Shielding a surface mount electrical connector

Claim 2

A shielding shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parts (16, 18) of the second side wall (14) are substantially identical, the seam (20) being disposed centrally of the height of the second side wall (14).

Claim 3

A shielding shell as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second side wall (14) is bowed laterally outwardly of the shielding shell (4) and the seam (20) is disposed centrally of the height of the second side wall (14).

Claim 4

A shielding shell as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a flange (46) depending from the top wall (8) overlaps the seam (20), a tongue (50) projecting from the flange (56) beneath, and in engagement with, the bottom wall (10).

Claim 5

A shielding shell as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4, wherein said walls (8, 10, 12, 14) define a forward open end (22) for receiving a mating electrical connector, a first deformable tab (204) projecting forwardly from the top wall (8) beyond said open end (22) and a second deformable tab (204) projecting forwardly from the bottom wall (10) beyond said open end (22) each of the top and bottom walls (8, 10) having at least one resilient external stop (202) located rearwardly of, and proximate to, said open end (22).

Claim 6

A folded sheet metal shielding shell (4) for receiving an electrical connector (6) for surface mounting on a circuit board (PCB), the shielding shell (4) comprising: a top wall (8); a bottom wall (10) for location proximate to a face of the circuit board (PCB) when the connector (6) is mounted thereon; first and second side walls (12, 14) connected to the top and bottom walls (8, 10) to define in cooperation therewith a tubular enclosure having a forward open end (22) for receiving a mating shield and an open rear end (24) for receiving said connector (6), the first side wall (22) extending rearwardly of the second side wall (14); a cantilever flange (46) connected to the top wall (8) and providing a rearward extension of the second wall (14) having formed therein a latching opening (52) for latchingly receiving a latching member (86) on the connector (6), said flange (46) being resiliently deflectable away from the first side wall (12); and a mounting post (54) depending from the cantilever flange (46) below the bottom wall (10) of the shell (4) for connection to a grounding conductor (G) on the circuit board (PCB).

Claim 7

A shielding shell (4) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a tongue (50) projects from the cantilever flange (46) beneath the bottom wall (10), the mounting post (54) projecting from a cross piece (55) defined by a score line solder stop off in the cantilever flange (46) and having a first end formed integrally with the cantilever flange (46) and a second and opposite end formed integrally with the tongue (50).

Claim 8

A shielding shell (4) as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the cantilever flange (46) depends from the top wall (8) in overlapping relationship with the second side wall (14), said first side wall (12) being formed with a latching opening (30) aligned with the latching opening of the cantilever flange (46), laterally of the shielding shell (4).

Claim 9

A shielding shell (4) as claimed in claim 8, wherein each latching opening (30,52) is rectangular and has a rearward latching edge.

Claim 10

A shielding shell as claimed in claim 6,7, 8 or 9, wherein a first connector anchoring tab (28) which is coplanar with the cantilever flange (46) extends from a rear edge thereof; a second connector anchoring tab (58) extending from a rear edge of the first side wall (12) in coplanar relationship therewith and in alignment with the first anchoring tab (28), laterally of the shielding shell (4).