Electrical connector with shield interferentially engaged thereto

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector having a shield interferentially secured thereto.

[0003] It is well known in the electrical connector field, particularly in the high frequency communications connector field, that metal shells can be used to enclose a dielectric housing and a plurality of contacts received in the housing, thereby reducing the effects of external electromagnetic interference on the signal transmitted through the connector. There are many ways to connect the metal shell to a reference potential such as a grounding point. One way is to form several tabs on the metal shell which electrically connect to a grounding plate of the connector, which in turn electrically connect to the reference potential. The grounding tabs must provide an adequate normal force to ensure that free ends thereof reliably contact the grounding plate. In order to attain adequate normal force, the metal shell is usually formed by first stamping a metal plate to get a flat shell and then bending the flat shell to get a final shell. The final shell usually comprises a portion having two or more layers of plates stacked one above the other, which adds significantly to the height of the connector. This is unacceptable for a mini cable connector, which must have only a very limited height. An improved low profile mini coaxial cable connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. Hence, an improved shield for an electrical connector is required to overcome such disadvantages.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a shield for an electrical connector wherein the shield is firmly secured to the connector using interferential means.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shield which is simple in design and easy to manufacture.

[0006] To fulfill the above-mentioned objects, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongated insulative housing with a plurality of terminals secured therein, and a shield having a first portion and a second portion firmly secured to the housing. The housing defines a pair of channels in both a front and rear faces thereof, and a pair of slots in end faces thereof. The first portion and the second portion respectively form a pair of front tangs and a pair of rear tangs extending upwardly therefrom for engaging in the channels. A pair of side hooks with engaging fingers extends from opposite edges of the first portion for engaging with the slots, thereby securing the first portion to the front side of the housing. A pair of side plates each with a securing latch secures the second portion tightly to the rear side of the housing.

[0007] The first portion and the second portion of the shield of the preferred embodiment of present invention are integrally formed from a metal plate.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a view of the insulative housing of FIG. 1, from another aspect;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a partially assembled view of FIG. 1, without a second portion of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a completely assembled view of FIG. 1; and

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shield of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector 100 in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongate insulative housing 10, a plurality of terminals 40 secured within the insulative housing 10, and a metal shield for protecting against electromagnetic interference (EMI) having a first portion 20 and a second portion 30.

[0015] The insulative housing 10 comprises an elongated body 12 and a pair of upright members 14 unitarily formed with and located at either end of the body 12. The body 12 defines a plurality of retaining holes 12afor receiving and retaining corresponding terminals 40. Each upright member 14 has a front face 14a, a rear face 14b, an end face 14cand a top face 14d. Two ears 15 are formed at a base of each upright member 14, and extend respectively from the front face 14aand the rear face 14b. A vertical channel 16 is defined in each front face 14aand in each rear face 14bof each upright member 14. A top end of each channel 16 is defined by a stop wall 16a.A vertical slot 18 is defined in each upright member 14 in communication with the end face 14cand the top face 14d. Each slot 18 comprises an upper portion 18aand a lower portion 18b, the upper portion 18abeing wider than the lower portion 18b.

[0016] Also referring to FIG. 3, the first portion 20 comprises an elongate front plate 22 having two spring arms 22aand two front tangs 24 stamped rearwardly in two lateral sides thereof. A pair of side hooks 26 is formed at two lateral edges of the front plate 22. Each side hook 26 bends rearwardly perpendicular to the plane of the front plate 22, and terminates in an engaging finger 26awhich bends inwardly and parallel to the plane of the front plate 22. A pair of holding plates 27 project rearwardly from an upper edge of the front plate 22, at either lateral side of the front plate 22. A securing tab 27adepends from a rearward edge of each holding plate 27.

[0017] Also referring to FIG. 4, the second portion 30 comprises a rear plate 32 having two rear tangs 32astamped in a forward direction therefrom. A side plate 34 extends perpendicularly from each of two opposite lateral edges of the rear plate 32. Each side plate 34 defines a recess 34ain a front edge thereof. A securing latch 34bextends perpendicularly inward from the front edge of each side plate 34 below the recess 34a.In addition, each side plate 34 forms an arc portion 36 projecting outwardly and upwardly from a lower edge thereof.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the terminals 40 are secured within corresponding retaining holes 12aof the insulative housing 10. The first portion 20 is then secured to the insulative housing 10 from the top face 14dof the upright members 14 downward. The engaging fingers 26aof the side hooks 26 are easily inserted first into the upper portions 18aand then into the narrower lower portion 18bof the slots 18. The front tangs 24 snap into the channels 16 and abut against the stop walls 16athereof. The holding plates 27 tightly abut the top faces 14dand the securing tabs 27atightly press the rear faces 14bof the upright members 14. The front tangs 24, the side hooks 26, and the holding plates 27 and securing tabs 27atightly secure the first portion 20 to the front faces 14aof the upright members 14. The second portion 30 is assembled to the insulative housing from the direction of the rear faces 14bof the upright members 14. The side plates 34 of the second portion 30 are pressed outwardly and slide over respective end faces 14cof the upright members 14 until the securing latches 34bsnap into their places, fitting tightly against respective front faces 14a.In this position the recesses 34aof the side plates 34 will each fixedly accommodate a corresponding side hook 26 of the first portion 20. The rear tangs 32aof the second portion 30 snap into the channels 16 in the rear faces 14bof the corresponding upright members 14, abutting against corresponding stop walls 16a.Both the pair of rear tangs 32afitting against the stop walls 16ain the rear faces 14b, and the securing latches 34bfitting against corresponding side hooks 26 of the first portion 20 prevent the second portion 30 from moving in an upward direction. The side plates 34 tightly cover the end faces 14cof the upright members 14 and the securing latches 34btightly press the front faces 14aof the upright members 14, holding the second portion 30 tightly against the upright member 14. Note that the side plates 34 also help to prevent movement of the first portion 20 upward, by interfering with upward movement of the upright members 14.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a shield 50 of another embodiment of the present invention. The shield 50 is integrally formed from a metal plate, and comprises a first portion 20′ and a second portion 30′ connected by two holding plates 27′.

[0020] According to the above features of the present invention, the first portion 20 and second portion 30 of the electrical connector 100 are respectively secured to the housing 10 from different directions, which directions are perpendicular to each other (namely, a first direction being from the top downward for a first portion 20 and a second direction being from the rear toward the front for the second portion 30). This securing arrangement assures a secure locking relationship therebetween. In addition, the shield is integrally formed from a pair of metal plates and has a relatively simple structure with respect to the prior art designs. This decreases the manufacturing and assembling costs of the shield.

[0021] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.