1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector mounted to a circuit board for use in a printer or the likes.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional electrical connector having high performance contacts described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,893 comprises an insulative housing having a plurality of passageways defined therein and a plurality of terminals correspondingly retained in the passageways. Each terminal comprises a base portion interferentially retained in the insulative housing, a solder portion extending from an end of the base portion, a contact portion and an U-shaped resilient portion extending from one side of the contact portion and connect the contact portion and base portion together for providing an resilient force toward the contact portion.
As described above, the resilient portion extends from one side of the contact portion to provide resilient force toward contact portion from one direction. Therefore, the contact portion would receive a lopsided resilient force, which may result in displacement of the contact portion when the terminal is depressed for a great number of times. Further more, the resilient portion configured as a āUā shape may result in resilience loss easily. It is better to improve mechanical performance of the terminals for avoiding displacement or resilience loss.
Hence, an improved electrical connector is required to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the related art.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a plurality of improved terminals capable of being securely depressed and providing adequate resilient force.
To achieve the aforementioned object, an electrical connector comprises an isulative housing defining therein a plurality of passageways and a plurality of electrical terminals retained in the passageways. Each electrical terminal comprises a contact portion, a body portion, a tail portion extending downwardly from the body portion and a pair of resilient portions extending between the contact portion and the body portion.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. Referring to
Referring to
Each side portion 12 has a pair of protrusions 121 and a recess 122 defined between the protrusions 121. The protrusion 121 has a mounting hole 124 corresponding with the recesses 122 defined thereon for mating with a mating connector (not shown) and a post 125 extending downwardly therefrom for supporting the hole structure. The recess 122 has an aperture 123 defined therein for mating with the mating connector.
Referring to
Referring to
When the electrical connector 1 is mating with a mating connector (not shown), the contact portions 21 are depressed downwardly by the mating connector. Meanwhile, the resilient portions 23 are resiliently compressed to provide a resilient force toward the contact portions 21.
As described above, each electrical terminal 20 has a pair of shoulder portions 22 symmetrically protruding from opposite edges of the contact portion 21 and a pair of mutually separated resilient portions 23 extending from the corresponding shoulder portions 22. Therefore, each contact portion 21 could receive a balanceable resilient force transferred from the pair of resilient portions 23 toward the pair of symmetrical shoulder portions 22. It is harder to have a displacement for each contact portion 22 because the resilient force provided to contact portions 22 is transferred from opposite directions.
Further more, each resilient portion 23 configured as three continuous compressible arc-like bent portions 231 is able to provide a resilient force superior than the force provided by a U-shaped resilient portion. Additionally, the pair of resilient portions 23 separated from each other and having the slot 242 defined therebelow would enjoy an adequate space to have a sufficient flexible deforming.
However, the disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made in detail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200520071491.5 | Apr 2005 | CN | national |