Patent ID: 6431884
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: H01R,H05K

Abstract:
Apparatus comprising a housing and a circuit;said circuit including a plurality of electronic components arranged and interconnected on a circuit board; said housing including a housing body made from an electrically conducting plastic material and formed as a single body of molded plastic material; said housing body having an interior volume that is adapted to receive, and at least partially enclose, said circuit board including said circuit; said housing body having a box-shaped configuration including a top wall, a front wall, a back wall, and opposite side walls, said front wall having opposite inner and outer side surfaces; said housing body having at least one elongate slot formed by molding in said front wall of said housing body, said slot extending between said inner and outer side surfaces of said front wall; said housing further including a plurality of connector pins for connecting said circuit board to an external device, such as an air bag module, each one of said connector pins having a generally L-shaped configuration and being made from an electrically conductive material, such as metal; the L-shaped configuration of each connector pin including a first leg having a first end portion of the connector pin, and a second leg having a second end portion of the connector pin; said plurality of connector pins being mounted in an insulator that is made from an electrically insulating material; said insulator having a base portion and a projecting portion, said insulator having a row of openings in said projecting portion for receiving said first legs of said connector pins; said first legs of said connector pins extending through said openings in said projecting portion of said insulator, and said first end portions of said connector pins projecting outward from said projecting portion of said insulator; said projecting portion of said insulator extending through said slot that is molded in said front wall of said housing body so that said first end portions of said connector pins extend outward from said housing body through said slot in said front wall of said housing body; said second end portions of said connector pins extending inward into the interior volume of said housing body; and said base portion of said insulator abutting an inner side surface of said front wall of said housing body at a location adjoining said slot to prevent said insulator from being pulled off said front wall in a direction parallel to said first end portions of said connector pins.