Connector assembly having grounding strap

Abstract

A connector assembly for terminating a shielded flat cable of the type comprising an array of generally parallel, regularly spaced coplanar conductors embedded in an insulative layer with a metallic shield surrounding the conductors. The connector assembly includes a pair of metallic components adapted for assembly to form a housing. The assembly further includes a one-piece metallic grounding strap having a first leg, a second leg and a spring arm extending therebetween the legs and together with the legs defining a channel for receiving the cable. The housing formed by the metallic components defines a void for receiving the strap. The strap has a height greater than the corresponding dimension of the void so that by placing the cable in the channel and in one of the housing components, bending of the shield back over the spring arm and assembling the housing, the spring arm holds the shield in the firm contact with the housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.