Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
An electrical connector for providing a connection between a primary circuit board and a secondary circuit, the connector comprising: an insulative connector housing having two longitudinal sidewalls and a card-receiving slot interspersed therebetween, the card-receiving slot being adapted to receive an edge of the circuit card therein; a plurality of conductive terminals disposed within said card-receiving slot for electrically communicating with a like plurality of conductive contacts disposed near the circuit card edge when said circuit card is positioned in said card-receiving slot, each of said terminals having a solder tail portion extending said connector housing, a pair of resilient latching arms integrally formed with said connector housing, each being disposed generally adjacent an opposite end of said card-receiving slot, the latching arms being further positioned to engage with respective opposing side edges of said circuit card and said latching arms further being deflectable outwardly from said connector housing in opposing directions aligned with said card-receiving slot upon insertion of said circuit card into said card-receiving slot; and, a pair of reinforcing channels, each being disposed adjacent one of said latching arms and extending lengthwise along said latching arms so as to partially enclose said latching arms, said reinforcing channels each having a plurality of reinforcement surfaces that restrict deflection of said latching arms, said reinforcing channel including a web portion and distinct upper and lower flange portions interconnected by said web portion, said web and upper and lower flange portions defining said reinforcement surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower flange portions serve to restrict deflection of said latching arms in respective upward and downward directions and said reinforcing channel web portion serves to restrict deflection of said latching arms in said opposing directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said reinforcing channels include retaining means that are insertable into portions of said connector housing for holding said reinforcing channels in place upon said latching arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein each said reinforcing channel includes a solder pad that extends from said reinforcing channel into a confronting relationship with a board mounting surface of said connector for anchoring said reinforcing channels to said primary circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein each said reinforcing channel includes a support leg depending downwardly therefrom toward said primary circuit board mounting surface, each of said support legs having a primary circuit board engagement surface for positioning generally adjacent said primary circuit board to provide resistance to uplift forces developed in said terminal solder tail portions upon insertion of said circuit card into said connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said latching arms each include an inwardly extending projecting portion and each of said reinforcing channel upper flanges includes an extension that partially overlies one of said projecting portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said connector housing includes two endwalls disposed at opposite ends of said card-receiving slot, said latching arms extending out from said endwalls in cantilevered fashion, said reinforcing channels each having a mounting leg extending downward therefrom to provide support for said cantilevered latching arms.