Patent ID: 7198501

Claim:
A lateral engaging structure of an electrical connector, the electrical connector having a plastic base, the lateral engaging structure being disposed at one side of the plastic base to engage with a lateral side of a circuit board inserted into the electrical connector, the lateral engaging structure comprising: a main body having a first plate and a transversal plate, both of which have vertical plate surfaces, wherein a rear end of the first plate is connected to the one side of the plastic base, the transversal plate is disposed at a front end of the first plate and extends in an extending direction substantially perpendicular to the first plate, a lower edge of the transversal plate is formed with a step having a first surface, a second surface lower than the first surface, and a vertical stopping surface between the first surface and the second surface; and an elastic arm, which has a vertical plate surface, a rear end connected to the first plate of the main body, and a front end that is a free end, wherein the elastic arm extends from back to front and slightly toward the circuit board, a front section of the elastic arm engages with one side of the circuit board, the front end of the elastic arm is formed with a stopping portion protruding forward, the stopping portion is located under the first surface of the transversal plate, the stopping portion stops on a stopping surface of the transversal plate and the front section of the elastic arm still engages with the circuit board when the elastic arm elastically moves toward the first plate, and the elastic arm disengages from the circuit board when the elastic arm is pressed down to make the stopping portion pass under the second surface of the transversal plate.