Patent Publication Number: US-6210224-B1

Title: Electrical connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and in particular to a connector structure which promotes efficient assembly. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     An electrical connector frequently includes a shielding member at least partially enclosing the connector for protecting the connector from external electromagnetic interference (EMI). A conventional shielding member made from a single metal plate surrounds the connector by means of bending and metal forming. However, the process for bending the metal plate to surround the connector is complicated and costly. 
     Furthermore, contact elements of a conventional electrical connector are mounted thereto by being inserted into channels defined in the connector in a direction substantially parallel to a mating force applied thereto when the connector is mated with a mating connector. Thus, the contact elements may become separated from the connector when mating with the mating connector. 
     It is thus desired to have an electrical connector that eliminates the above-discussed problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a structure promoting efficient assembly during mass production. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having contact elements securely retained therein without being readily separated therefrom. 
     To achieve the above objects, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative body comprising a first member defining channels for receiving first sections of L-shaped contact elements and a second member attached to the first member for retaining second sections of the contact elements therebetween. A shield casing made from a single metal plate defines a front opening for receiving a mating connector and a rear opening through which the insulative body is inserted into the shield casing and substantially surrounded thereby. A shield cover is attached to the shield casing to seal the rear opening thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electrical connector constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the electrical connector of the present invention taken from a different perspective; 
     FIG. 3 is a partially assembled view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V—V of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative body  1  receiving and retaining contact elements  2  therein and a shield casing  3  enclosing the insulative body  1  for protecting the contact elements  2  from electromagnetic interference (EMI). The insulative body  1  includes a contact support  11  and a contact retainer  12 . The contact support  11  has a front mating face  111  from which a tongue  113  extends and an opposite rear face  90 . A number of channels  114  are defined in the contact support  11  between the front and rear faces  111 ,  90  and exposed to two opposite surfaces (not labeled) of the tongue  113  for receiving and retaining the contact elements  2  therein. 
     The contact support  11  has a rear rib  115  extending from the rear face  90  thereof Recesses  116  are defined on opposite sides of the rib  115  in communication with the channels  114  for partly receiving the contact elements  2  therein. A lower flange  92  is attached to a lower edge of the rib  115  thereby forming two opposite steps  118  for supporting the contact elements  2 . 
     The contact elements  2  are L-shaped having a first section  21  received in the channels  114  and a second section  24  substantially normal to the first section  21  and received in the recesses  116 . Each second section  24  has a tail  22  connected thereto by means of an offset section  23  seated on the steps  118  whereby the tail  22  extends beyond a bottom mounting face  112  of the contact support  11 . The bottom mounting face  112  is positionable on a circuit board (not shown) for allowing the tails  22  of the contact elements  2  to be properly soldered to the circuit board. 
     The contact retainer  12  defines a T-shaped slot  123  for receiving the rear rib  115  and the lower flange  92  therein. The T-shaped slot  123  has two opposing shoulders  129  disposed above the steps  118  of the lower flange  92  for interposing the offset sections  23  of the contact elements  2  therebetween thereby retaining the contact elements  2  in the insulative body  1 . 
     Also referring to FIGS. 3-5, the contact retainer  12  has a front projection  121  engaging with a recess  117  defined in the rear face  90  of the contact support  11  thereby securing the contact retainer  12  to the contact support  11 . The contact support  11  has two flanges  119  formed on opposite edges of the rear face  90  thereof at. The contact retainer  12  forms two cutouts  122  for receiving the flanges  119  of the contact support  11  therein for properly positioning the contact retainer  12  with respect to the contact support  11  when securing the contact retainer  12  to the contact support  11 . 
     The shield casing  3  comprises a casing body  30  made from a single metal plate by means of stamping and bending. The casing body  30  has side walls (not labeled) defining a rear opening  32  through which the insulative body  1  is slidably inserted into the casing body  30  and a front opening  31  adapted to receive a mating connector (not shown) for establishing electrical connection between the contact elements  2  and the mating connector. The casing body  30  defines at least one slot  33  therein for engaging with a projection  110  formed on the contact support  11  thereby securing the insulative body  1  in the shield casing  3 . The casing body  30  also forms a number of resilient engaging arms  34  which are preferably stamped thereon and inwardly bent for resiliently engaging with and retaining the mating connector in the casing body  30 . Mounting tabs  37  are also formed on the casing body  30  for mounting and grounding to the circuit board. 
     A shield cover  4  seals the rear opening  32  of the shield casing  3  after the insulative body I is received in the shield casing  3 . The shield cover  4  has two opposite inwardly-bent edges defining two channels  41  which receive two outwardly-bent flanges  35  formed on opposite edges of the rear opening  32  of the shield casing  3  thereby securing the shield cover  4  to the shield casing  3 . Each outward-bent flange  35  of the shield casing  3  has a barb  36  formed thereon for engaging with a corresponding opening  411  defined in the shield cover  4 . 
     The insulative body  1  is received in the shield casing  3  with a rear face  128  of the contact retainer  12  substantially flush with the rear opening  32  of the shield casing  3 . A recess  124  is defined in the rear face  128  of the contact retainer  12 . A resilient inward projection  42  is stamped on the shield cover  4  for engaging with the recess  124  of the contact retainer  12  thereby fixing the shield cover  4  in position. An inclined slot  125  is defined in the rear face  128  of the contact retainer  12  for guiding the inward projection  42  of the shield cover  4  into the recess  124 . Preferably, projections  126  are formed on the rear face  128  of the contact retainer  12  for stopping and supporting a lower edge of the shield cover  4  thereby properly positioning the shield cover  4  with respect to the shield casing  3 . 
     The shield cover  4  has an additional grounding tab  44  extending therefrom for engaging with a corresponding hole defined in the circuit board for grounding purposes. Preferably, the grounding tab  44  has a projection  43  formed thereon for securely engaging with the hole of the circuit board. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.