US6331122B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector having a reduced longitudinal dimension
Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
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Filing: 2001-07-16
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Granted: 2001-12-18
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Expires: 2021-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector ( 10 ) includes an insulative housing ( 12 ), a number of contacts ( 14 ) received in the housing and a pair of board locks ( 16 ) attached to opposite side faces ( 18 ) of the housing. The housing provides a pair of guiding blocks ( 28 ) and a pair of retention portions ( 36 ) outwardly extending from the side faces of the housing. The guiding blocks are located above the retention portions and a space is defined between each guiding block and a corresponding retention portion for facilitating assembly of the board lock to the retention portion. Each retention portion does not extend beyond a plane defined by an outermost surface of the guiding block in a longitudinal direction of the housing and the board lock is located between the outermost surface of the guiding block and the side face of the housing, thereby minimizing the longitudinal dimension of the connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005; H01R12/7011; H01R12/7017; H01R12/7029; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/725
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An electrical connector comprising: an elongated insulative housing having a mating surface, a mounting surface and a pair of opposite side faces, the housing including a block protruding outwardly from one of the side faces in a longitudinal direction of the housing; a plurality of conductive contacts received in the housing; a fastener fixed to the housing and located under the block inwardly of a plane defined by an outermost surface of said block; wherein the block serves as a guiding post for guiding the connector to a mating connector; wherein the housing includes a retention portion to which said fastener is fixed, a space being defined between the block and the retention portion; and wherein the retention portion includes two pieces spaced from each other in a transverse direction of the housing between which the fastener is sandwiched.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An electrical connector comprising: an elongated insulative housing having a mating surface, a mounting surface and a pair of opposite side faces, the housing including a block protruding outwardly from one of the side faces in a longitudinal direction of the housing; a plurality of conductive contacts received in the housing; a fastener fixed to the housing and located under the block inwardly of a plane defined by an outermost surface of said block; wherein the block serves as a guiding post for guiding the connector to a mating connector; wherein the housing includes a retention portion to which said fastener is fixed, a space being defined between the block and the retention portion; and wherein the retention portion includes two pieces spaced from each other in a transverse direction of the housing between which the fastener is sandwiched.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the block is located adjacent the mating surface of the housing and has a section protruding beyond the mating surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retention portion does not exceed the plane defined by the outermost surface of the block in the longitudinal direction of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a space is defined between a bottom surface of the block and an upper surface of the retention portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retention portion is integrally formed at an end portion thereof and has a section extending beyond the mounting surface of the housing to serve as a stand-off.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retention portion defines a groove for securely receiving the fastener therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each contact has a mounting portion horizontally and outwardly extending a predetermined distance and then downwardly extending a predetermined distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fastener goes a curvilinear trail when it is assembled to the retention portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a board lock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing having a mating surface, a mounting surface, two opposite side faces and defining a plurality of cavities and a slot between the mating surface and the mounting surface, the housing providing a block and a retention portion on one of the side faces thereof, a space being defined between the block and the retention portion; a plurality of conductive contacts received in the respective cavities of the housing; a fastener fixed to the retention portion of the housing and located under the block; and wherein the block serves as a guiding post for guiding the connector to a mating connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing having a mating surface, a mounting surface, two opposite side faces and defining a plurality of cavities and a slot between the mating surface and the mounting surface, the housing providing a block and a retention portion on one of the side faces thereof, a space being defined between the block and the retention portion; a plurality of conductive contacts received in the respective cavities of the housing; a fastener fixed to the retention portion of the housing and located under the block; and wherein the block serves as a guiding post for guiding the connector to a mating connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each retention portion does not exceed beyond a plane defined by an outmost surface of the respective block.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the fastener is located between one of the side faces of the housing and an outmost surface of the block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the retention portions are located under the respective blocks and does not extend shades of the respective blocks in a longitudinal direction of the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector as claimed in claim 13 , wherein each retention portion has a section extending beyond the mounting surface of the housing to provide stand-off function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts therein; a pair of engagement blocks positioned at two opposite ends of the housing, respectively; a pair of retention portions positioned at said two opposite ends of the housing, respectively, each of said retention portions generally aligned with the corresponding one of said engagement blocks in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of said housing; a space being formed between said each of said retention portions and the corresponding engagement block; wherein because of said space, a fastener is assembled to the corresponding retention portion through a curved top loading manner; and wherein each block serves as a guiding post for guiding the connector to a mating connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts therein; a pair of engagement blocks positioned at two opposite ends of the housing, respectively; a pair of retention portions positioned at said two opposite ends of the housing, respectively, each of said retention portions generally aligned with the corresponding one of said engagement blocks in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of said housing; a space being formed between said each of said retention portions and the corresponding engagement block; wherein because of said space, a fastener is assembled to the corresponding retention portion through a curved top loading manner; and wherein each block serves as a guiding post for guiding the connector to a mating connector.
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) | 2004-12-17 | 2005-06-18 | 2005-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-17 | 2009-06-18 | 2009-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-17 | 2013-06-18 | 2013-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |