Electrical connector socket with daughtercard ejector

Claim 2

An ejector for ejecting a daughtercard from an elongated slot formed in an electrical connector socket housing, the ejector comprising a body including means for ejecting an end of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejector relative to the socket housing, the body also being formed to include first and second crimp surfaces for engaging an end edge of the daughtercard when the daughtercard is completely inserted into the socket to stabilize the daughtercard in the socket.

Claim 3

The ejector of claim 1, further comprising means for biasing the ejector body in a direction toward the daughtercard to hold the first and second crimp surfaces against the daughtercard.

Claim 4

The ejector of claim 2, wherein the biasing means includes first and second wedges formed on opposite side surfaces of the ejector body and first and second locking tabs formed on the socket housing for engaging the first and second wedges, respectively, to apply a biasing force to the ejector body in a direction toward the daughtercard.

Claim 5

The ejector of claim 3, wherein the first and second locking tabs also engage the opposite side surfaces of the ejector body to apply opposing, inwardly directed forces to the ejector body, thereby centralizing and stabilizing the ejector body within the socket housing.

Claim 6

The ejector of claim 1, wherein the ejector body includes first and second opposite side surfaces, and further comprising means for applying inwardly directed forces to the first and second opposite side surfaces to centralize and stabilize the ejector body within the socket housing.

Claim 7

The ejector of claim 5, wherein the means for applying inwardly directed forces includes first and second locking tabs formed on the socket housing, the first and second locking tabs being configured to engage the first and second opposite side surfaces of the ejector body, respectively.

Claim 8

The ejector of claim 6, further comprising first and second raised surfaces formed on the opposite side surfaces of the body of the ejector and configured so that the first and second locking tabs engage the first and second raised surfaces, respectively.

Claim 9

The ejector of claim 1, further comprising first and second spring arms for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket upon insertion of the daughtercard into the socket.

Claim 10

The ejector of claim 8, wherein the first and second spring arms of the ejector each include a head portion configured to engage opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket, the head portions each including a ramped surface to force the first and second spring arms of the ejector apart automatically during insertion of the daughtercard into socket.

Claim 11

The ejector of claim 8, wherein the head portions are configured to enter an aperture formed in the daughtercard adjacent the ejector from opposite sides of the daughtercard, the head portions including an edge surface configured to engage the daughtercard and apply a force normal to the daughtercard and a bottom surface for applying a force against the daughtercard downwardly into said elongated slot of the socket housing.

Claim 12

The ejector of claim 1, further comprising means for polarizing the daughtercard in the socket.

Claim 13

The ejector of claim 1, further comprising first and second lead in ramp surfaces formed on the ejector body above the first and second crimp surfaces, respectively, to reduce the likelihood of stubbing a bottom surface of the daughtercard against the ejector body during insertion of the daughtercard into the socket housing.

Claim 14

The ejector of claim 1, wherein the first and second crimp surfaces are convergent to accommodate daughtercards having various lengths and thicknesses.

Claim 15

An electrical connector for receiving a daughtercard having a plurality of conductive surfaces formed thereon, the connector comprising: a socket housing formed to include an elongated slot for receiving the daughtercard therein and including a plurality of electrical terminals for engaging the plurality of conductive surfaces formed the daughtercard for electrically coupling the daughtercard to the socket; an ejector coupled to an end of the socket housing, the ejector including means for ejecting an end portion of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejector relative to the socket housing, and first and second crimp surfaces for engaging first and second corners of an end edge of the daughtercard, respectively; and means for biasing the ejector toward the daughtercard to hold the first and second crimp surfaces against the daughtercard to stabilize the daughtercard in the socket.

Claim 16

An electrical connector for receiving a daughtercard having a plurality of conductive surfaces formed thereon, the connector comprising: a socket housing formed to include an elongated slot for receiving the daughtercard therein and including a plurality of electrical terminals for engaging the plurality of conductive surfaces formed the daughtercard for electrically coupling the daughtercard to the socket; an ejector coupled to an end of the socket housing, the ejector including means for ejecting an end portion of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejector relative to the socket housing, and first and second crimp surfaces for engaging first and second corners of an end edge of the daughtercard, respectively; and means for biasing the ejector toward the daughtercard to hold the first and second crimp surfaces against the daughtercard to stabilize the daughtercard in the socket.

Claim 17

The connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing means includes first and second wedges formed on opposite side surfaces of the ejector and first and second locking tabs formed on the socket housing for engaging the first and second wedges, respectively, to apply a biasing force to the ejector body in a direction toward the daughtercard.

Claim 18

The connector of claim 15, wherein the first and second locking tabs also engage the opposite side surfaces of the ejector to apply opposing, inwardly directed forces to the ejector body, thereby centralizing and stabilizing the ejector body within the socket housing.

Claim 19

The connector of claim 14, wherein the ejector includes first and second opposite side surfaces, and further comprising means for applying inwardly directed forces to the first and second opposite side surfaces to centralize and stabilize the ejector within the socket.

Claim 20

The connector of claim 17, wherein the means for applying inwardly directed forces includes first and second locking tabs formed on the socket, the first and second locking tabs being configured to engage the first and second opposite side surfaces of the ejector, respectively.

Claim 21

The connector of claim 18, further comprising first and second raised surfaces formed on the opposite side surfaces of the ejector and configured so that the first and second locking tabs engage the first and second raised surfaces, respectively.

Claim 22

The connector of claim 14, wherein the ejector includes means for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercard upon insertion of the daughtercard into the socket to retain the daughtercard within the socket.

Claim 23

The connector of claim 20, wherein means for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercard includes first and second spring arms for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket upon insertion of the daughtercard into the socket.

Claim 24

The connector of claim 21, wherein the first and second spring arms of the ejector each include a head portion configured to engage opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket, the head portions each including a ramped surface to force the first and second spring arms of the ejector apart automatically during insertion of the daughtercard into socket.

Claim 25

The connector of claim 14, further comprising first and second lead in ramp surfaces formed on the ejector above the first and second crimp surfaces, respectively, to reduce the likelihood of stubbing a bottom surface of the daughtercard against the ejector during insertion of the daughtercard into the socket.

Claim 26

The connector of claim 14, wherein the first and second crimp surfaces are convergent to accommodate daughtercards having various lengths and thicknesses.

Claim 27

An electrical connector for receiving a daughtercard having a plurality of conductive surfaces formed thereon, the connector comprising: a socket having a first end and a second end, the socket being formed to include an elongated slot extending between the first and second ends for receiving the daughtercard therein and including a plurality of electrical terminals for engaging the plurality of conductive surfaces formed the daughtercard for electrically coupling the daughtercard to the socket; an ejector coupled to the first end of the socket, the ejector including means for ejecting an end portion of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejector relative to the socket housing, and first and second crimp surfaces for engaging an end edge of the daughtercard when the daughtercard is completely inserted into the socket to stabilize the daughtercard in the socket; and a post coupled to the second end of the socket in a fixed position relative to the socket to guide insertion of the daughtercard into the socket so that the plurality of conductive surfaces formed the daughtercard are aligned with the plurality of electrical terminals of the socket.

Claim 28

An electrical connector for receiving a daughtercard having a plurality of conductive surfaces formed thereon, the connector comprising: a socket having a first end and a second end, the socket being formed to include an elongated slot extending between the first and second ends for receiving the daughtercard therein and including a plurality of electrical terminals for engaging the plurality of conductive surfaces formed the daughtercard for electrically coupling the daughtercard to the socket; an ejector coupled to the first end of the socket, the ejector including means for ejecting an end portion of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot upon movement of the ejector relative to the socket housing, and first and second crimp surfaces for engaging an end edge of the daughtercard when the daughtercard is completely inserted into the socket to stabilize the daughtercard in the socket; and a post coupled to the second end of the socket in a fixed position relative to the socket to guide insertion of the daughtercard into the socket so that the plurality of conductive surfaces formed the daughtercard are aligned with the plurality of electrical terminals of the socket.

Claim 29

The connector of claim 25, wherein the ejector includes first and second spring arms for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket upon insertion of the daughtercard into the socket.

Claim 30

The connector of claim 26, further comprising means for pivotably coupling the ejector to the first end of the socket so that the ejector is movable from an upright retention position in which the spring arms of the ejector engage opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain the daughtercard in the socket to an outwardly pivoted ejection position to force the end portion of the daughtercard adjacent the ejector out of the elongated slot.

Claim 31

The connector of claim 27, wherein the spring arms of the ejector are formed to include means for permitting the daughtercard to be inserted into the socket with the ejector in either its upright retention position or its outwardly pivoted ejection position.

Claim 32

The connector of claim 25, wherein the post is formed to include a pair of spring arms projecting away from the post for engaging opposite sides of the daughtercard adjacent the second end of the socket to retain the daughtercard within the socket.

Claim 33

The connector of claim 29, wherein the spring arms of the post each include a head portion configured enter an aperture formed in the daughtercard adjacent the second end of the socket from opposite sides of the daughtercard to retain and stabilize the daughtercard in the socket.

Claim 34

The connector of claim 25, further comprising means for biasing the ejector body in a direction toward the daughtercard to hold the first and second crimp surfaces against the daughtercard.

Claim 35

The connector of claim 31, wherein the biasing means includes first and second wedges formed on opposite side surfaces of the ejector and first and second locking tabs formed on the socket for engaging the first and second wedges, respectively, to apply a biasing force to the ejector in a direction toward the daughtercard.

Claim 36

The connector of claim 32, wherein the first and second locking tabs also engage the opposite side surfaces of the ejector to apply opposing, inwardly directed forces to the ejector, thereby centralizing and stabilizing the ejector within the socket.

Claim 37

The connector of claim 25, wherein the ejector includes first and second opposite side surfaces, and further comprising means for applying inwardly directed forces to the first and second opposite side surfaces to centralize and stabilize the ejector within the socket.

Claim 38

The connector of claim 34, wherein the means for applying inwardly directed forces includes first and second locking tabs formed on the socket, the first and second locking tabs being configured to engage the first and second opposite side surfaces of the ejector, respectively.

Claim 39

The connector of claim 35, further comprising first and second raised surfaces formed on the opposite side surfaces of the ejector and configured so that the first and second locking tabs engage the first and second raised surfaces, respectively.

Claim 40

The connector of claim 25, wherein the ejector includes first and second lead in ramp surfaces formed above the first and second crimp surfaces, respectively, to reduce the likelihood of stubbing a bottom surface of the daughtercard against the ejector body during insertion of the daughtercard into the socket.

Claim 41

The connector of claim 25, wherein the first and second crimp surfaces are convergent to accommodate daughtercards having various lengths and thicknesses.