Patent US6010365A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6010365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector with improved grounding protection
Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1998-04-29
•
Granted: 2000-01-04
•
Expires: 2018-04-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector for electrically connecting an external mating electrical connector to a circuit board on which the connector is mounted, includes a metallic shell for shielding an insulated housing, having a receiving opening formed on a mating surface thereof for receipt of the mating electrical connector and a pair of board locks formed on opposite bottom edges of the shell for providing a basic grounding protection. Auxiliary grounding means retentively attached to said shell, includes a convex contact portion includes a pair of convex bars and a pair of spring fingers for electrical engagement with a panel of a computer system in which the circuit board and the connector are installed thereby providing the receiving opening of the shell with an enhanced grounding protection wherein the convex bars are further located behind the spring fingers in compliance with different gaps between the panel and the connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Kun-Tsan Wu
- 👤 Waiyin Chou
- 👤 Susan Hsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6582; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An electrical connector for electrically connecting an external mating electrical connector to a circuit board on which the connector is mounted, comprising: an insulated housing having a plurality of contacts; a metallic shell for enclosing said housing, having a receiving opening for receipt of the mating electrical connector and at least a cavity adjacent to the receiving opening; and grounding means fabricated from a sheet metal plate and including a convex contact portion having at least a flexible convex bar and a spring finger for electrical engagement with a panel of an electrical device in which the circuit board and the connector are installed, and a tab formed on an end of said convex contact portion and cooperating with said cavity of the housing for retentively attaching the grounding means to the shell of the connector whereby the convex bar and spring finger are successively located in front of the opening to comply with variation of different gaps between the panel and the connector thereby providing an enhanced grounding protection is formed around the receiving opening of the shell of the connector through a shortened grounding path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An electrical connector for electrically connecting an external mating electrical connector to a circuit board on which the connector is mounted, comprising: an insulated housing having a plurality of contacts; a metallic shell for enclosing said housing, having a receiving opening for receipt of the mating electrical connector and at least a cavity adjacent to the receiving opening; and grounding means fabricated from a sheet metal plate and including a convex contact portion having at least a flexible convex bar and a spring finger for electrical engagement with a panel of an electrical device in which the circuit board and the connector are installed, and a tab formed on an end of said convex contact portion and cooperating with said cavity of the housing for retentively attaching the grounding means to the shell of the connector whereby the convex bar and spring finger are successively located in front of the opening to comply with variation of different gaps between the panel and the connector thereby providing an enhanced grounding protection is formed around the receiving opening of the shell of the connector through a shortened grounding path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein a pair of board locks are integrally formed with opposite bottom edges of the shell for retaining the connector on the circuit board and providing the connector with a basic grounding protection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein said contact portion of the grounding means defines a hollow on a central region thereof for alignment with said receiving opening of the connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 3, wherein said hollow is surrounded by the convex bar and the spring finger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 3, wherein said spring finger is virtually stamped from a lateral end of the hollow and extends outward at a specific angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 3, wherein the convex bar is formed adjacent to one of the top and bottom edges of the hollow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrical connector for electrically connecting an external mating electrical connector to a circuit board on which the connector is mounted, comprising: an insulated housing having a plurality of contacts; a metallic shell for enclosing said housing, having a receiving opening thereon for receipt of the mating electrical connector; and grounding means retentively attached to the shell and including a convex contact portion having at least a flexible convex bar and a spring finger thereby electrically engaging with a panel of an electrical device in which the circuit board and the connector are installed thereby providing the receiving opening of the shell of the connector with grounding protection; wherein the convex bar is located behind the spring finger in compliance with variation of different gaps between the panel and the connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrical connector for electrically connecting an external mating electrical connector to a circuit board on which the connector is mounted, comprising: an insulated housing having a plurality of contacts; a metallic shell for enclosing said housing, having a receiving opening thereon for receipt of the mating electrical connector; and grounding means retentively attached to the shell and including a convex contact portion having at least a flexible convex bar and a spring finger thereby electrically engaging with a panel of an electrical device in which the circuit board and the connector are installed thereby providing the receiving opening of the shell of the connector with grounding protection; wherein the convex bar is located behind the spring finger in compliance with variation of different gaps between the panel and the connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 7, wherein the shell further includes at least a cavity adjacent to the receiving opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electrical connector as described in claim 8, wherein said convex contact portion further includes a tab formed on an end thereof for cooperating with said cavity of the shell to retentively attach the grounding means to the shell of the connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
A grounding means for being adapted to be positionable in front of a connector having a housing and a shell generally enclosing said housing, comprising: a convex contact portion defining a hollow in alignment with a receiving opening of the shell, said convex contact portion further including at least one convex bar positioned adjacent to one of top and bottom edges of the hollow and at least one spring finger formed adjacent to one of two opposite lateral ends of the hollow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
A grounding means for being adapted to be positionable in front of a connector having a housing and a shell generally enclosing said housing, comprising: a convex contact portion defining a hollow in alignment with a receiving opening of the shell, said convex contact portion further including at least one convex bar positioned adjacent to one of top and bottom edges of the hollow and at least one spring finger formed adjacent to one of two opposite lateral ends of the hollow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The grounding means as described in claim 10, wherein at least one extension portion extends rearward from one lateral end of the convex contact portion and forms a reverse tab at a distal end thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5702271A
Cited
US5865646A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-03 | 2003-07-05 | 2004-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-03 | 2007-07-05 | 2008-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-03 | 2011-07-05 | 2012-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |