Granted Patent B1

US 7,413,446 · App. 11/803,584 · Granted Aug 19, 2008

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. An electrical connector module comprising:

a plurality of electrical contact terminals; and

a frame adapted to be attached to a housing, wherein the electrical contact terminals are connected to the frame and have opposite ends which extend away from the frame in two respective different directions, wherein the frame comprises a plug section adapted to be mechanically plugged into the housing and a resiliently deflectable snap finger adapted to snap-lock behind a portion of the housing, wherein the frame comprises a general L shape with the plug section forming a second leg of the general L shape and the electrical contact terminals being mounted to a first leg of the general L shape, wherein second ones of the ends of the electrical contact terminals extend from a front end of the frame, wherein first ones of the ends of the electrical contact terminals extend from a top of the first leg of the frame, and wherein the second leg of the frame extends in a rearward direction generally opposite the second ends of the electrical contact terminals.

2. An electrical connector module as in claim 1 wherein the electrical contact terminals each comprise a general L shape.

3. An electrical connector module as in claim 1 wherein the plug section comprises angled rail sections on opposite sides of the frame.

4. An electrical connector module as in claim 1 wherein the frame comprise a single molded plastic member.

5. An electrical connector module as in claim 1 wherein the snap finger comprises two angled ramp surfaces for contacting the portion of the housing.

6. An electronic device housing assembly comprising:

a housing; and

an electrical connector module mounted to the housing, wherein the electrical connector module comprises:

a plurality of electrical contact terminals; and

a frame attached to the housing, wherein the electrical contact terminals are connected to the frame and have opposite ends which extend away from the frame in two respective different directions, wherein the frame comprises a plug section mechanically plugged into the housing and a resiliently deflectable snap finger snap-locked behind a portion of the housing,

wherein second ones of the ends of the electrical contact terminals extend in channels through a wall of the housing into a connector shroud of the housing.

7. An electronic device housing assembly as in claim 6 wherein the housing comprises a receiving slot having a general dove-tail shape, and wherein the plug section of the frame is slidably mounted into the receiving slot.

8. An electronic device comprising:

an electronic device housing assembly as in claim 6 ; and

an electronic component located in the housing and connected to first ones of the ends of the electrical contact terminals.

9. An electrical connector module comprising:

a plurality of electrical contact terminals; and

a frame having the electrical contact terminals mounted thereto, wherein the frame comprises a housing mounting section adapted to mount the frame to a housing, wherein the housing mounting section comprises angled rail sections on opposite sides of the frame and a snap finger at a rear end of the frame, wherein the rail sections are adapted to slide into a general dove-tail receiving slot of the housing, and wherein the snap finger is adapted to snap behind a portion of the housing and exert a continuous force against the portion of the housing.

10. An electrical connector module as in claim 9 wherein the electrical contact terminals each comprise a general L shape.

11. An electrical connector module as in claim 9 wherein the frame comprise a single molded plastic member.

12. An electrical connector module as in claim 9 wherein the snap finger comprises two angled ramp surfaces for contacting the portion of the housing.

13. An electrical connector module as in claim 9 wherein the frame comprises a general L shape with the housing mounting section forming a second leg of the general L shape and the electrical contact terminals being mounted to a first leg of the general L shape.

14. An electrical connector module as in claim 13 wherein second ends of the electrical contact terminals extend from a front end of the frame, wherein first ends of the electrical contact terminals extend from a top of the first leg of the frame, and wherein the second leg of the frame extends in a rearward direction generally opposite the second ends of the electrical contact terminals.

15. An electronic device housing assembly comprising:

a housing; and

an electrical connector module as in claim 11 mounted to the housing, wherein second ends of the electrical contact terminals extend in channels through a wall of the housing into a connector receiving area of the housing.

16. An electronic device housing assembly as in claim 15 wherein the housing comprises a receiving slot having a general dove-tail shape, and wherein the housing mounting section of the frame is slidably mounted into the receiving slot.

17. An electronic device comprising:

an electronic device housing assembly as in claim 15 ; and

an electronic component located in the housing and connected to first ends of the electrical contact terminals.

18. An electrical connector module comprising:

a carrier frame adapted to be mounted to a receiving housing, wherein the carrier frame comprises a general L shaped cross section with a first leg and a second leg; and

a plurality of electrical contact terminals mounted to the carrier frame, wherein the electrical contact terminals each comprise a general L shape with a first leg mounted in the first leg of the carrier frame and a second leg extending in a direction generally opposite to the second leg of the carrier frame,

wherein the second leg of the carrier frame is adapted to be snapped into the receiving housing.

Assignments (11)