Patent Publication Number: US-7588462-B2

Title: Covers for electrical connectors

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/348,784, filed Feb. 7, 2006 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Also, the subject matter disclosed in this patent application is related to the subject matter disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/087,047, filed Mar. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,902, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/294,966, filed Nov. 14, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,886, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/990,794, filed Nov. 14, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,272, and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/155,786, filed May 24, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,318. The subject matter disclosed herein is also related to the subject matter disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/842,397, filed May 10, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,432. The contents of each of the above-referenced U.S. patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to electrical connectors. More particularly, the invention relates to covers for electrical connectors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector  100 . The electrical connector  100  may include lead frame assemblies  110  arranged in a housing  105 . The lead frame assemblies  100  may include a lead frame housing  108  and contacts  104 . The lead frame housing  108  may include a top frame  102  and a terminal frame  111 . The top frame may include a lead frame stop  101  that abuts the lead frame housing  105 . A retention member  115  may be attached to each of the lead frame assemblies  110  such that it, in combination with the housing  105 , the lead frame assemblies  110  are retained in the connector  100 . Each lead frame assembly  110  may include an arm  119  that extends over the retention member  115 , helping to hold the retention member  115  to the lead frame assemblies  110 . The lead frame assemblies  110  may be arranged such that a gap  103  may be formed between each lead frame assembly  110 . 
     The connector  100  may be attached to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. To attach the electrical connector  100  to a substrate, a tool may fit between the gaps  103  and press on the terminal frame component  111  of each lead frame assembly  110 . Application of such a tool may be labor intensive and expensive. Moreover, the gap  103  between the lead frame assemblies  110  may allow conductive material or debris to fall and accumulate on the lead frame assemblies  110 , contacts  104 , and the substrate to which the connector  100  is attached. Such conductive material or debris may damage the connector  100 , the substrate, or the interface between the two, or affect the signal integrity at the interface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cover for an electrical connector may include substrate mounting beams extending from a top that abuts a portion of a lead frame assembly of the connector. When a force is applied to the top, the beams transfer the force to the lead frame, aiding in pressing contacts of the connector to an electrical device such as a substrate. In this way, flat rock application may be applied to the top of the cover, obviating use of a tool to fit in between the lead frame assemblies of the connector to connect it to a substrate. The cover additionally may perform retaining functions, aiding in retaining the lead frame assemblies in the connector and preventing a lead frame assembly from movement relative to other lead frame assemblies. Thus, the cover may be seated on the connector, protect the connector from falling debris, provide flat rock application functionality, or aid in retention of lead frame assemblies. 
     A cover for an electrical connector may include a back extending from the top such that the back is resilient and is able to be flexed while the cover is placed on a connector. When the cover is seated, the back may return to its relaxed state. The back may include a retention bar, helping to prevent the cover from being unseated after being seated. The back additionally may include a release bar, enabling the flexing of the back to unseat the cover from the connector. Such a cover may be seated on the connector either before or after the connector is attached to a substrate or another connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cover for an electrical connector. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a connector with a cover attached. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side view of an electrical connector with a cover in position to be seated on the connector. 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of an electrical connector with a cover seated on the connector. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are, respectively, perspective front and back views of an alternate cover for an electrical connector. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative cover for an electrical connector. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the alternative cover positioned to be seated on a connector. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the alternative cover seated on the connector. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  depict, respectively, a top view, a front view, and a back view of the alternative cover. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective, cut-away view of the alternative cover. 
         FIGS. 9B and 9C  are partial, cut-away views of substrate mounting beams of the alternative cover along with connector lead frame assemblies. 
         FIGS. 10A-C  are perspective views of alternative covers that may aid in improving signal integrity by promoting air flow when the cover is seated on a connector. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are perspective views of a connector including a cutaway view of the alternative cover seated on the connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cover  200  for an electrical connector (such as connector  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 , for example). Such a cover  200  may be placed on the connector  100  and aid in protecting the connector  100  from debris falling in between the lead frame assemblies  110 . The cover  200  may include opposing side walls  205 ,  207 , a top  210 , and a back  215 . The back  215  may be a body member of the cover  200  and may include a latch portion  225  for mechanically attaching the cover  200  to the connector  100 . The top  210  and side walls  205 ,  207  may each be a body member of the cover  300 . Each may be generally planar. The top  210  may include lead frame assembly notches  216  for receiving the lead frame stops  101  when the cover  200  is placed on the connector  100 . The latch portion  225  may include a release bar  227  and a latch bar  226 . The cover  200  additionally may include an interior  212  having lead frame assembly baffles  211 . The baffles  211  may be attached to or formed as part of an interior  214  of the top  210 . Additionally, the baffles  211  may be spaced apart by a gap  213  that is at least equal to a width of each lead frame assembly  110 . In this way, each lead frame assembly  110  may be received in between the baffles  211  when the cover  200  is attached to the connector  100 . 
     The cover  200  may define a retention member aperture  231  in each of the side walls  205 ,  207 . The retention member aperture  231  may be shaped and sized so that each end of the retention member  115  of the connector  100  may extend through the side walls  205 ,  207  when the cover  200  is placed on the connector  100 . 
     The back  215  of the cover  200  may be attached or formed as part of the top  210 . The back  215  also may be attached or formed as part of at least a portion of the side walls  205 ,  207 . The back  215  may be attached to the side walls  205 ,  207  at respective areas  205 A,  207 A but may remain separate from the side walls  205 ,  207  in the vicinity of the retention-member apertures  231 . The back  215  may exhibit flexibility characteristics, enabling it to move away from the side walls  205 ,  207  in the area of the latch bar  226  as the cover  200  is being placed on the connector  100 . The back  215  may also have resiliency such that the latch bar  226  and the back  215  move toward the side walls  205 ,  207  when the cover  200  is seated on the connector  100 . 
     The baffles  211  may be shaped such that a retention member receiving gap  230  is defined between a portion  211 A of the baffles  211  and an interior surface  217  of the back  215 . The retention member receiving gap  230  may receive the retention member  115  of the electrical connector  100  when the cover  200  is seated on the connector  100 . This may best be depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the connector  100  with the cover  200  seated. The view shows the vicinity of the retention member  115 . The retention member  115  may be partially received in the retention member gap  230 . In this way, if the cover  200  is moved in a direction indicated by arrow X, the back  215  may abut the retention member  115  and prevent the cover  200  from moving further in the X direction. If the cover  200  is moved in a direction opposite that indicated by the arrow X, then the portion  211 A of the baffles  211  may abut the retention member  115  and prevent the cover  200  from moving in that direction. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side view of the electrical connector  100  with the cover  200  in position to be placed on the connector  100 .  FIG. 4B  is a side view of the electrical connector  100  with the cover  200  placed on the connector  100 . The cover  200  may be attached to the connector  100  in the direction of the arrow A. An edge  205 E of the side wall  205  may abut an edge  105 E of the connector housing  105  as the cover  200  is attached to the connector  100 , helping to prevent the cover  200  from moving in the direction indicated by arrow X. Additionally, an interior surface of the back  215  may abut the lead frame assemblies  110  of the retention member  115 , helping to prevent the cover  200  from moving in the direction indicated by the arrow X as the cover  200  is placed on the connector  100 . Another edge  205 F of the side wall  205  may abut an edge  115 F of the retention member  115 , helping to prevent the cover  200  from moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by arrow X. Alternatively or in addition, as the retention member  115  is received in the retention member receiving gap  230 , the portion  211 A of the baffles  211  (see  FIG. 3 ) may abut the retention member  115 , preventing the cover  200  from moving in the direction opposite the direction indicated by arrow X. 
     The back  215  of the cover  200  may flex away from the side walls  205 ,  207  as the latch bar  226  abuts and slides down the lead frame assemblies  110  and the retention member  115  of the connector  100 . When the latch bar  226  reaches an indentation  116  in the retention member  115 , the back  215  may return to an un-flexed, relaxed condition as the latch bar  226  is received in the indentation  116 . The cover  200  may be sized and the latch bar  226  may be a distance from the top  210  of the cover  200  such that, as the latch bar  226  is received in the indentation  116 , an interior surface of the top  210  may abut the tops  110 T of the lead frame assemblies  110 . Thus, the top  210  abutting the lead frame assemblies  110  may help prevent the cover  200  from moving further in the direction indicated by the arrow A. Additionally or alternatively, an edge  205 B of the side wall  205  may abut the terminal frame component  111  of the outer most lead frame assemblies  110  and may help prevent the cover  200  from moving further in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The latch bar  226  received in the indentation  116  may help prevent the cover  200  from moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by arrow A. 
     The latch bar  226  and the indentation  116  may have corresponding shapes so that, when the latch bar  226  is received in the indentation  116 , the cover  200  is seated on the connector  100  and prevented from moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow A. The release bar  227  may provide a mechanism for removing the latch bar  226  from the indentation  116 . That is, the flexibility provided by retention-member aperture  231  between the side walls  205 ,  207  and the back  215  may, in combination with the release bar  227 , aid in removing the latch bar  226  from the indentation  116 , and thus the cover  200  from the connector  100 . A force may be applied using a tool or by a hand or finger in the direction generally opposite the direction indicated by the arrow A or in the direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow X. As the force is applied, the back  215  may flex away from the side walls  205 ,  207 , and the latch bar  226  may be removed from the indentation  116 . A force may also be applied in the direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow A to remove the cover  200  from the connector  100 . 
     The cover  200  may be made of any appropriate material. The cover  200  may be made of a dielectric material such as plastic. The cover  200  additionally may be molded as one piece or alternatively may be assembled from individual pieces. Additionally, the cover  200  may be placed on and removed from the connector  100  either before or after the connector  100  is mounted on a substrate or connected to another electrical connector or device. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are, respectively, perspective front and back views of an alternate cover  250  for an electrical connector. The cover  250  may include a top  260 , and a back  265 . The back  265  may be a body member of the cover  200  and may include one or more latch portions  275  for mechanically attaching the cover  250  to the connector  100 . Unlike the cover  200 , the cover  250  may be devoid of sidewalls, which may increase the flexibility of the back, facilitating latching and unlatching the cover  250  to/from the connector  100 . 
     The top  260  may be a body member of the cover  250 . and may include lead frame assembly notches  266  for receiving the lead frame stops  101  when the cover  250  is placed on the connector  100 . The top  260  additionally may include apertures  290 , or holes, that extend between opposing surfaces of the top  260 . The apertures  290  may provide air flow into the interior of the cover  250  and onto the connector  100 . The latch portions  275  may include a release bar  277 . The cover  250  additionally may include an interior  262  having lead frame assembly baffles  261 . Each lead frame assembly  110  may be received in between the baffles  261  when the cover  250  is attached to the connector  100 . 
     The cover  200  may define a retention member aperture  281  between the baffles  261  and the inside of the back wall  265 . The retention member aperture  281  may be shaped and sized so that each end of the retention member  115  of the connector  100  may extend between the baffles  261  and the back  265  when the cover  250  is placed on the connector  100 . 
     The back  265  of the cover  250  may be attached or formed as part of the top  260 . The back  265  may exhibit flexibility characteristics, enabling it to move away from the baffles  261  in the area of the latch portions  275  as the cover  250  is being placed on the connector  100 . The back  265  may also have resiliency such that the latch portions  275  move toward the baffles  261  when the cover  250  is seated on the connector  100 . 
     The back  265  of the cover  250  may flex away from baffles  261  as the latch portions  275  abut and slide down the lead frame assemblies  110  and the retention member  115  of the connector  100 . When the latch portions  275  reach an indentation  116  in the retention member  115 , the back  265  may return to an un-flexed, relaxed condition as the latch portions  275  are received in the indentation  116 . The cover  250  may be sized and the latch portions  275  may be a distance from the top  260  of the cover  250  such that, as the latch portions  275  are received in the indentation  116 , an interior surface of the top  260  may abut the tops  110 T of the lead frame assemblies  110 . Thus, the top  260  abutting the lead frame assemblies  110  may help prevent the cover  250  from moving further in the direction indicated by the arrow A. 
     The latch portions  275  and the indentation  116  may have corresponding shapes so that, when the latch portions  275  are received in the indentation  116 , the cover  250  is seated on the connector  100  and prevented from moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow A. The release bar  277  may provide a mechanism for removing the latch portions  275  from the indentation  116 . That is, the flexibility provided by retention-member aperture  231  between the baffles  261  and the back  265  may, in combination with the release bar  277 , aid in removing the latch portions  275  from the indentation  116 , and thus the cover  250  from the connector  100 . A force may be applied using a tool or by a hand or finger in the direction generally opposite the direction indicated by the arrow A. As the force is applied, the back  265  may flex away from the baffles  275 , and the latch portions  275  may be removed from the indentation  116 . A force may also be applied in the direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow A to remove the cover  250  from the connector  100 . 
     The cover  250  may be made of any appropriate material. The cover  250  may be made of a dielectric material such as plastic. The cover  250  additionally may be molded as one piece or alternatively may be assembled from individual pieces. Additionally, the cover  250  may be placed on and removed from the connector  100  either before or after the connector  100  is mounted on a substrate or connected to another electrical connector or device. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative cover  300  for an electrical connector such as the electrical connector  100 . The cover  300  may aid in preventing, for example, debris from falling in between lead frame assemblies  110  of the electrical connector  100 . Additionally, the cover  300  may include interior substrate mounting beams that facilitate mounting the electrical connector to a substrate without use of a tool that extends in between the lead frame assemblies  110  to press on the terminal frames  111  of the lead frame housings  108 . Instead, the cover  300  may be placed on the connector  100  prior to mounting on a substrate. The top  310  of the cover  300  may be a body member of the cover  300  and may be generally planar. The top  310  may be pressed upon to connect the connector  100  to the substrate. A flat rock application tool may perform such pressing. 
     The cover  300  may include a front  330 , opposing sides  340 , a top  310 , and a back  320 . The sides  340 , top  310 , and back  320  may be body members forming the exterior of the cover  300  and may be generally planar. The back  320  may be a body member of the cover  300  and may include lead frame assembly slots  338  for receiving lead frame assemblies  110  of the connector  100 . The lead frame assembly slots  338  each may include a retaining surface  334  that, in combination with the lead-frame assemblies  110 , helps, among other things, retain the cover  300  on the connector  100 . The top  310  may include lead frame stop slots  312  the function of which is described herein. 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the cover  300  being placed on the connector  100 , and  FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the cover  300  in place on the connector  100 . The cover  300  may slide on the connector  100  in a direction indicated by an arrow B, generally parallel to the mating ends of the contacts  104  and toward the housing  105 . Lead frame stop slots  312  may receive respective lead frame stops  101  of the lead frame assemblies  110 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , when placed on the connector  100 , the top  310  of the cover  300  may be flush with the lead frame stops  101  of the lead frame assemblies  110 . The cover  300  additionally may abut the housing  105  of the connector  110 , which may help prevent further movement of the cover  300  in the direction indicated by the arrow B. The lead frame assembly slots  338  may receive a respective lead frame assembly when the cover  300  is seated on the connector  100 . When seated, the cover  300  may abut terminal frames  111  of lead frame housings  108  of respective lead frame assemblies  110 . 
       FIGS. 8A-8C  depict, respectively, a top view, a front view, and a back view of the cover  300 . As shown in  FIG. 8A , the top  310  may include the lead frame stop slots  312  toward the front  330  of the cover  300 . The top  310  additionally may include lead frame assembly slots  338  for receiving a respective lead frame assembly  110  when the cover  300  is seated on the connector  100 . 
     The front view shown in  FIG. 8B  shows that the interior of the cover  300  may include substrate mounting beams  331  and lead frame assembly slots  338  formed in between the substrate mounting beams  331 . The lead frame assembly slots  338  may receive respective lead frame assemblies  110  when the cover  300  is seated on the connector  100 . The substrate mounting beams  331  each may generally include a shape such that, for example, a base  332  and an upper portion  336  of each substrate mount beam  331  are each wider than a middle portion  333  of the substrate mounting beam  331 . The substrate mounting beams  331  and respective bases  332  and upper portions  336  may extend along a partial or a whole length of the cover  300 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8C , the back  320  of the cover  300  additionally may include a retention member  334  that aids in performing some functions of the retention member  115  of the connector  100 . The retention member  334  as well as the lead frame assembly slots  338  may be formed in the back  320  of the cover  300 . 
       FIG. 9A  is a perspective, cut-away view of the cover  300 .  FIGS. 9B and 9C  are partial, cut-away front views of substrate mounting beams  331  and lead frame assemblies  110 . When the cover  300  is placed on the connector  100 , one or more bases  332  of the substrate mounting beam  331  may abut the terminal frame  111  of the lead frame  108  of the lead frame assembly  110 . The bases  332  may be protrusions extending from respective substrate mounting beams  331  and may be molded as part of the substrate mounting beams  331  or may otherwise be attached to the beams  331 . 
     As the cover  300  is slid onto the connector  100 , each lead frame assembly  110  may be received in a lead frame assembly slot  338 . Each base  332  of a substrate mounting beam  331  may abut a length of a terminal frame  111 . After the cover  300  is seated, a force may be applied on the top  310  of the cover  300  generally in a direction indicated by arrow Y. This force may be transferred through the substrate mounting beams  331  and the bases  332  onto the terminal frames  111  of the lead frame assemblies  110 . In this way, the cover  300  may aid in attaching or connecting contact terminal ends of the connector  100  to a substrate, such as a printed circuit board. The force in the direction indicated by the arrow Y may be applied in one location on the top  310  of the cover  300 , such as, for example, in the approximate middle of the top  310 . Alternatively, the force may be applied at multiple locations on the top  310  either simultaneously, in progression along a length of the top  310  (e.g., from the front  330  of the cover  300  to the back  320 ), or in any other manner. Such force may be applied, for example, by flat rock application. 
     Because the substrate mounting beams  331  extend between the lead frame assemblies  110 , airflow between the lead frame assemblies may be impeded. Thus the middle portion  333  of the substrate mounting beams  331  may be shaped to provide an air gap  361  between the lead frame assembly  110  and the substrate mounting beam  331 . Such an air gap  361  may aid in ensuring signal integrity within the connector  100  by, for example, helping to reduce cross talk between contacts  104  of the connector  100 . 
     The cover  300  shown in  FIG. 9A  depicts substrate mounting beams  331  extending along the full length D of the cover  300 . In alternative embodiments, the cover may be designed to maximize air flow within the connector  100  when the cover is seated while continuing to provide the flat rock application function.  FIGS. 10A-C  are perspective views of alternative covers  400 ,  500 ,  600 , respectively, that may help maximize signal integrity by increasing air flow when the cover is seated on the connector  100 . 
     In  FIG. 10A , the cover  400  may include substrate mounting beams  431  shaped such that a gap  412  is formed along a middle portion  433  of respective beams  431 . In this way, the middle portion  433  may extend a distance D 1  along a length of the cover, and D 1  may be less than the length D of the cover  300 . The substrate mounting beams  431  may include bases  432  that extend the entire length of the cover  400 . In alternative embodiments, the bases  432  may extend less than the entire length. 
     In  FIG. 10B , the cover  500  may include substrate mounting beams  531  shaped such that a gap  512  is formed along a middle portion  533  of respective beams  531 . The gap  512  may be larger than the gap  412 . The middle portion  533  may extend a distance D 2  along a length of the cover, and D 2  may be less than the length D 1  shown in  FIG. 10 . The substrate mounting beams  531  may include bases  532  that extend the entire length of the cover  500 . In alternative embodiments, the bases  532  may extend less than the entire length. 
     In  FIG. 10C , the cover  600  may include substrate mounting beams  631  shaped such that a gap  612  is formed along a middle portion  633  of respective beams  631 . The gap  612  may be larger than the gap  512 . The middle portion  633  may extend a distance D 3  along a length of the cover, and D 3  may be less than the length D 2  shown in  FIG. 10B . 
     Any or all of the substrate mounting beams  431 ,  531 ,  631  may include respective bases  432 ,  532 ,  632  that extend the entire length of the cover  400 ,  500 ,  600 , as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10C , or less than the entire length. Any or all of the substrate mounting beams  431 ,  531 ,  631  may include holes or apertures (not shown) extending through the beams to additionally promote air flow. 
       FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a connector  100  including a cutaway view of the cover  300  seated on the connector  100 . The arm  119  of the lead frame assembly  110  may abut the retention member  334  of the cover  300 .  FIG. 11B  is a partial, detail view showing the cover  300  seated on the connector  100  and the arm  119  abutting the retention member  334 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11A , the cover  300  may be seated on the connector  100  and the arms  119  of the lead frame assemblies  110  may aid in retaining the cover  300  seated on the connector  100 . The lead frame assemblies  110  may be received in the lead frame assembly slots  338  such that the arms  119  abut the lead frame retention member  334 . The top  310  of the cover  300  may abut the top frame  102  of the lead frame housing  108  of the lead frame assembly  110 . Thus the top frame  102  may aid in preventing the cover  300  from moving in a direction indicated by the arrow Y. Additionally, the arms  119  may aid in preventing the cover from moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow Y. 
     As described herein, the cover  300  may be slid onto the connector  100  in a direction indicated by the arrow B until it abuts the housing  105  of the connector  110 . Additionally, the cover  300  may be slid onto the connector  100  until the back  320  of the cover  300  abuts the lead frame assemblies  110 . Thus, one or both of the housing  105  and the lead frame assemblies  110  may help prevent the cover  300  from moving in the direction indicated by the arrow B. 
     The lead frame retention member  334  may be shaped to aid in preventing the cover  300  from moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow B. For example, the lead frame retention member  334  may include a lip  334 A. The shape of the lip  334 A may be complementary to the shape of the arm  119  of the lead frame assembly  110  such that the cover  300  is prevented by the arm  119  from moving in a direction opposite that indicated by the arrow B. As the cover  300  is slid onto the connector  100 , there may be “play” enabling the lip  334 A to slip under the arm  119  but when fully seated, the lip  334 A and the retention member  334  may aid in preventing the cover from being unseated or from moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow B. 
     The cover  300  may perform retention functions as well and thus may obviate use of the retention member  115  ( FIG. 1 ). That is, the retention member  115  on the connector  100  may be removed before placing the cover  300  on the connector  100 . Removal of the retention member  115  additionally may contribute to minimizing the weight of the connector  100  while providing a mechanism for attaching the cover  300  to the connector  100 . In this way, the cover  300  additionally may perform functions of tying the lead frame assemblies  110  together such that each may be prevented from movement relative to other lead frame assemblies  110 . The lead frame assembly receiving slots  338  may receive respective lead frame assemblies  300  and aid in preventing movement of the lead frame assemblies  110  in a direction of and opposite of the direction of the arrow C (i.e., transverse to the direction in which the lead frame assemblies  110  extend). The slots  338  of the cover  300  additionally may aid in preventing one or more lead frame assemblies  110  from rotating when, for example, the connector/cover assembly is connected to an electrical device such as a substrate or another connector, or is otherwise handled. 
     The cover  300  may be made of virtually any appropriate material. The cover  300  may be made of a dielectric material such as plastic. The cover  300  additionally may be molded as one piece or alternatively may be assembled from individual pieces. 
     The foregoing illustrative embodiments have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the invention. Words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Additionally, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structure, materials and/or embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein. Rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects.