Electrical connector assembly

• US 6,478,610 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Zheng, Qi-Sheng, Zhou, Hong-Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US09/996,872
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 439/490, 439/541.5, 439/676, 439/488
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly (10) comprises a main dielectric housing (1) defining a first cavity (14) and a second cavity (13) separated from the first cavity, a first shielded connector (5) inserted into the first cavity, and a modular jack connector (20) inserted into the second cavity. The modular jack connector has a dielectric body (4), a terminal module (42) retained in the dielectric body, a pair of LEDs (3) fitted with the dielectric body, and a single retainer (2) covered onto the LEDs to secure the LEDs in position.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a main dielectric housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity separated from the first cavity;

a first shielded connector being inserted into the first cavity; and

a modular jack connector being inserted into the second cavity and having a dielectric body, a plurality of terminals retained in the dielectric body, a pair of light emitting diodes (LEDs) fitted with the dielectric body, and a single retainer covered onto the LEDs and secure the LEDs to the dielectric body;

wherein the single retainer is made of plastic material and has a body portion and a pair of arms extending from the body portion;

wherein each LED has an indicator and two lead wires extending from the indicator, each lead wire having a horizontal section and a vertical section depending from the horizontal section, and wherein each arm has a first retaining portion covering the horizontal section of the lead wire and a second retaining portion extending forwardly from the first retaining portion to cover the indicator;

wherein the dielectric body defines in a rear wall thereof an upper slit and a lower slit aligned with the upper slit to retain the vertical section of the lead wire;

wherein the dielectric body defines a hole in a top wall thereof and wherein the arm defines a post depending downwardly from a bottom face thereof to be retained in the hole;

wherein the body portion defines in a bottom face thereof a central recess and a pair of slots at each side of the central slot for partially receiving the horizontal sections of the lead wires of a corresponding LED;

wherein the first retaining portion of the arm forms a tapered end.