US5395265A — Retention system for a connector housing

Claim 1

Independent Claim 67 words

A retention clip for connecting a connector housing to a substrate, comprising: a latching leg having a first and second edge and a first opening which cooperate with said connector housing to latch said retention clip to said connector housing; and a base leg extending from said latching leg for connecting said retention clip to said substrate, said base leg being bent to underlie said connector housing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 67 words

A retention clip for connecting a connector housing to a substrate, comprising: a latching leg having a first and second edge and a first opening which cooperate with said connector housing to latch said retention clip to said connector housing; and a base leg extending from said latching leg for connecting said retention clip to said substrate, said base leg being bent to underlie said connector housing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The retention clip of claim 1, wherein said latching leg has an upper edge and wherein a second opening is formed in said upper edge.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The retention clip of claim 2, wherein said second opening is formed by a tab extending outward from said latching leg.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The retention clip of claim 1, further comprising: a key means extending from said base leg for mating with a mating key means provided on said substrate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retention clip of claim 1, wherein said latching leg has an upper edge and wherein said upper edge has beveled corners.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The retention clip of claim 1, wherein an abutment of said connector housing can be received within said first opening.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 79 words

A retention system for connecting a connector to a substrate, comprising: a connector housing having an endwall, said endwall having a channel and an abutment formed therein to provide a latching surface of said connector housing; and a retention clip having a first leg and a second leg, said first leg being capable of latching to said latching surface and said second leg being capable of connecting to said substrate while remaining within a footprint of said connector housing.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 79 words

A retention system for connecting a connector to a substrate, comprising: a connector housing having an endwall, said endwall having a channel and an abutment formed therein to provide a latching surface of said connector housing; and a retention clip having a first leg and a second leg, said first leg being capable of latching to said latching surface and said second leg being capable of connecting to said substrate while remaining within a footprint of said connector housing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

The retention system of claim 7, wherein said endwall comprises two arms extending outward from opposite sides of said endwall, said channel being defined by an area of said endwall between said arms.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The retention system of claim 7, wherein said abutment forms a camming surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 63 words

The retention system of claim 9, wherein said first leg of said retention clip has an opening provided therein, said first leg being slideably insertable into said channel so that said first leg is deflected against said camming surface until said opening is slideably positioned over said entire camming surface to latch said first leg to said latching surface of said connector housing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retention system of claim 10, wherein said first and second legs of said retention clip are connected together to substantially form an L-shape.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The retention system of claim 11, wherein said retention clip is capable of latching to said latching surface so that said second leg underlies said connector housing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 75 words

The retention system of claim 9, wherein said connector is capable of mating with a mating connector, said mating connector having a mating latching surface and a mating retention clip latched thereto, said mating clip having a first and a second leg, and wherein at least one dimple is formed on said first leg of said retention clip for engaging at least one corresponding dimple formed on said first leg of said mating retention clip.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The retention system of claim 9, wherein said first leg has an upper edge, said retention clip comprising: a tab formed in said upper edge to provide an opening to permit said retention clip to be slideably inserted along said channel and over said camming surface.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The retention system of claim 9, wherein said first leg has a slot formed therein for facilitating latching said retention clip to said latching surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retention system of claim 7, wherein said first and second legs of said retention clip are connected together to substantially form an L-shape.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The retention system of claim 7, wherein said retention clip is capable of latching to said latching surface so that said second leg underlies said connector housing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 79 words

The retention system of claim 7, wherein said connector housing has a first major surface and a second major surface with a recess extending therebetween, said retention clip being capable of connecting said substrate to said connector so that a surface of said substrate is disposed adjacent to said second major surface, and wherein said connector comprises a plurality of contact elements that can be inserted into said recess from said second major surface to said first major surface.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 125 words

A retention system for connecting a connector to a substrate having mounting pads on a surface thereof, comprising: a retention member for retaining said connector to said substrate, said retention member comprising a first leg and a second leg integrally connected together, said second leg having a part thereof defining a solder edge; a connector housing having an endwall with a first arm and a second arm extending from a surface of said endwall to form a channel therebetween through which said retention member is insertable; and retention structure disposed between said first and second arms, said retention structure and said arms forming access openings through which access to said retention member is provided, said retention structure securing said retention member to said connector housing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 125 words

A retention system for connecting a connector to a substrate having mounting pads on a surface thereof, comprising: a retention member for retaining said connector to said substrate, said retention member comprising a first leg and a second leg integrally connected together, said second leg having a part thereof defining a solder edge; a connector housing having an endwall with a first arm and a second arm extending from a surface of said endwall to form a channel therebetween through which said retention member is insertable; and retention structure disposed between said first and second arms, said retention structure and said arms forming access openings through which access to said retention member is provided, said retention structure securing said retention member to said connector housing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 19, wherein said solder edge is soldered to at least one of said mounting pads.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 19, wherein said retention member is substantially T-shaped.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 19, wherein said retention member is capable of being inserted through said channel such that said solder edge extends below a bottom surface of said connector housing and remains substantially within a footprint of said connector housing.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 19, further comprising: locking edges formed on one of said legs of said retention member and cooperating with said first and second arms to secure said retention member to said connector housing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 23, wherein said locking edges comprise at least one protrusion formed thereon.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 138 words

A retention system for connecting a connector to a substrate having mounting pads on a surface thereof, comprising: a retention member for retaining said connector to said substrate, said retention member comprising a first leg and a second leg integrally connected together, said second leg having a part thereof defining a solder edge; a connector housing having an endwall with a first arm and a second arm extending from a surface of said endwall to form a channel therebetween through which said retention member is insertable; and a control surface formed within a plane intersecting the surface of said end wall at a height intermediate to the height of said end wall disposed between said first and second arms for use in controlling the position of the solder edge with respect to a bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 138 words

A retention system for connecting a connector to a substrate having mounting pads on a surface thereof, comprising: a retention member for retaining said connector to said substrate, said retention member comprising a first leg and a second leg integrally connected together, said second leg having a part thereof defining a solder edge; a connector housing having an endwall with a first arm and a second arm extending from a surface of said endwall to form a channel therebetween through which said retention member is insertable; and a control surface formed within a plane intersecting the surface of said end wall at a height intermediate to the height of said end wall disposed between said first and second arms for use in controlling the position of the solder edge with respect to a bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 25, wherein said retention member is capable of being inserted through said channel such that said solder edge extends below a bottom surface of said connector housing and remains substantially within a footprint of said connector housing.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system of claim 25, wherein an inlet is formed on each side of the control surface through which access to said retention member is provided.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-03-06	1998-09-05	1999-03-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-03-06	2002-09-05	2003-03-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-03-06	2006-09-05	2007-03-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Retention system for a connector housing

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