Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly includes an insulative housing, a number of contacts, a least a first PCB electrically connecting with the contacts, a pair of restriction sections, and a pair of fastening elements. The insulative housing comprises an upper wall, a lower wall opposite to the upper wall, and a pair of sidewalls connecting with the upper and lower walls. The contacts are received in the insulative housing. The first PCB comprises a pair of side sections partially surrounding the insulative housing. The pair of restriction sections is connected with the sidewalls of the insulative housing and partially overlaps with side sections of the first PCB. The pair of fastening elements respectively passes through the restriction sections and the side sections of the first PCB to align and position the relative position between the insulative housing and the first PCB for achieving more reliably electrical connection between the first PCB and the contacts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector, more particularly to an electrical connector mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    With the rapid development of the electronic technology, electrical connectors are widely used in electronic products for exchanging information or data etc. with peripheral devices. An electrical connector usually comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts accommodated in the insulative housing. The solder feet of corresponding contacts extend beyond a rear end of the insulative housing for being soldered to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). 
         [0005]    To satisfy the requirements of stable signal transmission and high transmission efficiency of the electronic products, it is required to solder the electrical connector to the PCB stably. However, it needs labor to solder the solder feet of the current electrical connector to the PCB. This process is time-consuming and labor-consuming, of course low efficiency. Meanwhile, the solder quality cannot be assured and more test and check need to be done after solder which spends more working hour. 
         [0006]    Hence, it is necessary to improve the conventional electrical connector to address problems mentioned above. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly which could realize being soldered automatically with high stability. 
         [0008]    Another objet of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for electrically connecting with two Printed Circuit Board (PCB). 
         [0009]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts, a least a first PCB electrically connecting with the contacts, a pair of restriction sections, and a pair of fastening elements. The insulative housing comprises an upper wall, a lower wall opposite to the upper wall, and a pair of sidewalls connecting with the upper and lower walls which circumscribe a plurality of first receiving slots, a plurality of second receiving slots spaced from the first receiving slots along an up-to-down direction, and a receiving cavity located between and communicating with the first and second receiving slots. The contacts are arranged into a plurality of groups. Each group of contacts is respectively received in the first and second receiving slots. The first PCB comprises a pair of side sections partially surrounding the insulative housing. The pair of restriction sections are connected with the sidewalls of the insulative housing and partially overlap with the side sections of the first PCB. The pair of fastening elements respectively pass through the restriction sections and the side sections of the first PCB to align and position the relative position between the insulative housing and the first PCB for achieving more reliably electrical connection between the first PCB and the contacts. 
         [0010]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention for electrically connecting with at least a PCB comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts and a pair of restriction sections. The insulative housing comprises an upper wall, a lower wall opposite to the upper wall, and a pair of sidewalls connecting with the upper and lower walls which circumscribe a plurality of first receiving slots, a plurality of second receiving slots spaced from the first receiving slots along an up-to-down direction, and a receiving cavity located between and communicating with the first and second receiving slots. The contacts are arranged into a plurality of groups with each group of contacts respectively received in the first and second receiving slots. The pair of restriction sections are respectively connected with the sidewalls of the insulative housing for positioning said at least one PCB. 
         [0011]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention with Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) separated from an electrical connector; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, perspective view of the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an insulative housing shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but from a different aspect; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fastening element shown in FIG.  4 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a group of contact shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
         [0022]    Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
         [0023]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1-2 , an electrical connector  100  in accordance with the present invention is used to be assembled to Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) to realize electrical connection therebetween. The PCBs comprise a first PCB  200  and a second PCB  300 . 
         [0024]    Please refer to  FIGS. 3-4 , the electrical connector  100  comprises an insulative housing  10  and a plurality of contacts  20  accommodated in the insulative housing  10 . 
         [0025]    Please refer to  FIGS. 5-6 , the insulative housing  10  comprises an upper wall  101 , a lower wall  102  opposite to the upper wall  101 , and opposite left sidewall  103  and right sidewall  104  connecting with the upper wall  101  and the lower wall  102 . The upper wall  101 , the lower wall  102 , the left sidewall  103  and the right sidewall  104  together circumscribe a plurality of first receiving slots  11 , a plurality of second receiving slots  12  opposite to and spaced from the first receiving slots  11  along an up-to-down direction, and a receiving cavity  13  located between and communicating with the first and second receiving slots  11 ,  12 . 
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the first and second receiving slots  11 ,  12  is rectangular and penetrate through the insulative housing  10  along a front-to-back direction. Adjacent two first receiving slots  11  are divided by a first partition wall  14 , and adjacent two second receiving slots  12  are divided by the first partition wall  14 . The first receiving slots  11  and the receiving cavity  13  are spaced from each other by a second partition wall  15 . The second receiving slots  12  and the receiving cavity  13  are spaced from each other by the other second partition wall  15 . 
         [0027]    A pair of opposite sliding slits  16  are defined in opposite inner walls of each first receiving slot  11 /second receiving slot  12  and extend forwardly a certain distance from a rear surface of the insulative housing  10 . A tongue-shape rear portion  17  extends rearward from the junction of the upper wall  11  and the rear surface of the insulative housing  10 . The rear portion  17  is slotted with a plurality of channels  171  which are recessed upwardly from a lower surface of the rear section  17  and respectively align with and communicate with the first receiving slots  11 . 
         [0028]    Each of the left and right sidewalls  103 ,  104  is arranged with a restriction section  18  which is defined with a round hole  181  and near to a front surface of the insulative housing  10 . The restriction section  18  forms a block section  182  in front of the round hole  181  and extending downwardly to make the restriction section  18  L-shape. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the restriction sections  18  protrude outwardly from the opposite left and right sidewalls  103 ,  104 . However, in an alternative embodiment, the restriction sections  18  also could be assembled to the left and right sidewalls  103 ,  104 . 
         [0029]    Please refer to  FIG. 7  in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , the electrical connector  100  further comprises a pair of fastening elements  30  respectively locking with the restriction sections  18 . The material of the restriction sections  18  and the fastening elements  30  could be metal or plastic. Each fastening element  30  comprises a base portion  31 , a body portion  32  extending vertically from a bottom surface of the base portion  31 , and a free enlarged interference portion  33  formed at a distal end of the body portion  32 . The base portion  31  and the body portion  32  are of column shape, and the diameter of the body portion  32  is less than that of the base portion  31  so that the body portion  32  could pass through the hole  181  and latch with the restriction section  18 . 
         [0030]    The interference portion  33  comprises a column-shape first section  331  and a cone-shape second section  332  with the diameter of the first section  331  larger than that of the second section  332 . The diameter of the second section  332  is decreased gradually and linearly. 
         [0031]    In the preferred embodiment, the fastening element  30  further defines a slot  321  extending from a free end of the second section  332  toward the base portion  31 . The slot  321  divides the body portion  32  and the interference portion  33  into opposite first and second body portions  322 ,  323  and opposite first and second interference portions  333 ,  334  spaced by the slot  321 . So, the fastening element  30  is of fish spear shape. However, in an alternative embodiment, the slot  321  could be omitted. 
         [0032]    Please refer to  FIG. 8  in conjunction with  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6 , the contacts  20  are divided into a plurality of groups. Each group of contacts  20  comprises an upper first contact  21  and a lower second contact  22  spaced from the first contact  21 , respectively received in a corresponding first receiving slot  11  and a corresponding second receiving slot  12 . 
         [0033]    The first contact  21  comprises a first contacting section  211  contacting with the second PCB  300 , a first termination section  214  soldered with the first PCB  200 , a first intermediate section  212  extending from one end of the first contacting section  211  toward the first termination section  214 , and a connecting section  213  connecting the first intermediate section  212  with the first termination section  214 . The first termination section  214  is of L-shape, a horizontal section thereof extending rearward from the first connecting section  213  and a vertical section served as a first solder foot  2141  bending downward from the horizontal section for being soldered with the first PCB  200 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first termination section  214  is retained and partially received in the channel  171 . 
         [0034]    The second contact  22  comprises a second contacting section  221  contacting with the second PCB  300 , a second termination section  224  for being soldered with the first PCB  200 , a second intermediate section  222  extending from one end of the second contacting section  221  toward the second termination section  224 , and a second connecting section  223  connecting the second intermediate section  222  with the second termination section  224 . The second termination section  224  is of L-shape, a horizontal section thereof extending rearward from the second connecting section  223  and a vertical section served as a second solder foot  2241  bending downward from the horizontal section for being soldered with the first PCB  200 . 
         [0035]    The first and second contacting sections  211 ,  221  are arranged symmetrically along the up-to-down direction and curved toward each other to be partially exposed into the receiving cavity  13  for sandwiching the second PCB  300 . The first connecting section  213  is perpendicular to the first intermediate section  212  and the first termination section  214 . The second connecting section  223  is inclined to make the second solder foot  2241  of the second termination section  224  longer than that of the first solder foot  2141  of the first termination section  214  for convenient solder. Thus, the first and second solder feet  2141 ,  2241  are arranged along the front-to-back direction. 
         [0036]    The first and second intermediate sections  212 ,  222  are also arranged symmetrically along the up-to-down direction. The opposite sides of each of the first and second intermediate sections  212 ,  222  are formed with a plurality of barbs  23  which interfere with the sliding slits  16  reliably. Via the cooperation between the barbs  23  and the sliding slits  16 , the first and second contacts  21 ,  22  could be retained in the first and second receiving slots  11 ,  12  reliably. 
         [0037]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 , in conjunction with  FIGS. 4 and 8 , in the height direction of the insulative housing  10 , the first PCB  200  is located between the first and second intermediate sections  212 ,  222 . The first PCB  200  comprises a base plate  201  and a pair of side sections  202  extending along opposite directions perpendicular to the base plate  201  which makes the first PCB  200  U-shape and partially surround the insulative housing  10 . The base plate  201  defines a plurality of first positioning holes  2011  which are arranged into two rows for the penetration of the first and second solder feet  2141 ,  2241 . 
         [0038]    Each side section  202  of the second PCB  200  partially overlaps with the restriction section  18  and defines a second positioning hole  2021  aligning with the hole  181  of the restriction section  18  for the fastening element  30  penetrating therethrough. The two side sections  202  forms a gap  203  therebetween which has a length longer than that of the rear portion  17  of the insulative housing  10 . Before soldering the first PCB  200  with the electrical connector  100 , placing the first PCB  200  along a down-to-up direction to force the solder feet  2141 ,  2241  of the contacts  20  passing through the first positioning holes  2011 . Meanwhile, the two side sections  202  are placed below the restriction sections  18  respectively with the second positioning holes  2021  aligning with the holes  181  respectively. Finally, pressing the fastening element  30  downwardly to pass through the holes  181  and the second positioning holes  2021  respectively. Then the enlarged interference portion  33  or the first and second interference portions  333 ,  334  latch with the lower surface of the first PCB  200 . Thus, the electrical connector assembly of the present invention could realize automatic solder. Front edges of the side sections  202  of the first PCB  200  abut against the block sections  182  to restrict the movement of the first PCB  200 . 
         [0039]    The second PCB  300  is received in the receiving cavity  13  and sandwiched by the first and second contacting sections  211 ,  221 . 
         [0040]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the tongue portion is extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereof opposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holding the contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.