Integral ground terminal and tail shield

An integral ground terminal and tail shield, comprising:

• a first contact end portion for contacting a mating terminal contact portion;
• a first, substantially flat, longitudinal, tail portion connected to the first contact end portion;
• a second, substantially flat, longitudinal, tail portion connected to the first tail portion at a bend;
• a second contact end portion terminating the second tail portion, the second contact end portion for being connected to a circuit assembly;
• a first, substantially flat, shield member integrally connected to at least one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the first shield member at least electrically contacting the other one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the first shield member being substantially perpendicular to the first tail portion and the second tail portion;
• a second, substantially flat, shield member integrally connected to at least one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the second shield member at least electrically contacting the other one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the second shield member being substantially perpendicular to the first tail portion and the second tail portion;
• the second tail portion has a first flange and a second flange, the flanges extending from distal sides of the second tail portion;
• the first shield member non-integrally contacting the first flange;
• and
• the second shield member non-integrally contacting the second flange.

An integral ground terminal and tail shield for use in a connector having a plurality of terminals arranged in rows and columns, comprising:

• a first contact end portion for contacting a mating terminal contact portion;
• a first, substantially flat, longitudinal, tail portion connected to the first contact end portion;
• a second, substantially flat, longitudinal, tail portion connected to the first tail portion at a bend;
• a second contact end portion terminating the second tail portion, the second contact end portion for being connected to a circuit assembly;
• a first, substantially flat, shield member integrally connected to at least one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the first shield member at least electrically contacting the other one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the first shield member being substantially perpendicular to the first tail portion and the second tail portion;
• and
• a second, substantially flat, shield member integrally connected to at least one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the second shield member at least electrically contacting the other one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the second shield member being substantially perpendicular to the first tail portion and the second tail portion,
• such that when the integral ground terminal and tail shield is used as one of the terminals in one of the columns of the connector having the plurality of terminals arranged in rows and columns, the first and second shield members and the first and second tail portions define a pocket for enclosing tails of a plurality of the terminals in the same column as the integral ground terminal and tail shield;
• wherein:
• the second tail portion has a first flange and a second flange, the flanges extending from distal sides of the second tail portion;
• the first shield member non-integrally contacting the first flange;
• and
• the second shield member non-integrally contacting the second flange.

A connector for interconnecting a mating connector and a circuit assembly, comprising:

• an insulative housing;
• a plurality of terminals arranged in rows and columns in the housing;
• at least one integral ground terminal and tail shield in one of the columns and comprising:
• a first contact end portion for contacting a mating terminal contact portion in the mating connector;
• a first, substantially flat, longitudinal, tail portion connected to the first contact end portion;
• a second, substantially flat, longitudinal, tail portion connected to the first tail portion at a bend;
• a second contact end portion terminating the second tail portion, the second contact end portion for being connected to the circuit assembly;
• a first, substantially flat, shield member integrally connected to at least one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the first shield member at least electrically contacting the other one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the first shield member being substantially perpendicular to the first tail portion and the second tail portion;
• a second, substantially flat, shield member integrally connected to at least one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the second shield member at least electrically contacting the other one of the first tail portion and the second tail portion, the second shield member being substantially perpendicular to the first tail portion and the second tail portion;
• the first and second shield members and the first and second tail portions of the integral ground terminal and tail shield defining a pocket for enclosing tails of a plurality of the terminals in the same column as the integral ground terminal and tail shield;
• the second tail portion has a first flange and a second flange, the flanges extending from distal sides of the second tail portion;
• the first shield member non-integrally contacting the first flange;
• and
• the second shield member non-integrally contacting the second flange.