Retaining clip for an electrical connector

Claim 1

A retaining clip (12) for releasably holding an electrical connector socket (22) in engagement with a plug (14) securely soldered to a circuit board (19) having first and second surfaces; the plug (14) comprises at least two spaced parallel pins (16) maintained in relative position by a molded strip (18), the pins (16) are bent at right angles with one end of each pin soldered to the circuit board (19) and the free corresponding ends of the pins (16) being in a plane parallel to the first surface of the circuit board (19), said retaining clip (12) comprises: a pair of generally parallel, elongated legs (30) having first and second ends, each of said legs (30) being spaced apart approximately the width of said plug (14), a brace (32) secured to each of said legs (30) spaced apart from both ends thereof and serving to hold said legs (30) in substantially parallel alignment, said first ends of said legs (30) each having a locking prong (34), said locking prongs (34) being oppositely positioned to grasp the molded strip (18) of said plug (14), said second ends of said legs (30) having notches (41), opposingly disposed and serving to engage the socket (22) to prevent disengagement of the socket (22) from the plug (14), said second end of each of said legs (30) is flared (38) forming a camming surface (40) which serves to facilitate movement of said legs (30) apart to allow engagement between said socket (22) and said plug (14), and said brace (32) includes a pair of arms (44) secured to said legs (30) and extending in a common direction substantially along a line parallel to the axis of each of the legs (30) and along a second surface of the circuit board (19) and serving to restrict relative movement between said retaining clip (12) and said circuit board (19).