Electrical connector with improved connector pin support and improved

Abstract

A 'through-hole mounting' boardlock fixture is adapted to secure an electrical connector to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) employing a Surface Mounting Technology (SMT) procedure. In one aspect, the boardlock fixture comprises a rim defining an opening therethrough and a solder block dimensioned to be insertable within the opening. Furthermore, a plurality of fingers flexibly mounted to the rim extend, generally, downward therefrom. Each respective finger is dimensioned to support the boardlock when inserted in the opening. SMT is applied to melt the solder block to mount the connector to the PCB. In another aspect of the present invention, an electrical connector including a housing is mounted to a PCB. Further, the housing defines a row of apertures each of which a respective pin contact is positioned therein. Each pin contact includes a downward extension extending along a housing back region which terminates at a corresponding PCB circuit. A spacer, including an engagement region, engages the back region of the housing which collectively define a plurality of extension supports that support the respective downward extensions. A method for mounting an electrical component to a PCB comprises the steps of securing a through-hole mounting fixture to the component and inserting the fixture a mounting aperture defined by the PCB. The next step includes supporting a solder block to the fixture and applying a SMT reflow soldering procedure to melt the solder block and solder the fixture to the PCB.