Electrical connector with improved hold-down mechanism

摘要

A surface mounted electrical connector assembly includes a dielectric housing having a mounting peg projecting outwardly from one surface of the housing for insertion into a hole in a printed circuit board. The mounting peg is split to define a slot extending through a distal end of the peg. A bifurcated metal retainer member having barbs thereon is disposed in the slot and projects transversely outwardly therefrom for biasingly engaging the board. Inwardly projecting ribs are provided on the peg, within the slot, with the ribs being engageable with the metal retainer member when the peg is inserted into the hole in the printed circuit board. The ribs are spaced axially from a distal end of the retainer member whereby the retainer member is maintained spaced from the peg within the slot in a zone between the rib means and the distal end of the peg. By selecting the point at which the rib means engage the metal retainer member, a method is provided for optimizing the relative insertion and retention forces between the connector assembly and the printed circuit board and for accommodating different insertion and retention force requirements.