Electrical connector with a tine plate

A connector comprising:

• a housing;
• a terminal portion disposed on the housing;
• a tine plate having a first surface, an oppositely facing second surface, a plurality of through-holes passing from the first surface to the second surface, and a pair of openings passing from the first surface to the second surface;
• a plurality of tines disposed on the terminal portion, each tine extending through a corresponding one of the through holes in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface, each tine in electrical communication with a respective terminal disposed on the terminal portion;
• a pair of protrusions disposed on the housing corresponding to the pair of openings, each protrusion extending at least partially through its corresponding opening in the direction from the first surface toward the second surface, each protrusion engaging the tine plate along a perimeter of its corresponding opening at two or more contact points, each protrusion including a flange extending outwardly of the perimeter of the corresponding opening to latch on the tine plate;
• another protrusion disposed on the housing and having a flange to latch on an outer edge of the tine plate, the pair of openings spaced from a line of symmetry passing through the another protrusion;
• and
• at least one slot extending between the pair of openings for absorbing a deforming stress applied to the tine plate.

A method of manufacturing a connector for mounting on a substrate, the method comprising:

• securing a terminal portion on a housing;
• forming a tine plate having a first surface, an oppositely facing second surface, a plurality of through-holes passing from the first surface to the second surface, and at least one opening passing from the first surface to the second surface;
• disposing a plurality of tines and a plurality of terminals on the terminal portion and placing each tine in electrical communication with a respective one of the terminals;
• passing each tine at least partially through a corresponding one of the through holes in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface;
• and
• forming at least one protrusion on the housing and passing the protrusion at least partially through the respective at least one opening in the direction from the first surface toward the second surface, thereby engaging the tine plate along a perimeter of the at least one opening at two or more contact points.