Shielded electrical connector

Claim 1

An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing with an array of contact secured therein to extend from a mating face for mating with a complementary connector, to another face for connection to another electrical article, and a conductive shell defined by an integral stamped and formed metal member having a first wall, opposed side walls and a fourth wall, said first wall being defined by a pair of wall portions extending from edges of said opposed side walls to respective opposed wall portion edges proximate each other at a seam, said opposed side walls associated with and adjacent to corresponding side walls of said housing upon assembly of said shell about said housing, said shell including a pair of tabs extending from said edges of opposed side shell walls spaced from said wall portions of said first wall, said tabs first extending toward each other and including end portions extending about bends of about 90 degrees toward said fourth wall, and said housing including slots extending into one of said walls thereof adjacent said first shell wall, said slots being orthogonal to said one of said walls such that said end portions of said pair of tabs extend thereinto upon assembly of said shell about said housing thereby holding said shell side walls adjacent said housing side walls and thereby preventing inadvertent opening of said seam.