Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An input output electrical connector for use in a PCMCIA card assembly, the connector comprising: a molded insulative housing (20) including a base (22) with a keyed housing spline (38) extending forward from the base, the spline having keying means (42, 44) on one face and a contact surface (50) on the opposite face; a plurality of terminals (60) extending side by side through the base and along the housing contact surface with the top of each terminal being exposed along the contact surface, each terminal also extending from the rear (28) of the base for attachment to a card in the PCMCIA card assembly; the connector being characterized in that the terminals (60) are insert molded in the insulative housing (20) with the base (22) being molded around a portion of the terminals extending therethrough and with the contact surface (50) on the housing spline (38) being formed by a mold surface (112) initially positioning the terminals and withdrawn parallel to the terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the terminals (60) have a forward end (72) inwardly spaced from a forward edge (46) of the housing spline, and the contact surface (50) includes housing spline ribs (54) molded between the forward ends (72) of the terminals and the forward edge (46) of the housing spline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein each spline rib (54) is formed by the mold surface (112) positioning the terminals along the housing spline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein at least one of the terminals (60) is a make first, break last terminal (62) with a forward end (72) extending beyond the forward end of the other terminals (64).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein a recess (58) is located at the juncture of the base (22) and the contact surface (50), the recess being formed by withdrawal of the molding surface parallel to the terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the recess (58) extends into the housing base (22) parallel to the contact surface (50), the housing base extending over the top of the recess.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein at least one molded ridge (56) extends between two terminals (60) on the contact surface, the molded ridge extending from the base (22) to a molded rib (54) located on the forward edge of the housing spline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein a shield (80) is wrapped around at least a portion of the housing and the terminals, the shield having at least one tab means (82) for securing the shield to the card and for securing the electrical connector to the card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein the insulative housing includes mounting arms (30) extending from two ends of the base (22), the shield being supported by the base and the two mounting arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the housing base (22) includes protruding ribs (36) on opposite sides of the base, the shield including slots (106), the ribs extending into the slots when the shield is mounted on the housing.