Self-retaining board lock

An electrical connector assembly having at least two holding devices for securing said connector to a circuit board, said connector comprising:

• a housing having mating and mounting faces and at least two board mounting posts extending from said mounting face for receipt into a retention aperture of a circuit board, said housing further including at least two board holding device passageways, each extending therethrough from a surface opposed to said mounting face and through a respective one of said at least two board mounting posts, each said post being a pair of semicylindrical legs joined at least at leading ends thereof to form a transversely extending locking surface, said semicylindrical legs defining slots therebetween at least along side portions at the leading ends thereof, each of said passageways being dimensioned to receive one of said at least two holding devices;
• each of said holding device comprising:
• a one-piece essentially planar metal member including a body having opposed transverse and opposed end edges, said member being adapted to be received in said passageway of said connector housing;
• and
• a pair of cantilevered beams extending outwardly in a first direction in a plane of the metal member from one of said transverse body edges to free ends, said beams having outer and inner edges, said inner edges defining a slot therebetween, said inner edges of said beams being adapted to enter into locking engagement with said transverse locking surface at said leading end of said post upon full insertion of said device into said board holding device passageway and said outer beam edges including board holding portions that project beyond outer surfaces of said board mounting posts, said board holding portions bearing against sidewall surfaces of a circuit board aperture to hold said connector to said board when said connector has been fully mounted to said board;
• whereby
• after said device is secured within said housing, said locking engagement is sufficient to prevent any movement of said device in response to resistance to insertion of said board holding portions into said circuit board aperture when said connector is mounted to said circuit board.

An electrical connector having at least one holding device for securing a connector to a circuit board, said connector comprising:

• a housing having mating and mounting faces and at least one board mounting post extending from said mounting face for receipt into a retention aperture of a circuit board, said housing further including at least one board holding device passageway, each extending therethrough from a surface opposed to said mounting face and through a respective two board mounting post, each said post being a pair of semicylindrical legs joined at least at a leading end thereof to form a transversely extending locking surface, said semicylindrical leg defining slots therebetween at least along side portions at the leading end thereof, each said passageway being dimensioned to receive one holding device;
• said holding device comprising:
• a one-piece essentially planar metal member being adapted to be received in said passageway of said connector housing, said member including a body having;
• a pair of cantilevered beams extending outwardly in a first direction in a plane of the metal member from a transverse body edge to free ends, said beams having outer and inner edges, said inner edges defining a slot therebetween, said inner edges of said beams being adapted to enter into locking engagement with said transverse locking surface at said leading end of said post upon full insertion of said device into said board holding device passageway and said outer beam edges including board holding portions that project beyond outer surfaces of said board mounting posts, said board holding portions bearing against sidewall surfaces of a circuit board aperture to hold said connector to said board when said connector has been fully mounted to said board;
• whereby
• after said device is secured within said housing, said locking engagement is sufficient to prevent any movement of said device in response to resistance to insertion of said board holding portions into said circuit board aperture when said connector is mounted to said circuit board.