Dust-proof cover and electrical connector assembly using the same

An electrical connector assembly is used for connecting to a chip module. The electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a dust-proof cover. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals and a shell covering the insulative housing. The insulative housing includes a second cavity for receiving the chip module. The shell defines an opening corresponding to the second cavity. The dust-proof cover includes a dust-proof portion covering the opening and a pair of inclined pushing portions protruding from the dust-proof portion to the second cavity. The dust-proof cover has a plurality of supporting portions for supporting the dust-proof portion. The supporting portions separate from the shell when the inclined pushing portion is pushed by the chip module, and the dust-proof cover separates from the electrical connector.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly with a dust-proof cover thereon.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In the traditional technology, an electrical connector assembly includes an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals received in the insulative housing and a dust-proof cover disposed above the insulative housing. The dust-proof cover is shaped as a plate, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,517. When the dust-proof cover is mounted to the insulative housing, the dust-proof cover can not be locked to the insulative housing steadily. The dust-proof cover can not align with the insulative housing accurately, so the terminals of the insulative housing will be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly used for connecting to or loading a chip module. The electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a dust-proof cover. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals and a shell covering the insulative housing. The insulative housing includes a second cavity for receiving the chip module. The shell defines an opening corresponding to the second cavity. The dust-proof cover originally attached to the shell, includes a dust-proof portion covering the opening and a pair of inclined pushing portions protruding from the dust-proof portion to the second cavity. The dust-proof cover has a plurality of supporting portions for supporting the dust-proof portion. During downwardly moving the shell toward the housing, the dust-proof cover is forcibly separated from the shell when the inclined pushing portion contacts and is successively upwardly pushed by the chip module.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1-5(B), an electrical connector assembly100used for connecting to a chip module500includes an electrical connector10mounted upon a printed circuit board600and a dust-proof cover20locked to the electrical connector10. The dust-proof cover20can prevent dust from going into the electrical connector10.

Referring toFIG. 2, the electrical connector10includes an insulative housing11, a plurality of terminals (not labeled) received in the insulative housing11and a metallic shell or loading plate12covering the insulative housing11. The insulative housing11includes a second cavity13for receiving the chip module500. The shell12includes an opening14corresponding to the second cavity13. The dust-proof cover20is disposed above the shell12, so the dust-proof cover20prevent dust from going into the electrical connector10through the opening14of the shell12. The electrical connector10includes a connecting member15disposed at one side of the insulative housing11. The shell12pivotally connects to the connecting member15and rotatably covers the insulative housing11, and the lever60, which is linked with the shell12in a pivotal manner, is rotated to urge the shell12forwardly to be downwardly engaged with the locking head70.

Referring toFIG. 3, the dust-proof cover20includes a dust-proof portion21covering the opening14and a pair of inclined pushing portions22protruding from the dust-proof portion21to the second cavity13. The inclined pushing portion22includes an inclined pushing face220. The dust-proof portion21defines a first cavity23facing to the opening14of the shell12. The inclined pushing portions22are disposed in the first cavity23. The dust-proof cover20has a pair of positioning arms or rigid latches25at one side thereof. The shell12defines a pair of positioning slots16corresponding to the positioning arms25respectively. The dust-proof cover20is positioned in a preset position of the shell12when the positioning arms25are fixed in the positioning slots16respectively. The inclined pushing portions22are disposed closed to the positioning arms25. The dust-proof cover20also includes a plurality of supporting portions24at two opposite sides thereof. The supporting portions24are disposed at two lateral sides of the shell12respectively. The supporting portions24and the inclined pushing portions22extend in a same direction. The supporting portions24include a first supporting portion241and a second supporting portion242disposed at one side of the dust-proof portion21. In other embodiments, the supporting portions24can also be disposed in the inner side of the opening14.

The dust-proof cover20is disposed above the shell12. Before the chip module500is put into the electrical connector assembly100, the dust-proof cover20covers the insulative housing11with the shell12, and the supporting portions24can support the dust-proof portion21. The supporting portions prevent the inclined pushing portions22from damaging the terminals of the insulative housing11. When the chip module500is put into the second cavity13of the electrical connector10, the dust-proof cover20rotatably covers the insulative housing11with the shell12, and the inclined pushing portions22are pushed by the chip module500, and the supporting portions24separate from the shell12, and the dust-proof cover20separates from the electrical connector10. It is easy to install and remove the dust-proof cover20.

Notably, the dust-proof cover20has a pair of relatively resilient latches27at the front end region each with a corresponding latching hook271, and a pair of relatively rigid latches25at the rear end region each with the corresponding latching hook251. When the cover20is mounted upon the shell12, both the latches27and latches25are engaged with the corresponding portions of the shell12. When the shell12with the associated dust-proof cover20is downwardly rotated toward the housing11, initially the inclined pushing portion22of the dust-proof cover20is upwardly urged by the chip module500and successively the latches27will be disengaged from the shell12to have the cover20removed from the shell12in a rotational manner about the inclined pushing portion22. The removal is deemed essentially automatic during fastening the shell12in position by engagement between the shell12and the locking head70via rotation of the lever60. The supporting portions24may assure the smooth removal of the cover20from the shell12compared with no provision of those supporting portions.