Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising an insulating housing and assembled thereto a plurality terminal modules (2) and electrically conductive shields inserted between adjacent terminal modules (2), each terminal module (2) having a plurality of contacts (4), the terminal module (2) comprising a mating contact portion (6), a conductor connecting portion (8) and therebetween an intermediate portion (10), the connector assembly characterized in that the terminal module (2) has an insulative web (12) that encapsulates some or all of the intermediate portion (10); and the electrically conductive shield (58) has mounting means (56, 57) that are engageable with mounting means (52, 54) of the terminal module (2), the shield (58) being prestressed such that when mounted to the insulative web (12) by the means (52, 54, 56, 57) the shield is held resiliently against the terminal module (2) due to elastic deformation of the shield.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
The connector of claim 1 characterized in that the shield (58) has a substantially planar base (76) that forms an angle (F) with the shield mounting means (56, 57) when the shield (58) is not mounted to the terminal module (2), and the base (76) can be elastically bent by an angle (H) away from the mounting means (56, 57) such that the base (76) forms an angle (G) equal to (H) plus (F) therewith when the shield is mounted to the terminal module (2).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The connector of claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the shield (58) has a substantially planar base (76) and at least one prestressed mount (56) that can be resiliently bent for mounting in a receiving slot (52) of the insulative web (12), such that the shield (58) is fixedly held to the terminal module (2) and the planar base (76) resiliently biased thereagainst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector of claim 3 characterized in that the shield (58) is fixedly held to the terminal module (2) by interference fit means (54, 55).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The connector of claim 4 characterized in that the interference fit means (54) are protrusions (54) within the slots (52), the protrusions cooperating with edges (57) of the mounts (56).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The connector of any of claims 1-5 characterized in that the shield (58) is mounted substantially flush in a recess (66) of the insulative web (12) such that a plurality of modules (2) can be assembled side by side with the insulative webs (12) of adjacent modules (2) contiguous.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of any of claims 1-6 characterized in that the shield (58) has a resilient prestressed grounding pin (62) for electrical contact with one of the terminal module contacts (46).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The connector of claim 7 characterized in that the insulative web (12) has a hole (60) such that the grounding pin (62) electrically contacts one of the terminal module contacts (46) therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The connector of claim 8 characterized in that the grounding pin (62) is integral and stamped from a planar base (76) of the shield (58) and comprises a Y-shaped spring section (80) with a contact tip (82) bent therefrom that is resiliently biased against the corresponding terminal module contact (46).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The connector of any of claims 1-9 characterized in that the shield planar base (76) has at least one resilient arm (82) having a grounding projection (84) stamped therefrom and that extends to the printed circuit board to make electrical contact therewith when the module (2) is assembled thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector of claim 10 characterized in that the arm (82) and the grounding projection (84) is in the same plane as the base (76).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connector of claim 11 characterized in that the shield planar base has two resilient arms (82) with their corresponding grounding projections (84).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of any of claims 1-12 characterized in that the shield (58) has a roughly triangular shape that spans the portion of contacts (10) encapsulated by the insulative web (12).