Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
An electrical connector (10), comprising: an elongated dielectric housing (12) having a front mating face (18) and a rear face (20) with a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways (22) extending therebetween; a plurality of terminals (16) received in the passageways (22), each terminal including a forwardly projecting contact portion (36) and a tail portion (38) projecting rearwardly from the housing (12) beyond said rear face (20) thereof; and an elongated tail aligning device (14) mountable on the housing and having a plurality of apertures (52) through which the tail portions of the terminals extend, the tail aligning device having wing portions (54) near opposite ends thereof projecting generally transversely of the rear face (20) of the housing to protect the tail portions (38) of the terminals (16); characterized in that: said elongated tail aligning device (14) and said housing (12) include a latch (64) and a latch boss (28), said latch (64) for interengaging said latch boss (28) forwardly of said rear face (20) to latch said tail aligning device (14) to said housing (12), and said rear face (20) of said housing (12) extends between opposite ends (24) of the housing (12) and is devoid of any substantial projections which might prevent a terminal-insertion tool that extends beyond at least one end (24) of the housing (12) from being moved into proximity with the rear face (20).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 characterized in that said wing portions of the tail aligning device comprise generally planar gussets (54) for stabilizing the connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 2 characterized in that said tail aligning device (14) includes generally straight edges (56) engageable with generally flat surfaces (58) at the rear face (20) of the housing (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 characterized in that said housing (12) includes grooves (26) in the rear face (20) thereof for receiving the straight edges (56) of the gussets (54) on the tail aligning device (14).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector of claim 4 characterized in that said straight edges (56) include said latches (64) for interengaging said latch bosses (28) disposed in said grooves (26).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The electrical connector of claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that said electrical connector includes complementary interengaging holding means (60, 62, 24) between the tail aligning device (14) and the housing (12) for holding the straight edges (56) in engagement with the flat surfaces (58) at the rear face (20) of the housing (12).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 characterized in that said electrical connector (10) is a right-angled connector with the tail portions (38) of the terminals (16) including circuit board mounting portions (40) at angles to said contact portions (36), the circuit board mounting portions extending through the apertures (52) in the tail aligning device (14).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical connector of claim 7 characterized in that said tail aligning device (14), including said wing portions (54) thereof and a mounting post (72) comprise a one-piece molded dielectric component.