Molex Corporation

Patrick D Bakke

Kent E Regnier

Shoji Yamada

Masanori Yagi

Alan S Walse

Anthony M DiViesti

David C Bowen

An edge connector is disclosed for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated insulating housing having a plurality of contacts mounted on the housing along the length thereof for engaging the printed circuit board contact pads when the printed circuit board is inserted into the housing at a first angular position and subsequently pivoted to a second angular position. The contacts exert an opposing force against the printed circuit board when pivoted to the second angular position. A latching device has a latching section for engaging the printed circuit board. The latching device is rotatably mounted on the housing for rotation from a first position to a second position in response to pivoting the printed circuit board from its first angular position to its second angular position. The latching device is linearly moveable from its second position to a third locking position under the influence of the opposing force of the spring contacts. Complementary interengaging latching surfaces are provided between the latching device and the housing for automatically locking the printed circuit board to the housing when the latching device moves to its third locking position.

Latching device for an edge connector

A SIMM socket with a metal latch for retaining a SIMM therein is provided. The socket includes a housing having a SIMM receiving slot and a plurality of terminals with contact beams extending into the slot. The SIMM is inserted into the slot in a first angular alignment with minimal insertion forces, and is rotated into a second alignment for achieving high quality electrical connection with the contact beams of the respective terminals. A metal latch is provided for releasably retaining the SIMM in the preferred angular alignment within the socket. The latch is stamped and formed from a unitary piece of metallic material and includes a housing engaging portion and a deflectable SIMM engaging portion. The housing includes walls for controlling the types and ranges of deflection that are permitted for the SIMM engaging portion.

Metal latch for SIMM socket

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

Patrick D Bakke