Low profile electrical connector

Claim 1

An electrical connector assembly comprising: an elongated insulative housing defining a mating face with opposite top and bottom faces by two vertical sides thereof, a mating opening being formed in said mating face and defining a mating direction thereof; a one-piece metallic shell including spaced opposite top and bottom walls at least partially covering said top and bottom faces, respectively; a pair of connection portions located on said mating face by two sides of said mating opening; and a pair of side plates respectively extending from the corresponding connection portions; wherein each of said side plates defines a locking structure thereon, wherein said shell forms two opposite end portions at two opposite lengthwise ends thereof, said end portions protectively covering the corresponding side plates in a lengthwise direction, respectively; wherein a passage is formed between each of said end portions and the corresponding side plate so as to receive therein a guiding post and a moveable latch of a complementary connector; wherein said latch defines thereon another locking structure latchably engageable with said locking structure.