Electrical connector assembly having full-insertion indicating means

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a board to board connector assembly interconnected between two printed circuit boards (PCBs), and particularly to a board to board connector assembly having means for indicating full insertion of a plug connector into a receptacle connector thereof.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] Board to board connector assembly for connecting one PCB to another PCB is widely used in computer, notebook and other electrical products. FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional board to board connector assembly comprising a first connector 90 and a second connector 92. When the first connector 90 mates with the second connector 92, a cavity 98 of the second connector 92 receives opposed sidewalls 96 of the first connector 90. Meanwhile, contacts 94 of the first connector 90 press against contacts 95 of the second connector 92 to establish electrical connection therebetween. However, there is no indicating means provided to the connector assembly to indicate whether the first connector 90 is in a full insertion position or not. Thus, it is difficult for the user to identify the mating status of the connector assembly and the connector assembly may be damaged if the user operates incorrectly.

[0006] Hence, an improved board to board connector assembly having full-insertion indicating means is required to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional connector assembly.

[0007] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved board to board connector assembly having full-insertion indicating means for facilitating assembly by the user and for preventing damage to the connector assembly.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a board to board connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a plug connector and a receptacle connector having an elongated first insulating housing. The first housing comprises opposed sidewalls and end walls defining a cavity therebetween, and windows defined in the sidewalls. A plurality of first contacts is disposed in the cavity and each comprises a mating portion, a free end and a solder portion. The plug connector matable with the receptacle connector comprises a second insulative housing having a plug portion for insertion into the cavity of the receptacle connector, and a plurality of second contacts disposed on opposite sides of the plug portion for mating with the mating portions of corresponding first contacts. When the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the free ends of the first contacts extend outward of the sidewalls through the windows, thereby preventing over insertion of the plug connector by the user into the receptacle connector.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a board to board connector assembly in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the board to board connector assembly, illustrating the engagement between a plug connector and a receptacle connector of the board to board connector assembly; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of a conventional board to board connector assembly.

[0014] Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.

[0015] A board to board connector assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a plug connector 1 connected with a daughter board (not shown), and a receptacle connector 2 mounted on a mother board (not shown) for mating with the plug connector 1.

[0016] The receptacle connector 2 comprises an elongated first insulating housing 20 having a pair of opposed sidewalls 24 and a pair of end walls 26 together defining a cavity 25 therebetween, and a plurality of first contacts 22. Each sidewall 24 defines a plurality of passageways 21 in the bottom, and a plurality of windows 23 in an upper portion thereof each communicating with the cavity 25 and aligned with a corresponding passageway 21. Each first contact 22 comprises a free end 220, and a solder portion 221 extending beyond an outer side of the sidewall 24 for being soldered to the mother board. The free end 220 of the first contact 22 and the corresponding window 23 are on the same level. The solder portion 221 passes through a respective passageway 21 and extends out of the first housing 20. The bending portion 222 extends upwardly from the solder portion 221 and forms an arc proximate to the free end 220. A spacing wall (not labeled) formed between every two adjacent first contacts 22 projects inwardly from inner sides of opposed sidewalls 24.

[0017] The plug connector 1 comprises a second housing 10 and a plurality of second contacts 12 received in the second housing 10. The second housing 10 has a plug portion 11 for being received in the cavity 25 of the receptacle connector 2, and a base plate 14. The plug portion 11 comprises a base portion 110, a mating end 111 and a neck portion 112 connecting the base portion 110 with the mating end 111. The width of the base portion 110 is larger than that of the mating end 111. The base plate 14 has a flat surface 140. The second contacts 12 are disposed in opposed sides of the plug portion 11. Each second contact 12 has a solder portion 121 extending transversely along the surface 140 of the base plate 14 and outward of the second housing 10 for being soldered onto the daughter board, a tail portion 123, and a bending portion 122 connecting the solder portion 121 with the tail portion 123 for mating with a mating portion 222 of a corresponding first contact 22.

[0018] In use, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, when the second housing 10 is inserted into the cavity 25 of the first housing 20, the second contact 12 press against and elastically deform the mating portions 222 of the first contacts 22. Accordingly, the free ends 220 of the first contacts 22 outwardly move into the corresponding windows 23. As the plug portion 11 continues inserting downward, because the width of the base portion 110 is larger than that of the mating end 111, the base portion 110 of the plug portion 11 produces a larger deformation on the first contacts 22. Therefore, the free ends 220 of the first contacts 22 pass through the windows 23 and extend out of the sidewalls 24. By such a design, the user could easily identify the full insertion of the plug connector I into the receptacle connector 2 by observing whether the free ends 220 of the first contacts 22 have extended beyond the sidewalls 24 or not. Understandably, even the free end of the first contact does not completely extend our of the sidewall and somewhat hidden within the window, the observer may still verify, to some degrees, the status of the first contact via the window.

[0019] 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.