sidewall 11 and a receiving cavity 13 formed between the first and second sidewalls 11, 12. The first sidewall 11 defines a plurality of terminal channels 14 communication with the receiving cavity 13 for receiving said conductive terminals 2 therein.
The housing 1 further comprises a pair of guiding portions 15 which are located beside corresponding lateral sides of the mating portion. The guiding portions 15 extend from the front surface of the base 10 along the mating direction, and beyond the mating surface 19. The base 10 defines a mounting surface at its rear end which is formed at a sharp angle to the mating direction. The base 10 comprises a pair of latching hole 16 beside the corresponding guiding portions 15 which are recessed rearward from its front surface along the mating direction; a pair of grooves 17 formed at longitudinal ends of the base 10 for receiving the locking members 4 therein; and a projection 18 extending from a middle portion of its side surface.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when assembling, the terminals 2 are inserted into the corresponding terminals channels 14 from the rear end of the housing 1. Each terminal 2 has a retention portion 20 providing barbs for interferentially engaging with the terminal channel 14, a contact portion 21 extending forward from the retention portion 20 and exposed to the receiving cavity 13 and a solder portion 22 extending rearward from the retention portion 20 for connecting the connector to the printed circuit board.
The shielding member 3 is constructed by stamping from a single metal plate. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the shielding member 3 comprises a first side plate 31 mainly covering the first sidewall 11, a second side plate 32 mainly covering the second sidewall 12 and a adjoining portion 37 abutting against the mating surface of the housing for connecting the first and second side plates 31, 32 together. The portion of the first side plate 31 used for covering the base 10 is defined as a tail plate portion 30. The tail plate portion 30 has an opening 33 for engaging with the projection 18 of the base 10, a pair of latching portions 34 respectively retained into the latching holes 16 and a pair of solder legs 36 extending perpendicular to the mounting surface of the base 10. The second side plate 32 also has a pair of solder legs 38 but with a larger distance therebetween than that of the solder legs 36 of the first side plate 31. The shielding member 3 is completely mounted on the housing 1 by the engagement between the opening 33 and the projection 18 and the combination between the latching portions 34 and the latching holes 16. The shielding member 3 further has a plurality of resilient tuber 35 which can have the electrical connector firmly mating with a complementary connector.
Referring to FGIS. 3 and 4, the latching portions 34 extend along the mating direction, namely, parallel to the first and second side plate portions 31, 32. This configuration of the latching portions 34 minimize the width of the shielding member 3, and thus efficiently reduce the material cost of the metal plate from which the shielding member 3 is stamped.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Patent Application
20070243764
