Card edge connector with covering block occupying contact passageways

Abstract

A card edge connector includes an insulative housing extending along a lengthwise direction, two rows of (contact) passageways formed in two opposite side walls with a central slot therebetween. Two rows of contacts are disposed within the corresponding passageways, respectively. The contacts include signal contacts and grounding contacts. Each side wall further forms an elongated channel by two sides of central wall under the central slot. A covering block is upwardly assembled into the corresponding channel after the corresponding contacts have been assembled into the corresponding passageways. Each block includes a deflectable latch engaged with the central wall. The covering block occupies at least one half of each passageway in the transverse direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction. The covering block is optimally made of conductive plastic and forms a plurality of abutment ribs to respectively abut against the corresponding grounding contacts, respectively.