Electrical connector assembly

• US 5,957,727 A
• Filed: 10/29/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Page, Theron Vern Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US08/960,690
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.1, 439/607, 439/610, 439/936
• US Class Current: 439/607.58
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/516 Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing , hoods
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/52 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5216 characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/58 Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable for flat or ribbon cables H01R12/771
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5845 the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6594 the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/24 Assembling by moulding on contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/936 Potting material or coating, e.g. grease, insulative coating, sealant or, adhesive

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly (1) for a circuit board (2), the circuit board (2) being shielded by a conducting shield (4) encircling the circuit board (2), a conducting electrical contact (7) on the shield (4) providing a ground contact (7) for the shield (4), an insulating housing (5) encircling the shield (4) and the circuit board (2), with the connecting edge (3) on the circuit board (2) at a mating end (6) of the insulating housing (5), and the electrical contact (7) projecting outwardly of the insulating housing (5) and being bent over to register against an exterior of the insulating housing (5).

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a circuit board, the circuit board having a connecting edge, the circuit board being shielded by a conducting shield encircling the circuit board, a conducting electrical contact on the shield providing a ground contact for the shield, an insulating housing encircling the shield and the circuit board, with the connecting edge on the circuit board at a mating end of the insulating housing, and the electrical contact projecting outwardly of the insulating housing, being bent over the insulating housing and penetrating the insulating housing to electrically connect with the shield adjacent a cable contacting strain relief portion.

2. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein, insulating encapsulant in the interior of the housing is received in openings through the shield, the openings being distributed over the shield to promote flow of the encapsulant.

3. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein, the housing has a thickness between the shield and the electrical contact against said exterior of the housing.

4. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein, a portion of the electrical contact is anchored in the exterior of the housing.

5. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein, the shield is between the circuit board and the insulating housing.

6. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein, multiple electrical contacts are provided on adjacent exterior surfaces of the housing.

7. A shield for an electrical connector comprising:

a one piece metal sheet being formed to have a first portion disposed along an interior of an insulative housing, a contact portion disposed along an exterior of the insulative housing, an edge having fingers extending from the contact portion through the insulative housing to contact the first portion, and a crimp sleeve extending from the first portion.

8. A shield as recited in claim 7 further comprising at least one slot disposed along the first portion for receiving the fingers.

9. An electrical connector having an insulative housing surrounding a circuit board, the electrical connector comprising:

a shield being formed to have a first portion disposed along an interior of the insulative housing and substantially surrounding the circuit board, a contact portion disposed along an exterior of the insulative housing, fingers extending from the contact portion through the insulative housing to contact the first portion, and a crimp sleeve extending from the first portion.

10. An electrical connector as recited in claim 9 wherein a portion of the contact portion is anchored along the exterior of the insulative housing.