Printed circuit board connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector for mounting a printed circuit card upon a printed circuit board, comprising: a plurality of conductive contacts aligned in at least one row on said printed circuit board; said contacts each having a laterally extending contact tab that forms a top and a bottom contact shoulder; an insulator housing having side walls with top and bottom edges, said side walls joined by webbed means extending perpendicularly between said side walls from the top edges thereof to a point inside and short of said bottom edges to form individual contact-receiving modules open at the tops and bottoms thereof; said housing having at least one housing tab laterally extending from the bottom edge of said housing side wall into each contact-receiving module; said housing tab having a top shoulder that engages said bottom contact shoulders for retaining said housing against said printed circuit board, said top shoulder of said housing tab being below said point inside and short of said bottom edge; and said side walls each having a lower portion between said bottom edge of said side wall and said point inside and short of said bottom edge formed by said webbed means joining said housing side wall, said lower portion forming a flexible member which permits said housing tab to yield from its engagement with said contacts for releasing said housing from said printed circuit board.

Claim 3

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said webbed means joining said side walls is relieved at their top edges to receive said printed circuit card between said side walls.

Claim 4

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of contacts are arranged in two rows on each side of said relief in said webbed means, said laterally extending contact tabs extend outwardly from each side of said relief, and said housing tab includes tabs on each side wall extending inwardly toward said relief.

Claim 5

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plurality of contacts each includes a C-shaped printed circuit board engaging section and a U-shaped section that merges into said C-shaped section to form said laterally extending contact tab.

Claim 6

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing side walls are symmetrical about two rows of said contacts and said webbed means joining said side walls include a ramped central beam extending parallel to and between said lower portions of said side walls which guides said contacts into said housing modules as said housing is placed over said two rows of contacts on said printed circuit board.

Claim 7

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising: said housing side walls symmetrical about two rows of facing contacts, said contacts having bowed printed circuit card contact sections facing one another, said contacts having preload tabs extending from said bowed sections at right angles to the bowed direction, and said housing webbed means having shoulder columns which extend into said housing modules against which said preload tabs rest to preload said contacts.

Claim 8

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising: said housing side walls symmetrical about two rows of facing contacts, said contacts having bowed printed circuit card contact sections facing one another, each of said contacts having a flat, vertical stop in said bowed section, and said housing webbed means joined by a central beam extending between said two rows of contacts having vertical sides against which said flat, vertical stop of each contact rests under the urging of said bowed section for preloading said contact.

Claim 9

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing tab is interrupted at spaced intervals along the full length of said bottom edge of said housing side wall to partially close said contact-receiving module and improve the flexibility of said flexible member.

Claim 10

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said housing side wall is inwardly relieved from its outer surface to form a thin flexible member.

Claim 11

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said housing contact-receiving modules is free of obstructions along its inner surface on said housing side wall from said top edge to said top contact shoulder to permit removal and replacement of said contact and clearance for assembly of said connector.

Claim 12

An electrical connector for mounting upon a printed circuit board, comprising: a plurality of conductive contacts arranged in at least one row on said printed circuit board; each contact having a bowed section extending in one direction and a laterally extending tab having top and bottom shoulders extending in the opposite direction; p1 an insulated housing having side walls joined by perpendicularly extending connecting webs to form contact-receiving modules between said webs, each module having a top and bottom opening; said connecting webs extending downwardly from the top of said side walls to a point inside and short of the bottom of said side walls wherein the remaining lower portions of said side walls are free of connection to said webs to enhance the flexibility of said lower portion; a housing tab extending inwardly from the bottom of said lower portion of said housing side wall for partially closing said bottom opening of said module, said tab having a top shoulder that engages said bottom contact shoulder to retain said housing upon said printed circuit board, said top shoulder of said housing tab being below said point inside and short of the bottom of said side walls; and said lower portion of said housing side wall relieved along its outer surface wherein the thickness of said lower portion is less than said side wall to form a thin flexible lower portion member which permits said top shoulder of said tab to disengage from said bottom contact shoulder to release said housing.

Claim 13

An electrical connector for mounting upon a printed circuit board, comprising: a plurality of conductive contacts arranged in at least one row on said printed circuit board; each contact having a bowed section extending in one direction and a laterally extending tab having top and bottom shoulders extending in the opposite direction; p1 an insulated housing having side walls joined by perpendicularly extending connecting webs to form contact-receiving modules between said webs, each module having a top and bottom opening; said connecting webs extending downwardly from the top of said side walls to a point inside and short of the bottom of said side walls wherein the remaining lower portions of said side walls are free of connection to said webs to enhance the flexibility of said lower portion; a housing tab extending inwardly from the bottom of said lower portion of said housing side wall for partially closing said bottom opening of said module, said tab having a top shoulder that engages said bottom contact shoulder to retain said housing upon said printed circuit board, said top shoulder of said housing tab being below said point inside and short of the bottom of said side walls; and said lower portion of said housing side wall relieved along its outer surface wherein the thickness of said lower portion is less than said side wall to form a thin flexible lower portion member which permits said top shoulder of said tab to disengage from said bottom contact shoulder to release said housing.

Claim 14

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one row of contacts includes two rows of contacts having said bowed portions extending toward one another and said laterally extending tabs extending outwardly and away from said bowed portions, and said housing tab on said housing side wall includes tabs extending inwardly into said modules from both of said side walls.

Claim 15

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said inwardly extending tabs are interrupted to form tabs whose length is less than the width of said modules to further enhance flexibility of said lower portion of said side wall.

Claim 16

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said module opening is unobstructed between said top shoulder on said contact tab and said top module opening to permit the removal and replacement of said contact while said housing remains upon said printed circuit board.