Electrical connector having a dust-proof cover

A receptacle connector adapted to receive a mating plug connector, comprising:

• an insulative housing having a receiving space for receiving the mating plug connector, and an opening adjacent to a front surface of the housing for extension of the plug connector therethrough into the receiving space;
• a plurality of contacts received in the housing, each contact having at least a mating portion extending into the receiving space;
• a dust-proof cover having a board for being located in the opening when the mating plug connector is not plugged into the receptacle connector for preventing dust from entering into the receiving space, the dust-proof cover further having a resilient spring portion first extending upwardly from a rear side of the board and then forwardly toward the rear side of the board for being received in the receiving space, the spring portion having a first section which resiliently engages with the housing thereby securing the cover to the housing, and an exposed section by which an exterior force can be exerted against the spring portion to release the engagement of the first section thereof with the housing;
• wherein a cutout is defined in a top plate of the housing, and a block is formed by the top plate and positioned beside the cutout, and the first section of the spring portion is a step portion formed on the spring portion, and said step portion engages with the block, and the exposed section of the spring portion is an arm extending from a front free end of the spring portion and beyond a front surface of the board;
• wherein the arm is used for being manipulated by a finger of a user to receive a first depressing force and then a forward force from the finger for operatively disengaging the engagement section of said first section from the housing;
• and
• wherein the spring portion has an opening at a lower side thereof through which the mating portions of the contacts extend.

A receptacle connector assembly comprising:

• an insulative housing having a receiving space for receiving the mating plug connector, and an opening adjacent to a front surface of the housing for extension of the plug connector there through into the receiving space;
• a plurality of contacts received in the housing, each contact having at least a mating portion extending into the receiving space;
• and
• a dust-proof cover having a board covering the opening when no mating plug connector is plugged into the receptacle connector for preventing dust from entering into the receiving space, the dust-proof cover further having a spring portion extending from the board into the receiving space, said spring portion including an engagement section latchably engaged with the housing;
• wherein
• at least a cutout is formed in the board so as to expose the spring portion to an exterior along a horizontal direction of the connector;
• wherein
• an arm extends forward from a free end of the spring portion through said cutout and beyond a front surface of the board for operatively disengaging the engagement section of the spring portion from the housing.