Solder post alignment and retention system

An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a dielectric housing defining a mating face and a mounting face, said housing having a plurality of terminal receiving passages extending from the mating face,
• a locator plate terminating in a rear face, said locator plate having first and second profiled channels opening onto said rear face and having an end remote therefrom, said locator plate between said first and second channels defining a deflectable beam having an effective beam length,
• a first channel comprising a region having a width narrower than a solder post adapted to be inserted therein, a detent adjacent said region in the direction of insertion of a solder post, said detent adapted to receive a solder post from said region,
• a second channel comprising, in the direction of insertion of a solder post:
• a first region having a width narrower than a solder post adapted to be inserted therein;
• a transition region adjacent said first region, said transition region widening in the direction of insertion of a solder post to substantially the width of a solder post proximate the end of said first channel;
• a second region adjacent the transition region, said second region substantially the width of a solder post;
• a restrictive neck adjacent the second region;
• and a detent at the end thereof, said detent adapted to receive and secure a solder post therein;
• a plurality of electrical terminals mounted in the housing, each terminal having a mating portion extending into a terminal receiving passage and a mounting portion extending proximate the mounting face, the mounting portion of each terminal secured in a detent in a channel, whereby when a solder post is inserted into said region of said first channel said beam deflects toward said second channel and when a solder post is inserted into said first region of said second channel said beam deflects toward said first channel and as the solder post passes through the transition region the beam returns to an undeflected position with the beam remaining in an undeflected position as the solder post passes through the second region.

An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a dielectric housing defining a mating face and a mounting face, said housing having a plurality of terminal receiving passages extending from the mating face,
• a locator plate terminating in a rear face, said locator plate having a plurality of profiled channels opening onto said rear face and having an end remote therefrom, said locator plate between adjacent channels defining a deflectable beam,
• one of said plurality of profiled channels comprising, in the direction of insertion of a solder post:
• a first region having a width narrower than a solder post adapted to be inserted therein;
• a transition region adjacent said first region, said transition region widening in the direction of insertion of a solder post to substantially the width of a solder post proximate the end of an adjacent channel;
• a second region adjacent the transition region, said second region substantially the width of a solder post;
• a restrictive neck adjacent the second region;
• and a detent at the end thereof, said detent adapted to receive and secure a solder post therein.