Patent ID: 6942503

Claim:
An electrical connector ( 10 ), comprising: a dielectric housing ( 12 ) having a receptacle ( 24 ) for receiving a complementary mating connector ( 62 ); a plurality of conductive terminals ( 40 ) mounted on the housing and having contact portions ( 40 a ) exposed in the receptacle for engaging appropriate contacts ( 66 ) of the mating connector; a metal shell ( 14 ) about at least a portion of the housing; a shutter plate ( 32 ) movably mounted on the housing for movement between a closed position substantially closing said receptacle to prevent inadvertent engagement of foreign objects with the contact portions of the terminals and an open position allowing mating of said complementary mating connector, at least a portion ( 50 ) of the shutter plate being conductive to dissipate static electricity at the receptacle; and at least one spring ( 30 ) mounted on the housing for biasing the shutter plate toward its closed position, the spring being conductive and electrically coupled between the conductive portion of the shutter plate and the metal shell to ground the plate to the shell; characterized in that said spring comprises a coil spring ( 30 ) having opposite ends ( 30 b , 30 c ) maintained in engagement with the conductive portion ( 50 ) of the shutter plate and the metal shell ( 14 ).