A card-edge connector may provide a physically secure attachment to a substrate without the use of removable hardware. The card-edge connector may include a straddle-mount card-edge connector housing and a retention assembly that extends from the connector housing. The retention assembly configured to releasably secure the connector to the substrate.

BACKGROUND

Electrical connector systems generally include circuits and components on one or more interconnected circuit boards. Examples of circuit boards in an electrical connector system can include daughter boards, motherboards, backplane boards, midplane boards, or the like. Electrical assemblies can further include an electrical connector that provides an interface between electrical components, and provide electrically conductive paths for electrical communications data signals and/or electrical power so as to place the electrical components in electrical communication with each other.

For instance, referring toFIG. 1, a conventional electrical connector system101includes en electrical card-edge connector100electrically connected between a first and second printed circuit board102and104. The connector100is illustrated as a straddle-mount style card-edge connector100that provides an electrically conductive path between traces proximate to an edge of the first printed circuit board102and traces proximate to an edge of the second printed circuit board104, which is illustrated as being co-planar with the first printed circuit board102. Such a configuration may be well suited for an electrical connector system in an enclosure, such as a 1U rack-mount server.

The electrical card-edge connector100can further be physically secured to at least one or both of the first and second printed circuit boards102and104to which it electrically connects. For instance, the electrical connector system101can further include hardware106such as screws, nuts, and the like, that provides a secure physical connection between the electrical card-edge connector100and the first printed circuit board102. Unfortunately, substantial time and resources are associated with the attachment and removal of the hardware106when connecting and disconnecting the electrical card-edge connector100to and from the first printed circuit board102, for instance when constructing the electrical connector system101, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost and mean-time-to-repair the electrical connector system101.

What is therefore desired is an electrical connector having a simplified apparatus that is configured to be physically secured to a complementary electrical component.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, a card-edge connector is configured to be mounted to a substrate along an insertion direction. The card-edge connector includes a connector housing that carries a plurality of electrical contacts, and at least one latch member. The latch member includes a latch arm that is connected to the connector housing at a first location, and a latch body extending from the latch arm at a second location that is spaced from the first location along a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a retention assembly that is configured to physically secure a card-edge connector to a printed circuit board without the use of removable hardware. Referring toFIGS. 2A-C, an electrical connector system201includes an electrical connector200and first and second complementary electrical components illustrated as a first substrate such as a first printed circuit board206and a second substrate such as a second printed circuit board212, such that the electrical connector200is configured to attach to the first printed circuit board206and a second printed circuit board212. The electrical connector200is illustrated as a card-edge connector, and can be configured as a straddle-mount connector in accordance with the illustrated embodiment.

The electrical connector200includes a connector housing202that carries at least one electrical contact204such as a plurality of electrical contacts204that are configured to electrically connect to complementary electrical traces on the first and second printed circuit boards206and212so as to place the first and second printed circuit boards206and212in electrical communication with each other. In particular, the electrical connector200defines a mounting interface208configured to engage the first printed circuit board206. For example, the mounting interface208may be a straddle-mount interface. When the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, the electrical contacts204are electrically connected to the first printed circuit board206and the connector housing202is physically secured to the first printed circuit board206such that the electrical contacts204remain electrically connected to the first printed circuit board206. For instance, as will be appreciated from the description below, the connector housing202can be removably physically secured to the first printed circuit board206. The electrical connector200further defines a mating interface210configured to mate with the second printed circuit board212. When the electrical connector200is mated to the second printed circuit board212, the electrical contacts204are electrically connected to the second printed circuit board212, and the connector housing202is physically attached to the second printed circuit board212.

The connector housing202may be made of a dielectric material, such as a plastic, for example a high temperature thermoplastic. The connector housing202can be configured as a straddle-mount card-edge housing. The connector housing202may have one or more walls214that define an internal chamber222that can also be referred to as a contact support chamber, such that the electrical contacts204are supported by the connector housing202in the internal chamber222. For instance, the connector housing includes a first side wall216aand an opposed second side wall216bspaced from the first side wall216aalong a lateral direction A, an upper wall218aand an opposed lower wall218bspaced from the upper wall218aalong a transverse direction T that extends substantially perpendicular with respect to the lateral direction A, and a front wall224athat can at least partially define the mating interface210, and an opposed rear wall224bspaced from the front wall224aalong a longitudinal direction L that extends substantially perpendicular with respect to both the lateral direction A and the transverse direction T. The rear wall224bcan at least partially define the mounting interface212.

When the electrical connector200is oriented as illustrated, the longitudinal direction L and the lateral direction A extend horizontally, and the transverse direction T extends vertically, though it should be appreciated that these directions may change depending, for instance, on the orientation of the electrical connector200during use. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms “lateral,” “longitudinal,” and “transverse” are used to describe the perpendicular directional components of various components. The terms “inboard” and “inner,” and “outboard” and “outer” with respect to a specified directional component are used herein with respect to a given apparatus to refer to directions along the directional component toward and away from the center apparatus, respectively. The longitudinally forward direction can also be referred to an insertion direction, as the electrical connector200can be mounted to the first printed circuit board206along a longitudinally rearward insertion direction300(seeFIG. 3A), and can further be mated to the second printed circuit board212along a longitudinally forward direction opposite the rearward insertion direction300.

The electrical contacts204can each define respective mounting ends228disposed proximate to the mounting interface208of the connector housing202and configured to be placed in electrical communication with complementary electrical traces236of the first printed circuit board206so as to place the electrical contacts204in electrical communication with the first printed circuit board206. The electrical contacts204further define mating ends230that are opposed to the mounting ends228and disposed proximate to the mating interface210and configured to be placed in electrical communication with complementary electrical traces266of the second printed circuit board212. Accordingly, when the electrical contacts204are mounted and mated to the first and second printed circuit boards206and212, respectively, an electrically conductive path may be established from and between the electrically conductive traces236on the first printed circuit board206, through respective electrical contacts204, and respective electrically conductive trace266of the second printed circuit board212. the first and second circuit boards206and121are placed in electrical communication. Because the mating interface210is oriented substantially parallel with respect to the mounting interface208, the electrical connector200can be referred to as a vertical electrical connector, and the electrical contacts204can be referred to as vertical electrical contacts. Moreover, as will be appreciated from the description below, the electrical connector200can be mated and mounted to the first and second printed circuit boards206and212, respectively, such that the printed circuit boards206and212extend substantially parallel to or co-planar with each other.

The first and second printed circuit board206and212define respective leading edges220and221that extend laterally and are configured to engage the electrical connector200along the longitudinal insertion direction. For instance, the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206is configured to be received by the mating ends228of the electrical contacts224, and the leading edge221of the second printed circuit board212is configured to be received by the mating ends230of the electrical contacts230so as to place the respective electrical traces236and266in electrical communication with the electrical contacts224and each other. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the front wall224acan define a front opening225of the internal chamber222that is disposed proximate to the mating interface210and is configured to receive the second printed circuit board212. Furthermore, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the rear wall224bcan substantially close the rear end of the internal chamber222that is disposed proximate to the mounting interface208, and defines at least one opening226such as a plurality of openings226through which one or more of the contacts204extend such that the mounting ends228extend out from the connector housing202. When the mounting interface208is mounted to the first printed circuit board206and mated with the second printed circuit boards206, the side walls216a-bextend substantially longitudinally and substantially perpendicular with respect to the respective leading edges220and221, and the front and rear walls224a-bextend substantially laterally and substantially parallel to the respective leading edges220and221.

The mating ends230of the electrical contacts204can be carried by the connector housing202within the internal chamber222, and include transversely opposed resilient fingers230a-bthat are configured to straddle the leading edge221of the second printed circuit board212when the second printed circuit board212is inserted into the cavity222of the mating interface210. The mounting ends228of the contacts204extend through the rear wall224of the connector housing202and longitudinally out from the connector housing202. Each respective mounting end228may define transversely opposed resilient fingers232a-bthat can be flared away from each other at their distal tips so as to provide guidance when mounting the electrical connector200to the first printed circuit board206(seeFIGS. 3A-C).

When the electrical connector200is electrically connected to the first printed circuit board206, the fingers232a-bof the mounting end228of the contacts204may straddle the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206. The electrical traces236may be disposed on an upper surface238and/or a bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206. Thus, when the electrical connector200is electrically connected to the first printed circuit board206, the mounting ends228of the electrical contacts204may pinch the upper surface238and bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206and establish an electrically conductive path with the respective electrical traces236. Likewise, when the electrical connector200is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board212, the fingers230a-bof the mating ends230of the electrical contacts204may straddle the leading edge221of the second printed circuit board212. The electrical traces266may be disposed on an upper surface237and/or a bottom surface239of the second printed circuit board212. Thus, when the electrical connector200is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board212, the mating ends230of the electrical contacts204may pinch the upper surface237and bottom surface239of the second printed circuit board212and establish an electrically conductive path with the respective electrical traces266.

The electrical contacts204may be made of any electrically conductive material, such as a copper alloy, and can be configured in a first group of electrical signal contacts227disposed proximate to the first side wall216athat are configured to transmit electrical communication or data signals between the first and second printed circuit boards206and212, and a second group of electrical power contacts229disposed adjacent the electrical signal contacts227and proximate to the second side wall216b. The electrical connector200can further include ground contacts disposed adjacent select ones of the signal contacts227as desired. The electrical power contacts229can be configured to transmit power between the first and second printed circuit boards206. The power contacts229may be sized larger than the signal contacts227so as to carry DC and/or AC power. In one embodiment, the power contacts229are rated at around 7 A per each contact at 30° C. T-Rise in still air with a voltage rating of 1000V AC.

The electrical connector200includes at least one retention assembly such as first and second retention assemblies209a-bthat are supported by the electrical connector housing202and disposed proximate to the mounting interface208. The retention assemblies209a-bcan be substantially identically constructed, and configured symmetrical to each other. For instance, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the retention assemblies209a-bare configured as ears that extend laterally outward from the first and second laterally opposed side walls216a-b, respectively, and longitudinally rearwardly out from the rear wall224b. Accordingly, the retention assemblies209a-bare disposed on opposed lateral sides of the electrical contacts204, such that the electrical contacts204are disposed between the engagement members209a-b. For instance, the first retention assembly209ais disposed laterally outward with respect to the electrical signal contacts227, and the second retention assembly209bis disposed laterally outward with respect to the electrical power contacts209. Each of the retention assemblies209a-bis configured to physically secure the connector housing202, and thus the electrical connector200, to the first printed circuit board206. In accordance with one embodiment, each of the retention assemblies209a-bis configured to releasably secure the connector housing202to the first printed circuit board206.

Each retention assembly209a-bincludes a platform241having an upper platform surface that defines a support surface242configured to abut or face or otherwise support the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206when the electrical connector200is physically secured to the first printed circuit board206. Each retention assembly209a-bfurther defines an aperture in the form of a latch chamber243that extends transversely into the support surface242so as to define an outer frame246that can define a rectangular shape or any suitable alternative shape as desired, and a configured to support the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206. Thus, the outer frame246surrounds the latch chamber243, which can provide a latch chamber in accordance with the illustrated embodiment. For instance, the outer frame246can include a leading end wall254ain the direction of insertion and a longitudinally opposed trailing end wall254b, and a pair of laterally opposed sides253connected between the leading and trailing walls254a-b.

Each of the retention assemblies209a-bcan further include at least one engagement member such as a latch member244that can be resilient, carried by the platform241, and at least partially disposed in the latch chamber243. The latch member244is configured to interlock with a complementary engagement member of the first printed circuit board206, such as an aperture256which can be referred to as a mounting aperture that extends transversely through the first printed circuit board206. Each latch member244includes a flexible latch arm245that is connected to the frame246at a proximal end, and defines an opposed distal free end that carries a latch body that is illustrated as a post250but could have any suitable alternatively configuration as desired, such as a hook. Thus, it can be said that the latch body, such as the post250, is supported or carried by the connector housing202.

The latch arm245extends along a direction opposite the insertion direction300such that the distal free end that carries the latch body, such as the post250, is disposed opposite the proximal end along the direction that is opposite the insertion direction300. It should be appreciated that while the proximal end of the latch arm245can be indirectly connected to the connector housing202via the frame246, the proximal end of the latch arm245can alternatively be directly connected to the connector housing202as desired. Whether the proximal end of the latch arm245is connected to the connector housing202directly or indirectly, it can be said that the latch arm245defines a proximal end that is connected to the connector housing, and the latch arm defines a latch arm body that extends from the proximal end along a direction opposite the insertion direction300to a free distal end that carries a latch body, such as the post250. The free distal end can of the latch arm245thus be spaced from the proximal end of the latch arm245along a direction that is opposite the insertion direction300. It should be appreciated that while the latch body, such as the post250is illustrated as disposed at the free distal end of the latch arm245, the latch body can be disposed anywhere along the latch arm body between the free distal end and the proximal end, or can be disposed substantially at or proximate to the proximal end of the latch arm245. It can thus be said that the latch arm245is connected to the connector housing202, directly or indirectly, integrally or discretely, at a first location, and the latch body, such as the post250, that is configured to secure the electrical connector200to the first printed circuit board206, extends from the latch arm245at a second location that is spaced from the first location along a direction that is opposite the insertion direction300. The first location can define the proximal end of the latch arm245or any other location along the latch arm245, and the second location can define the free distal end of the latch arm245or any other location along the latch arm245. Accordingly, in accordance with one embodiment, the latch arm245can be placed in tension as opposed to another embodiment where the latch member244has a latch body that spaced from a location connected to the connector housing202along the insertion direction, which could tend to place the latch arm245in compression as the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206and possibly subject the latch arm245to buckling.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the post250is substantially cylindrical and extends up from the latch arm245, for instance at the distal free end, and defines an engagement surface255that can define an upper engagement surface that is configured to ride along the lower surface240of the first printed circuit board206. The engagement surface255can be beveled such that the leading end of the engagement surface255is disposed below the trailing end of the engagement surface255. Otherwise stated, the engagement surface255is tapered transversely inward or down along a direction from the trailing end toward the leading end, or in a longitudinally rearward direction toward the first printed circuit board206, such that the support surface242is aligned with a portion of the engagement surface255, for instance between the leading end and the trailing end of the engagement surface255.

It can thus be said that the engagement surface255defines a leading end and an opposed trailing end along the insertion direction300. The engagement surface255can be tapered along the insertion direction300as illustrated. Accordingly, before the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, the leading end is disposed on a first side of a plane defined by the surface of the first printed circuit board206that the engagement surface255rides along when mounting the electrical connector200to the first printed circuit board206(e.g., the lower surface240), and the trailing end is disposed on a second opposite side of the plane. For instance, the leading end of the engagement surface255is located on the same side of the plane defined by the lower surface240of the first printed circuit board206, whereas the trailing end of the engagement surface255is disposed on the opposite side of the plane defined by the lower surface240. As the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, the trailing end of the engagement surface255is biased by the first printed circuit board206across the plane to the first side of the plane, such that the trailing end rides along the surface of the first printed circuit board206that defines the plane (e.g., the lower surface240). It should be appreciated that the plane can alternatively be defined by the upper surface238of the printed circuit board206as desired.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2A-C, the latch member244is connected to the leading end wall254a, and the latch arm245extends longitudinally forward away from the first printed circuit board206. Because the post250is therefore disposed longitudinally forward with respect to the leading end wall254a, the corresponding apertures256can be located proximate to the leading edge220, thereby improving circuit board layout allowing for greater contiguous surface space for denser routing toward the center of the first printed circuit board206compared to a configuration whereby the apertures256are further spaced from the leading edge220. It should be appreciated, however, that the latch member244may alternatively extend from the frame246at any location, for instance at any of the walls253and254a-b.

During operation, when the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, the support surface242of the platform241may be substantially flush with and abut the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206. The latch arm245may be flexible and resilient when pressure is applied to the post250in the upward or downward direction. Accordingly, the latch member244, and in particular the latch arm245, can flex between a relaxed or unflexed position and a flexed position, whereby the post250is displaced transversely down as the latch arm245flexes. When the latch member244is in the relaxed position, the latch member244and/or a portion of the post250may be disposed above the support surface242of the platform241. For instance, a first leading portion of the engagement surface255can be disposed below the support surface242of the platform241, while a second trailing portion of the engagement surface255can be disposed above the support surface242of the platform241when in the latch member244is in the relaxed position. Thus, when the latch member244is in its relaxed position, at least a portion of the engagement surface255is disposed above the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board260when the first printed circuit board260is aligned with the mounting228of the electrical contacts204. When a biasing force is applied to the post250in the downward direction, for instance, the latch member244, and in particular the latch arm245, iterates to the flexed position, whereby the post250, and thus the engagement surface255, is displaced so as to be transversely recessed with respect to the relaxed position. For instance, when in the flexed position, a substantial entirety of the engagement surface255, including the trailing end, is substantially flush with and/or disposed below the support surface242of the platform241, and thus below the bottom surface240of the printed circuit board206as the electrical connector200is being mounted to the first printed circuit board. Otherwise stated, when in the flexed position, a substantial entirety of the engagement surface255, including the trailing end, does not extend above the support surface242of the platform241. When the biasing force is released, the latch arm245is biased to flex back upward, thereby applying a biasing force to the post250that urges the post250to its position when the latch member244is in the neutral position.

The first printed circuit board206includes a pair of engagement members that are complementary to the retention assemblies209a-b. For instance, the first printed circuit board206defines a pair of apertures256that extends vertically through the first printed circuit board206, such that each aperture256is defined by an inner surface257of the first printed circuit board206. The inner surface257can be substantially circular in cross-section, such that the aperture256can be substantially cylindrical, though it should be appreciated that the inner surface257and aperture256can be sized and shaped as desired so as to correspond to the size and shape of the post250. For instance, the inner surface257is sized and shaped substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the outer periphery of the post250such that the post250may be biased into the corresponding aperture256when the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206. For instance, the post250can ride along a surface of the first printed circuit board206, such as the bottom surface240, and can be subsequently biased into the aperture256by the latch arm245when the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board.

The aperture256may be disposed within the first printed circuit board206at a location suitable to provide connections to both card-edge connectors100that use hardware such as screws and the like as illustrated inFIG. 1, as well as for card-edge connectors200that include at least one resilient latch member as described herein. As a result, the card-edge connector200may be retrofit into a pre-existing electrical connector system, and in particular can replace conventional connectors that are attached to circuit boards using hardware such as hardware106.

Referring toFIGS. 4A-B, the latch arm245can define a curved bottom interface402to the leading end wall254aat its proximal end. The curved bottom interface402can assist in the resilient flexing of the latch arm245between the neutral position and the flexed position. The frame241, and for instance the trailing end wall254b, can be spaced from the post250a sufficient distance so as to provide adequate clearance for the post250as the post250iterates between the relaxed and flexed positions.

With continuing reference toFIGS. 4A-B, the connector housing202may define at least one retention pocket such as first and second laterally opposed retention pockets258that are sized to receive the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206and operably aligned with the retention assemblies209a-bsuch that the retention pockets258receive the first printed circuit board206as the retention assemblies209a-bphysically secure the electrical connector200to the first printed circuit board206. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the pockets258are disposed behind the retention assemblies209a-bwith respect to the insertion direction.

The connector housing202can define the retention pockets258such that the retention pockets258extend longitudinally into the rear wall224band further extend laterally outward through the adjacent side wall216aand216b. The retention pockets258are laterally opposed, and can be positioned in longitudinal alignment with the respective latch members244, such that a line extending longitudinally along the insertion direction230through the latch member244also passes through the corresponding retention pocket258. The connector housing202can include an upper internal surface260that at least partially defines the retention pockets258, for instance an upper perimeter of the retention pocket258. The connector housing202thus defines a transverse height from the support surface242of the platform241that can be substantially equal to the transverse thickness of the first printed circuit board206between the upper and lower surfaces238and240.

Thus, when the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, a portion of the leading edge220can be received into the retention pocket258. For instance, the first printed circuit board206can define a notch262that defines at least one leading corner portion264of the leading edge220, such as a pair of laterally opposed leading corner portions264of the leading edge220, such that a middle portion of the leading edge220extends laterally between the corner portions264and is longitudinally recessed with respect to the corner portions264. The upper surface238of the first printed circuit board206can abut the upper inside surface260of the connector housing202that defines the upper end of the retention pocket258, and the support surface242of the platform241abuts the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206. Accordingly, it can be said that the upper inside surface260is configured to abut the upper surface238of the first printed circuit board206when the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, and the support surface242of the platform241is configured to abut the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206when the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206. Therefore, the support surface242of the platform214and the upper internal surface260can be referred to as opposed engagement surfaces that are configured to engage or opposed first and second surfaces of the first printed circuit board206, such as the bottom and upper surfaces240respectively, thereby capturing the first printed circuit board206therebetween. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the mounting ends228of the electrical contacts204are disposed forward with respect to the retention pockets258with respect to the insertion direction300.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, when the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, the corner portions264of the first printed circuit board206are received in the retention pockets258, thereby providing additional stabilization to the physical securement of the electrical connector200and the first printed circuit board206. The upper inner surface260of the retention pocket258may be smaller than the support surface242of the platform241. As a result, the smaller upper inner surface260may provide physical stability while preserving valuable surface space on the first printed circuit board206.

Referring now toFIGS. 3A-C, a method of mounting the electrical connector200to the first printed circuit board206is described with reference to the first retention assembly209a, it being appreciated that the description applies equally to the second retention assembly209b, which can be constructed substantially identically to the first retention assembly209a. For instance, the electrical connector200can be attached to the first printed circuit board206by imparting a relative longitudinal motion on at least one of the electrical connector200and circuit board206such that the mounting interface208of the electrical connector200moves relative to the first printed circuit board206along the longitudinal insertion direction300and the mounting interface208receives the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206until the mounting ends228of the electrical contacts204electrically connect to the complementary electrical traces236of the first printed circuit board, and the retention assemblies209a-bphysically secure the electrical connector200to the first printed circuit board206.

As illustrated inFIG. 3A, the mounting interface208of the electrical connector200may be aligned with the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206, such that the mounting ends228of the electrical contacts204are positioned to engage the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206by moving at least one of the electrical connector200and the first printed circuit board206such that the electrical connector200moves relative to the first printed circuit board206along the longitudinal insertion direction300. For instance, when the mounting interface208of the electrical connector200is aligned with the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206, the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206may be aligned with the support surface242of the platform242. Furthermore, each latch post250can be aligned with the complementary aperture256of the first printed circuit board206along the insertion direction300.

Referring now toFIG. 3Bin particular, the electrical connector200and circuit board206move relative to each other, such that the connector advances toward the circuit board in the insertion direction300. In particular, the electrical connector200can be brought toward the first printed circuit board206along the direction300, and/or the first printed circuit board206can be brought toward the electrical connector200in a direction opposite the direction300, such that the relative motion of the electrical connector200and the first printed circuit board206causes the connector to move relative to the first printed circuit board206in the insertion direction300. As the electrical connector200moves along the insertion direction300, the electrical connector200becomes partially engaged to the first printed circuit board206, whereby the mounting ends228of the contacts204begin to engage the leading edge220of the first printed circuit board206. In particular, the opposed resilient fingers232a-bcan flare away from each other as the mounting ends228receive the leading edge220.

As the electrical contacts204engage the leading edge220, the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206is substantially aligned with the upper surface241of the platform242, and can ride along the upper surface241so that the leading edge220contacts the engagement surface255of the post250. As the leading edge220rides along the beveled engagement surface255of the post250, the leading edge220imparts a downward biasing force against the post250, thereby causing the latch arm245to flex downward, which causes the post250to translate downward as the leading edge220continues to ride along the engagement surface255. Because the latch arm245extends from the platform242, the platform242may remain substantially straight, providing additional stability and guidance to the first printed circuit board206while the latch arm245flexes.

As the electrical connector200continues to translate relative to the first printed circuit board206along the insertion direction300from the partially engaged position illustrated inFIG. 3Bto the fully engaged position illustrated inFIG. 3C, the trailing end of the engagement surface255rides along the bottom surface240of the first printed circuit board206, for instance at the corner portion264of the first printed circuit board206. Once the post250is aligned with the complementary aperture256, the latch arm245resiliently biases the post250upward into the aperture256in a locked position. When the post250is disposed in the aperture256, interference between the trailing end of the engagement surface255and the inner surface257that defines the aperture256can prevent the electrical connector200from separating from the first printed circuit board206along a direction opposite the insertion direction300. Furthermore, when the electrical connector200is fully mounted to the first printed circuit board206, the corner portion264of the first printed circuit board206may be received in a respective retention pocket258.

If it is desired to remove the first printed circuit board206from the electrical connector200, any suitable tool, or a finger if desired, can be inserted into each aperture256and apply a downward biasing force against the corresponding engagement surface255, thereby causing the latch arm245to flex down until the post250is removed from interference with respect to the aperture250. The electrical connector200can then be separated from the first printed circuit board206along a relative motion along a separation direction opposite the insertion direction300. Thus, it should be appreciated that the retention assemblies209a-band their components, such as the latch members244remain coupled to the connector housing202both as the electrical connector200is mounted to the first printed circuit board206, as well as when the electrical connector200is separated from the first printed circuit board206. Thus, it can be said that the retention assemblies209a-bare devoid of removable hardware that secures the electrical connector200to the first printed circuit board206.

The embodiments described in connection with the illustrated embodiments have been presented by way of illustration, and the present invention is therefore not intended to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will realize that the invention is intended to encompass all modifications and alternative arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention, for instance as set forth by the appended claims