US5879171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High density electrical connector
Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-09-29
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2017-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A high density electrical connector for electrically connecting an exterior mating connector and a circuit board, mainly comprises an insulative housing, a shell, a plurality of contacts and a spacer. The insulative housing receives the contacts therein and has a pair of two-stage locking means which each includes a first stage and a second stage. The spacer forms a pair of latching portions and defines a plurality of cavities therein. By means of gradual cooperation between the two-stage locking means and the latching portions, the contacts are gradually oriented and guided in two stages by the cavities of the spacer to be precisely inserted into a plurality of apertures formed on the circuit board without resulting in a buckling of the contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Kun-Tsan Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005; H01R12/7011; H01R12/7017; H01R12/7029; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An electrical connector for electrically connecting an exterior mating connector and a circuit board, comprising: an insulative housing receiving therein a plurality of contacts having at least a contact portion and a tail portion; a spacer having at least a plurality of cavities therein for orienting and receiving said contacts; at least a locking means having a first engaging surface and a second engaging surface and formed on either the housing or the spacer; and at least a latching portion formed on the other of the housing and the spacer being opposite to said locking means, and retentively and separately cooperating with the first engaging surface and second engaging surface of said locking means so that the tail portions of the contacts are gradually oriented and guided in more than one stages by the cavities of the spacer to be exactly inserted into a plurality of apertures formed on the circuit board wherein said first engaging surface and second engaging surface are arranged in a vertical alignment with each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electrical connector for electrically connecting an exterior mating connector and a circuit board, comprising: an insulative housing receiving therein a plurality of contacts having at least a contact portion and a tail portion; a spacer having at least a plurality of cavities therein for orienting and receiving said contacts; at least a locking means having a first engaging surface and a second engaging surface and formed on either the housing or the spacer; and at least a latching portion formed on the other of the housing and the spacer being opposite to said locking means, and retentively and separately cooperating with the first engaging surface and second engaging surface of said locking means so that the tail portions of the contacts are gradually oriented and guided in more than one stages by the cavities of the spacer to be exactly inserted into a plurality of apertures formed on the circuit board wherein said first engaging surface and second engaging surface are arranged in a vertical alignment with each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the locking means further includes a first stage and a second stage wherein said first engaging surface is formed on the first stage and said engaging surface is formed on the second stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 2, wherein each stage further defines a groove for receiving said latching portion, and forms a guiding surface for guiding the latching portion to enter the groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the spacer further forms a pair of posts for guiding the contacts to align with the apertures of the circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
A high density electrical connector for electrically connecting an exterior mating connector and a circuit board, comprising: an insulative housing receiving therein a plurality of contacts having at least a contact portion and a tail portion; a spacer having at least a plurality of cavities therein for orienting and receiving the tail portions of said contacts; at least a locking means having a first stage and a second stage and formed on either the housing or the spacer wherein the first stage and the second stage are respectively located at different levels and arranged in a vertical alignment with each other; and at least a latching portion formed on other of the housing and the spacer which has no said locking means thereon, and retentively and separately cooperating with the first stage and the second stage of said locking means; whereby the tail portions of the contacts are oriented and guided in two stages by the cavities of the spacer to be precisely inserted into a plurality of apertures formed on the circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
A high density electrical connector for electrically connecting an exterior mating connector and a circuit board, comprising: an insulative housing receiving therein a plurality of contacts having at least a contact portion and a tail portion; a spacer having at least a plurality of cavities therein for orienting and receiving the tail portions of said contacts; at least a locking means having a first stage and a second stage and formed on either the housing or the spacer wherein the first stage and the second stage are respectively located at different levels and arranged in a vertical alignment with each other; and at least a latching portion formed on other of the housing and the spacer which has no said locking means thereon, and retentively and separately cooperating with the first stage and the second stage of said locking means; whereby the tail portions of the contacts are oriented and guided in two stages by the cavities of the spacer to be precisely inserted into a plurality of apertures formed on the circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 5, wherein the first stage and the second stage are arranged to be a tooth-like structure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of assembly of an electrical connector with a circuit board, comprising the steps of: assembling an insulative housing disposed with a plurality of contacts to a spacer having a plurality of cavities by means of cooperation between at least a latching portion and a locking means wherein the latching portion retentively engages a first stage formed on the locking means by a first manual operation thereby inserting the contacts through the corresponding cavities of the spacer in a tip portion thereof; further assembling the electrical connector equipped with the spacer to the circuit board wherein the latching portion further retentively engages a second stage formed on the locking means by a second manual operation so that the contacts are precisely inserted through both of the cavities of the spacer and the apertures of the circuit board in a substantial length thereof wherein said first stage and second stage are arranged in a vertical alignment with each other.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of assembly of an electrical connector with a circuit board, comprising the steps of: assembling an insulative housing disposed with a plurality of contacts to a spacer having a plurality of cavities by means of cooperation between at least a latching portion and a locking means wherein the latching portion retentively engages a first stage formed on the locking means by a first manual operation thereby inserting the contacts through the corresponding cavities of the spacer in a tip portion thereof; further assembling the electrical connector equipped with the spacer to the circuit board wherein the latching portion further retentively engages a second stage formed on the locking means by a second manual operation so that the contacts are precisely inserted through both of the cavities of the spacer and the apertures of the circuit board in a substantial length thereof wherein said first stage and second stage are arranged in a vertical alignment with each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |