Generally U-shaped electrical connector with reinforced side walls

Claim 1

An electrical connector for receiving a circuit board, the circuit board having two opposite sides formed with opposed notches, said connector including a generally U-shaped connector housing and a terminal unit, said housing being made of plastic and having an elongated straight housing body on which said terminal unit is mounted, and two elongated side walls connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of said housing body, each of said side walls having an outer side surface and an inner side surface which are adapted to be disposed perpendicular to the circuit board, each of said inner side surfaces having an inner end portion connected to said housing body, and an outer end portion, which is formed with a board-retaining projection, said board-retaining projections being adapted to engage respectively the notches of the circuit board to retain the circuit board on said connector, said connector further including two unitary reinforcing members, which are secured respectively and fixedly to said side walls, each of said reinforcing members having an elongated abutment plate overlying a respective one of said side walls, a pair of inner and outer contact portions, and a stop element, which is connected to an end portion of said abutment plate and which is located between said inner and outer contact portions in such a manner that said inner and outer contact portions are spaced apart from said stop element at predetermined distances, said stop element moving relative to said inner and outer contact portions when said side walls flex upon sliding movement of the circuit board over said projections, said side walls being capable of flexing inwardly toward each other until said stop elements contact said outer contact portions, said side walls being capable of flexing outwardly away from each other until said stop elements contact said inner contact portions, whereby, when the circuit board is inserted into and removed from said connector, breakage of said side walls can be prevented.