Electrical connector hold down anchor apparatus

An electrical connector hold down apparatus for engaging a side wall defining a hole in a printed circuit board to secure the electrical connector to the printed circuit board, the apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• and
• three cantilevered beams extending away from the base, each cantilevered beam including a body portion and an anchor tip portion, each anchor tip portion being bent with respect to the central axis of the hole so as to curve radially outwardly relative to the base to define a pair of ramp surfaces for engaging the side wall defining the hole in the printed circuit board to move the cantilevered beams radially inwardly as the connector upon insertion of the cantilevered beams into the hole in the printed circuit board so that the cantilevered beams apply a radially outwardly directed force against the side wall to hold the apparatus within the hole, the ramped surfaces being formed to include a barb configured to penetrate the side wall defining the hole in the printed circuit board due to the radially outwardly directed force applied by the cantilevered beams to increase a retention force of the hold down apparatus in the hole.

An electrical connector hold down apparatus for engaging a side wall defining a hole in a printed circuit board to secure the electrical connector to the printed circuit board, the apparatus consisting essentially of:

• a base;
• and
• a plurality of spring beams extending away from the base, each spring beam including a body portion and an anchor tip portion, each anchor tip portion being bent with respect to the central axis of the hole so as to curve radially outwardly of the base to define a pair of ramp surfaces configured to engage the side wall defining the hole in the printed circuit board and to move the spring beams radially inwardly so that the spring beams apply a radially outwardly directed force against the side wall to hold the apparatus within the hole.