Patent ID: 6494751
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical header connector engaged electrically between a control module and a printed circuit board, the electrical header connector being juxtaposed to a planar mounting surface of the printed circuit board, engaged electrically through a plurality of receptacles carried by the printed circuit board, and engaged electrically to a plurality of male terminals of the control module, the electrical header connector comprising:a longitudinal axis disposed parallel to the planar mounting surface of the printed circuit board; a plurality of female terminals, each one of the plurality of female terminals engaged electrically to a respective one of the plurality of male terminals of the control module; a one-piece injection molded header having; a generally rectangular cross sectional configuration taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, front and rear longitudinal mating faces, and opposite longitudinal side faces, the header being elongated longitudinally so as to have a high aspect ratio to thereby provide the low-profile connector when mounted with the longitudinal axis of the header connector disposed parallel to the planar mounting surface of the associated printed circuit board, a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities, each one of the plurality of terminal-receiving cavities housing a respective one of the plurality of female terminals and extending transversely to the terminal-receiving cavities communicate longitudinally through the header front end face juxtaposed to the printed circuit board, a plurality of bores carried by the header and wherein each one of the plurality of bores communicated transversely with a respective one of the plurality of cavities and communicates through the longitudinal side face of the header, and a plurality of flex lock arms engaged unitarily to the header, wherein each one of the plurality of flex lock arms project into a respective one of the plurality of cavities and is adapted to be flexed by a respective one of the plurality of female terminals when the plurality of female terminals are telescopically inserted into the plurality of cavities and then snap locked to hold the plurality of female terminals in the plurality of cavities; and wherein said terminal is provided with a protruding locking tab along one side wall and an adjacent space in said one side wall for receiving therein the free end of the flex lock arm of the associated header cavity in assembled position, said tab providing a locking abutment edge for cooperation with said free end of said flex lock arm in locked position.