Electrical connector

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector.

[0004] 2. The Prior Art

[0005] A plug connector inserted into a socket connector mounted on a circuit board to establish electrical connection therebetween is well known in the electronics field. Guiding means is usually provided between the plug and socket connectors for properly aligning with each other during insertion of the plug connector into the socket connector. Examples of a conventional plug connector are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,472 and Taiwan Patent Application No. 82203331. A conventional plug connector 6 is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, and comprises guiding posts 60 for being received in corresponding bores defined in the socket connector (not shown). A metal shell 61 encloses the plug connector 6 for electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection and electrostatic discharge (ESD) purposes.

[0006] However, correctly aligning the guiding posts 60 of the plug connector 6 with the bores of the socket connector is sometimes difficult. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of the plug connector 6 is complicated.

[0007] It is thus desirable to have an electrical connector that overcomes the problems mentioned above.

[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having guiding means for mating the connector with a mating connector.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a shielding member received in a receiving space thereof for electrically engaging with a grounding member of a mating connector to facilitate electrostatic discharge.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a simplified manufacturing process.

[0011] To achieve the above objects, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing having a first face on which a tongue plate is formed. Passageways are defined in the housing and are further defined by grooves formed on surfaces of the tongue plate for receiving and retaining contact elements therein. A shroud wall having three sections and a guide wall are formed on the first face of the housing and define a space therebetween for receiving a mating connector. The guide wall and the shroud wall have diverging inside faces for guiding a mating connector into the space. A shielding member having three sections is received in the space and supported by the sections of the shroud wall. The shielding member has a lower edge received in a slot defined in the housing and an outwardly bent top edge for guiding the insertion of the mating connector into the space and electrically engaging with the mating connector for electrostatic discharge purposes. A rib is formed on the shielding member for enhancing electrical engagement with the mating connector. Barbs are formed on the shielding member for engaging with recesses defined in the housing to secure the shielding member in position. A notch having inwardly extending barbs is defined in the shielding member for receivingly engaging with a projection formed on the housing for more securely retaining the shielding member in position.

[0012] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional plug connector;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plug connector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 2;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a top FIG. 2 with a shielding member removed;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V—V of FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI—VI of FIG. 2;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing the plug connector mating with a socket connector mounted on a circuit board; and

[0020] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of FIG. 7 with the circuit board removed.

[0021] Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3, a plug connector 6 constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing 1 having a first face 16 and an opposite second face 14. A tongue plate 10 is formed on the first face 16 of the housing 1. A plurality of passageways 12 are defined in the housing 1 between the faces 16, 14 for receiving contact elements 3 with opposite ends extending beyond the faces 16, 14. The passageways 12 are further defined by grooves 18 formed in opposite surfaces of the tongue plate 10 for accommodating the ends of the contact elements 3 extending beyond the first face 16.

[0022] A shroud wall comprising a longitudinal section 15 and a pair of lateral sections 11, 13 extending from opposite sides thereof is formed on the first face 16 of the housing 1 and partially surrounds the tongue plate 10. The sections 11, 13, 15 of the shroud wall are spaced from the tongue plate 10 thereby defining a space 19 therebetween for receiving a mating socket connector 4 (FIGS. 7 and 8). A guiding wall 17 is also formed on the first face 16 of the housing 1 and defines two notches 113 for receiving corresponding projection portions 42 of the socket connector 4. The space 19 is surrounded by the shroud wall and the guiding wall 17. The sections 11, 13, 15 of the shroud wall and the guiding wall 17 have inclined inside faces diverging from each other for guiding the insertion of the mating connector 4 into the space 19. The guiding wall 17 also has opposite inclined lateral edges 170 for guiding the mating connector 4 with respect to the connector 6.

[0023] Inclined edges 112, 132 are formed on the lateral sections 11, 13 of the shroud wall for guiding a relative movement between the plug connector 6 and a circuit board 5 on which the socket connector 4 is mounted (FIG. 7). During insertion of the plug connector 6 into the socket connector 4, the inclined faces 112, 132 of the lateral sections 11, 13 of the shroud wall serve as camming means for guiding the relative movement of circuit board 5 with respect to the connector 6 thereby preventing the plug connector 6 from directly impacting and damaging the circuit board 5.

[0024] A shielding member 2 is received in the space 19 of the housing 1 with a lower edge thereof inserted into a slot 160 (FIGS. 3 and 4) defined in the first face 16 of the housing 1. Preferably the shielding member 2 is formed by stamping a metal sheet and has a U-shaped configuration having a central section 202 and two side sections 201, 203 substantially corresponding to and supported by inside surfaces of the corresponding sections 11, 13, 15 of the shroud wall. Each section 201, 202, 203 of the shielding member 2 has an outwardly bent flange 21, 23, 25 formed on a top edge thereof for guiding the insertion of the mating socket 4 into the space 19 and electrically engaging with a grounding member of the mating connector 4 for electrostatic discharge purposes. The shielding member 2 has two rear securing legs 26, 27 and two front securing legs 28, 29 extending through corresponding holes 119 defined in the housing 1 and beyond the second face 14 thereof (FIG. 6) for mounting to a circuit board (not shown). A through hole 280, 290 is defined through each front securing leg 28, 29 for allowing molten solder material to flow therethrough thereby more securely fixing the connector 6 to the circuit board. The rear securing legs 26, 27 are formed with an L-shaped cross section and tapered ends for facilitating insertion into holes defined in the circuit board and achieving better soldering results.

[0025] Retaining means is provided to securely retain the shielding member 2 in the space 19 of the housing 1. The retaining means comprises outward projections 22, 24 formed on the side sections 201, 203 of the shielding member 2. The projections 22, 24 engage with recesses 114 defined in the inner surfaces of the lateral sections 11, 13 of the shroud wall (FIG. 5). The retaining means further comprises a notch 250 defined in a lower edge of the central section 202 of the shielding member 2 for receivingly engaging with a projection 162 (FIG. 6) formed on the housing 1. Preferably, the notch 250 has barbs 252 extending therein for more securely engaging with the projection 162.

[0026] An elongate rib 251 is formed on the shielding member 2 for providing a more secure mechanical engagement with the plug connector 4 and a better electrical engagement therebetween.

[0027] It should be understood that according to FIGS. 7 and 8, guiding wall 17 should be invade the mating socket connector 4 and substantially positioned between the main portion of the socket connector 4 and the circuit board 5. In other words, the shroud wall including the longitudinal section 15, the pair of lateral sections 11, 13 cooperating with the guiding wall 17, may enclose the socket connector 4. It is also noted that the shielding member 2 includes the central section 202 and two side sections 201, 203 substantially corresponding to the sections 11, 13, 15 of the shroud wall, while providing an opening facing to the guide wall 17 so as not to interfere with the projection portions 42 of the socket connector 4 and the circuit board 5 thereunder.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.