Overmolded shielded connector

• US 5,055,070 A
• Filed: 08/29/1990
• Issued: 10/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cinch Connectors Incorporated (Bel Connector Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Labinal Components and Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Plegge, Richard W., Peters, Rocco J., Walsh, Charles T., Sellers, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daulton, Julie R.
• Application Number:
  US07/574,458
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 439/607, 439/609, 439/610, 439/585, 439/901, 439/904, 439/906
• US Class Current: 439/607.17
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6583 with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6593 the shield being composed of different pieces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/904 Multipart shell

Abstract

The shield covers of an overmold shielded electrical connector have pivot detents stamped into their surfaces to provide a point for the shield halves to rotate on the center dielectric with a lever type action. When fully closed, the lever action assures that the cover tabs of the shield members securely contact the connector shell and maintain a positive ground.

Claims

1. A shielded electrical connector comprising an insulative housing, a conductive shell surrounding at least a portion of said housing, said insulative housing including a portion projecting from said conductive shell, a portion of said conductive shell overlying a proximal portion of said projecting portion of said insulative housing, and shield means including a contact portion to be positioned beneath said overlying portion of said shell and a body portion for encompassing said projecting portion of said insulative housing, said shield means designed to be assembled with said conductive shell and said insulative housing by engagement of said contact portion beneath a portion of said conductive shell and rotation of said body portion downward toward said projecting portion of said insulative housing, and said insulative housing and said shield means including portions which engage one another outboard of said contact portion of said shield means and thereby form a fulcrum whereby said contact portion of said shield means is rotated upward into contact with said overlying portion of said shell as said shield is assembled thereover by such rotational assembly motion.

2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum includes an offset portion of said shield.

3. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is defined by at least two inwardly protruding detents on said shield.

4. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is defined by an arcuate portion of said shield.

5. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is defined by at least one inwardly protruding detent on said shield.

6. The invention as in claim 5 wherein said detent is centrally located along the width of said shield.

7. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is a portion of said insulative housing.

8. The invention as in claim 7 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is at least two protruding embossments positioned on said insulative housing between said front mating face and rear conductor receiving face.

9. The invention as in claim 7 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is at least one protruding embossment positioned on said insulative housing between said front mating face and said rear conductor receiving face.

10. The invention as in claim 9 wherein said protruding embossment is centrally located between said sidewalls of said connector.

11. A shield system for an electrical connector, said electrical connector having an insulative housing, a conductive shell surrounding at least a portion of said housing, said insulative housing including a portion projecting from said conductive shell, a portion of said conductive shell overlying a proximal portion of said projecting portion of said insulative housing, said shield system comprising a shield means including a contact portion to be positioned beneath said overlying portion of said shell and a body portion for encompassing said projecting portion of said insulative housing, said shield means designed to be assembled with said conductive shell and said insulative housing by engagement of said contact portion beneath a portion said conductive shell and rotation of said body portion downward toward said projecting portion of said insulative housing, and said insulative housing and said shield means including portions which engage one another outboard of said contact portion of said shield means and thereby form a fulcrum whereby said contact portion of said shield means is rotated upward into contact with said overlying portion of said shell as said shield is assembled thereover by such rotational assembly motion.

12. The invention as in claim 11 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is defined by an arcuate portion of said shield.

13. The invention as in claim 11 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum includes an offset portion of said shield.

14. The invention as in claim 13 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is defined by at least two inwardly protruding detents on said shield.

15. The invention as in claim 13 wherein said portion to form a fulcrum is defined by at least one inwardly protruding detent on said shield.

16. The invention as in claim 15 wherein said detent is centrally located along the width of said shield.

17. A shielded electrical connector comprising:

an insulative housing having a rear face, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of terminals mounted therein;

metal shell means covering a portion of the periphery of said housing forward of said rear face, said shell means having an aperture therethrough, and said insulative housing projecting rearward of said aperture toward said rear face;

a pair of shields enclosing the rear conductor receiving face of the conductor housing and a cavity extending rearward therefrom, said shields each having engagement means for engaging beneath a portion of said shell means proximate said aperture as said shields are rotated about said engagement means to form said cavity; and

a fulcrum means outboard of said engagement means for pivoting said shield on said housing as said shields are so rotated such that said engagement means is urged outward and positively contacts said portion of said shell means to assure an electrical connection between said shields and said shell means.

18. The invention as in claim 17 wherein said fulcrum means includes an offset portion of said shield.

19. The invention as in claim 18 wherein said fulcrum means is defined by at least two inwardly protruding detents on said shield.

20. The invention as in claim 18 wherein said fulcrum means is defined by an arcuate portion of said shield.

21. The invention as in claim 18 wherein said fulcrum means is defined by at least one inwardly protruding detent on said shield.

22. The invention as in claim 21 wherein said detent is centrally located along the width of said shield.

23. The invention as in claim 17 wherein said fulcrum means is a portion of said insulative housing.

24. The invention as in claim 23 wherein said fulcrum means is at least two protruding embossments positioned on said insulative housing between said front mating face and rear conductor receiving face.

25. The invention as in claim 23 wherein said fulcrum means is at least one protruding embossment positioned on said insulative housing between said front mating face and said rear conductor receiving face.

26. The invention as in claim 25 wherein said protruding embossment is centrally located between said sidewalls of said connector.

27. A shield system for an electrical connector, said electrical connector having an insulative housing including a rear face, and a plurality of terminals mounted therein and a metal shell means covering a portion of the periphery of said housing forward of said rear face, said shell means having an aperture therethrough, and said insulative housing projecting rearward of said aperture toward said rear face, said shield system comprising a pair of shields enclosing the rear conductor receiving face of the conductor housing and a cavity extending rearward therefrom, said shields each having engagement means for engaging said shell means proximate said aperture as said shields are rotated about said engagement means to form said cavity and a fulcrum means outboard of said engagement means for pivoting said shield on said housing as said shields are so rotated such that said engagement means is urged outward and positively contacts said portion of said shell means to assure an electrical connection between said shields and said shell means.

28. The invention as in claim 27 wherein said fulcrum means is defined by an arcuate portion of said shield.

29. The invention as in claim 27 wherein said fulcrum means includes an offset portion of said shield.

30. The invention as in claim 29 wherein said fulcrum means is defined by at least two inwardly protruding detents on said shield.

31. The invention as in claim 29 wherein said fulcrum means is defined by at least one inwardly protruding detent on said shield.

32. The invention as in claim 31 wherein said detent is centrally located along the width of said shield.