Patent ID: 6093033
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: H01R,H05K

Abstract:
An electrical connector for attachment to a printed circuit board, said connector comprising a connector housing having a plurality of elongate electrical terminals projecting therefrom, each said terminal including a support at one end adapted to be attached to a printed circuit board, said supports extending in a first direction, and an alignment member attached to said housing, said alignment member being movable with respect to the housing in said first direction along said supports from an alignment position to an attachment position, said alignment member including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in said first direction, each aperture receiving one of the terminals such that the terminals are tightly retained by said alignment member in the alignment position to retain the supports of said terminals in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the housing and align the terminals with holes in the printed circuit board, and loosely retained by said alignment member in the attachment position to permit movement of said alignment member relative to the printed circuit board without placing undue stress on the terminals, wherein each of said terminals has an enlarged cross-section portion behind the support, each enlarged cross-section portion being in tight slidable relationship in a respective one of said apertures when said alignment member is in the alignment position, and wherein the alignment member includes a lower surface with protrusions which provide a clearance space larger than the aperture for loosely receiving the enlarged cross-section of each terminal such that each terminal is loosely retained in the respective aperture when the alignment member is in said attachment position, and wherein said alignment member moves toward said housing when moving from the alignment position to the attachment position.