US5161995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal latch for SIMM socket
Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1992-01-09
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Granted: 1992-11-10
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Expires: 2012-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A SIMM socket with a metal latch for retaining a SIMM therein is provided. The socket includes a housing having a SIMM receiving slot and a plurality of terminals with contact beams extending into the slot. The SIMM is inserted into the slot in a first angular alignment with minimal insertion forces, and is rotated into a second alignment for achieving high quality electrical connection with the contact beams of the respective terminals. A metal latch is provided for releasably retaining the SIMM in the preferred angular alignment within the socket. The latch is stamped and formed from a unitary piece of metallic material and includes a housing engaging portion and a deflectable SIMM engaging portion. The housing includes walls for controlling the types and ranges of deflection that are permitted for the SIMM engaging portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick D. Bakke
- 👤 Anthony M. DiViesti
- 👤 Kent E. Regnier
- 👤 Masanori Yagi
- 👤 Shoji Yamada
- 👤 Alan Walse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:18
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/10; H05K7/1015; H05K7/103; H05K7/1038; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005; H01R12/82; H01R12/83; H01R12/7011; H01R12/7017; H01R12/7029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
An electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting a first circuit board having a plurality of board contacts to a second circuit card having a plurality of card contacts, said assembly having a unitarily molded nonconductive housing with an elongated slot formed therein for receiving an edge of said second circuit card, a plurality of cavities opening into said slot, and at least one rear wall for defining a rotational limit for said second circuit card when inserted into the connector assembly; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals mounted in respective cavities of the housing in proximity to the slot; said housing and terminals being configured and dimensioned such that the second circuit card can be inserted into the slot in a first angular alignment with minimal insertion force and can be rotated into a second angular alignment at which said conductive terminals contact respective ones of said plurality of card contacts; a pair of unitary metal latches mounted to said housing, each adjacent an end of said slot, said latch having a latch arm, a housing engaging portion at one end of said latch arm, a latch portion extending from the other end of said latch arm and configured to lockingly retain said second circuit card in said slot at said second angular alignment, and a release portion adjacent said latch portion for permitting selective unlatching of said second circuit card, wherein the improvement comprises: said housing having a mounting post adjacent an end of the slot; and said housing engaging portion of each said metal latch being securely fixed to the mounting post of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
An electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting a first circuit board having a plurality of board contacts to a second circuit card having a plurality of card contacts, said assembly having a unitarily molded nonconductive housing with an elongated slot formed therein for receiving an edge of said second circuit card, a plurality of cavities opening into said slot, and at least one rear wall for defining a rotational limit for said second circuit card when inserted into the connector assembly; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals mounted in respective cavities of the housing in proximity to the slot; said housing and terminals being configured and dimensioned such that the second circuit card can be inserted into the slot in a first angular alignment with minimal insertion force and can be rotated into a second angular alignment at which said conductive terminals contact respective ones of said plurality of card contacts; a pair of unitary metal latches mounted to said housing, each adjacent an end of said slot, said latch having a latch arm, a housing engaging portion at one end of said latch arm, a latch portion extending from the other end of said latch arm and configured to lockingly retain said second circuit card in said slot at said second angular alignment, and a release portion adjacent said latch portion for permitting selective unlatching of said second circuit card, wherein the improvement comprises: said housing having a mounting post adjacent an end of the slot; and said housing engaging portion of each said metal latch being securely fixed to the mounting post of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical connector assembly as in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a preload post in spaced relationship to said mounting post.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical connector assembly as in claim 1 wherein the mounting post includes an alignment block opposite said slot, the housing engaging portion of the metal latch being configured to engage the alignment block of the mounting post to ensure proper alignment of the metal latch on the mounting post.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electrical connector assembly as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes means for engaging a portion of said latch arm to resist rotation of said second circuit card from said second angular orientation to said first angular orientation without releasing said latch arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
266 words
An electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting a first circuit board having a plurality of board contacts to a second circuit card having a plurality of card contacts, said assembly having a unitarily molded nonconductive housing with an elongated slot formed therein for receiving an edge of said second circuit card, a plurality of cavities opening into said slot, and at least one rear wall for defining a rotational limit for said second circuit card when inserted into the connector assembly; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals mounted in respective cavities of the housing in proximity to the slot; said housing and terminals being configured and dimensioned such that the second circuit card can be inserted into the slot in a first angular alignment with minimal insertion force and can be rotated into a second angular alignment at which said conductive terminals contact respective ones of said plurality of card contacts; a pair of unitary metal latches mounted to said housing, each adjacent an end of said slot, said latch having a latch arm, a housing engaging portion at one end of said latch arm, a latch portion extending from the other end of said latch arm and configured to lockingly retain said second circuit card in said slot at said second angular alignment, and a release portion adjacent said latch portion for permitting selective unlatching of said second circuit card, wherein the improvement comprises: said housing engaging portion of each said metal latch including a pair of cantilevered members, each being securely mounted around a portion of said housing adjacent an end of said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
266 words
An electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting a first circuit board having a plurality of board contacts to a second circuit card having a plurality of card contacts, said assembly having a unitarily molded nonconductive housing with an elongated slot formed therein for receiving an edge of said second circuit card, a plurality of cavities opening into said slot, and at least one rear wall for defining a rotational limit for said second circuit card when inserted into the connector assembly; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals mounted in respective cavities of the housing in proximity to the slot; said housing and terminals being configured and dimensioned such that the second circuit card can be inserted into the slot in a first angular alignment with minimal insertion force and can be rotated into a second angular alignment at which said conductive terminals contact respective ones of said plurality of card contacts; a pair of unitary metal latches mounted to said housing, each adjacent an end of said slot, said latch having a latch arm, a housing engaging portion at one end of said latch arm, a latch portion extending from the other end of said latch arm and configured to lockingly retain said second circuit card in said slot at said second angular alignment, and a release portion adjacent said latch portion for permitting selective unlatching of said second circuit card, wherein the improvement comprises: said housing engaging portion of each said metal latch including a pair of cantilevered members, each being securely mounted around a portion of said housing adjacent an end of said slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electrical connector assembly as in claim 5 wherein the housing includes means for engaging a portion of said latch arm to resist rotation of said second circuit card from said second angular orientation to said first angular orientation without releasing said latch arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical connector assembly as in claim 5 wherein said housing further comprises a preload post positioned adjacent each end of said slot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical connector assembly as in claim 7 wherein the housing engaging portion comprises a pair of opposed U-shaped arms dimensioned for securely engaging the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical connector assembly as in claim 8 wherein said U-shaped arms are dimensioned so as to be force fit around said housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-10 | 1996-05-11 | 1996-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-10 | 2000-05-11 | 2000-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-10 | 2004-05-11 | 2004-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |