Patent ID: 6254406
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A flexible board electrical connector comprising;a generally rectangular housing including an elongated housing body having a front side and a rear side, a pair of support members that are formed respectively and integrally on two end portions of said housing body, and a longitudinal row of support channels that are formed transversely in said housing body and that are located between said support members, said housing body having an elongated top surface, which is formed with a longitudinal opening along said front side of said housing body, each of said support members having a pivot accommodating space formed therein, and a lower barb element, which has a vertical plate portion that is formed integrally with said housing body, and a lateral projection that projects laterally and inwardly from an upper end of said vertical plate portion;a plurality of contact elements fitted respectively within said support channels in said opening;two ground elements attached to said housing; anda front cover having an elongated cover body, two longitudinal pivot pins that are formed respectively and integrally on two end portions of said cover body and that are aligned with each other, and two retaining projections that project respectively and outwardly from two end portions of said cover body, said pivot pins being confined respectively within said pivot accommodating spaces in said support members of said housing in such a manner that said front cover is rotatable between a closed position, where said retaining projections of said front cover engage respectively said lateral projections of said lower barb elements of said housing for preventing upward removal of said retaining projections of said front cover from said housing and where said retaining projections of said front cover can be removed forcibly and upwardly from said lateral projections of said lower barb elements of said housing, and an open position, where said retaining projections of said front cover separate from said lateral projections of said lower barb elements of said housing;wherein each of said pivot accommodating spaces in said support members has an inlet, each of said support members of said housing including an upper barb element, which is located above said lower barb elements and which has a horizontal plate portion that projects integrally from said housing body and that has a front end, and a downward projection that projects integrally and downwardly from said front end of said horizontal plate portion into said inlet of a corresponding one of said pivot accommodating spaces in said support members, said downward projections being shaped and located so that said pivot pins of said front cover can pass through said downward projections into said pivot accommodating spaces in said housing, thereby subsequently preventing removal of said pivot pins from said pivot accommodating spaces.