IP Library Granted Patent US 11,031,708
Granted Patent B2
US 11,031,708 · App. 16/802,548 · Granted Jun 8, 2021

Board edge connector

Inventor: Chien-Ching Teh (Jurong Town, SG)
Assignee: Molex, LLC
H01R12/7023G06F1/185H01R12/7047H01R12/7064
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,031,708
App. No.
16/802,548
Granted
Jun 8, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A board edge connector is provided. The board edge connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals and a metal keycap. The insulating housing includes a board edge slot and at least one key integrally configured in the board edge slot. The key includes a top portion and two surfaces opposite to each other. A plate body receiving portion is provided alongside each of the two surfaces of the key. The plate body receiving portion includes a holding recess. The metal keycap includes plate bodies respectively received in the two-plate body receiving portions and an elastic holding arm positioned on at least one side of the plate body. The elastic holding arm latches to the holding recess of the plate body receiving portion. Therefore, the metal keycap can protect and prevent the key from being damaged or generating debris due to hit.

Claims (23)

1. A board edge connector comprising:

an insulating housing which has an elongated shape extending in a length direction and comprising a board edge slot extending in the length direction, two side walls extending in the length direction and forming the board edge slot and at least one key integrally configured in the board edge slot and extending in a width direction, the key comprising a top portion and two surfaces opposite to each other in the length direction, a plate body receiving portion being provided alongside each of the two surfaces of the key, and the plate body receiving portion comprising a holding recess;

a plurality of terminals which are mounted in the insulating housing; and

a metal keycap which sheathes the key along a downward direction facing the key and comprises a top surface covering the top portion of the key, plate bodies respectively received in the two plate body receiving portions and an elastic holding ann positioned on at least one side of the plate body, the elastic holding arm latching to the holding recess of the plate body receiving portion, wherein the holding recess of the plate body receiving portion comprises a holding shoulder positioned in the holding recess and facing downwardly and a holding end is a tip of the elastic holding arm and is latched to the holding shoulder in the holding recess of the plate body receiving portion.

2. The board edge connector of claim 1 , wherein

the elastic holding arm of the metal keycap is a single cantilever structure with a lower end connected to a side edge of the plate body of the metal keycap and extending obliquely upwardly.

3. The board edge connector of claim 2 , wherein

the plate body receiving portion of the insulating housing comprises guide grooves provided on the side walls,

two sides of the plate body of the metal keycap are respectively positioned in the guide grooves, and the holding recess of the plate body receiving portion is provided in the guide groove of the plate body receiving portion.

4. The board edge connector of claim 3 , wherein

the guide groove has an open end facing upwardly,

the open end comprises:

a first guide surface which is an oblique surface and is configured to guide the elastic holding aim of the metal keycap in the width direction; and

a second guide surface which is an oblique surface and is configured to guide the plate body of the metal keycap in the length direction.

5. The board edge connector of claim 4 , wherein the holding recess of the plate body receiving portion penetrates the side wall of the insulating housing.

6. The board edge connector of claim 1 , wherein

the plate body receiving portion of the insulating housing further comprises a fixing recess which is provided to a bottom portion of the plate body receiving portion of the insulating housing, and

the metal keycap of plate body comprises a fixed portion which interference fixes with the fixing recess of the plate body receiving portion.

7. The board edge connector of claim 6 , wherein

the board edge slot comprises an inner bottom surface, the fixing recess of the plate body receiving portion comprises a bottom edge, and the plate body of the metal keycap comprises a bottom edge,

the bottom edge of the fixing recess of the plate body receiving portion and the bottom edge of the plate body of the metal keycap extend beyond the inner bottom surface of the board edge slot.

8. The board edge connector of claim 7 , wherein the fixed portion comprises interference protrusions which interference fix with a wall surface of the fixing recess of the plate body receiving portion.

9. The board edge connector of claim 6 , wherein a total width of the fixed portion of the metal keycap in the width direction is smaller than a distance between the holding ends of the elastic holding arms on the two sides of the plate body.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2020
From: TEH, CHIEN-CHING
To: MOLEX, LLC
Reel/Frame 052200/0269 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 201910145456.X · Feb 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200274269A1 · Aug 27, 2020
Cited By (5)
US 12,658,651 US 12,658,653 US 12,671,214 US 12,683,334 US 12,696,378