# US 9,437,977 B1 · Grounding and retention member

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- Number: US 9,437,977 B1
- Document ID: US9437977B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/640,466
- Filed: 2015-03-06
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-06
- Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation
- Applicants: Tyco Electronics Corporation
- Inventors: Dustin Carson Belack; Kyle Gary Annis; Kevin Michael Thackston; Brent David Yohn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437977B1

## CPC

- H01R 13/648: Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices {, e.g. anti-static shielding} (coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38)
- H01R 13/6585: Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts
- H01R 43/16: for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
- H01R 13/436: Securing a plurality of contact members by one locking piece {or operation}
- H01R 13/6583: with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members
- H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A grounding and retention member which includes a plate having openings positioned therein. First contact and retention projections extend from proximate edges of the plate. The first contact and retention projections cooperate with a shell of the connector to provide an electrical connection between the plate and the shell of the connector. Second contact and retention projections extend from proximate edges of at least one of the openings. The second contact and retention projections cooperate to retain contacts in contact receiving passageways of a connector and to provide an electrical connection between the contacts and the plate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A grounding and retention member comprising:
a plate having openings positioned therein;
first contact and retention projections extending from proximate edges of the plate, the first contact and retention projections cooperate with a shell of the connector to provide an electrical connection between the plate and the shell of the connector; and
second contact and retention projections extending from proximate edges of at least one of the openings, the second contact and retention projections cooperate to retain contacts in contact receiving passageways of a connector and to provide an electrical connection between the contacts and the plate, the second contact and retention projections having mounting legs, retention legs and U-shaped members attach the retention legs to the mounting legs, the retention legs being elastically bent or formed to extend into the opening a greater distance than mounting legs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The grounding and retention member as recited in claim 1, wherein the openings have the same diameter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The grounding and retention member as recited in claim 1, wherein respective opening of the openings have different diameters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The grounding and retention member as recited in claim 1, wherein the first contact and retention projections are resilient members which are bent at an angle relative to a first surface of the plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The grounding and retention member as recited in claim 4, wherein multiple first contact and retention projections extend from each edge of the plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The grounding and retention member as recited in claim 1, wherein three second contacts and retention projections extend from proximate the edge of the openings.

### Claim 7

A connector for housing a plurality of contacts therein, the connector comprising;
a non-conductive housing having a plurality of contact receiving passageways;
a conductive outer shell proximate the non-conductive housing;
a grounding and retention member having openings positioned therein, the openings being aligned with the contact receiving passageways, the grounding and retention member comprising;
first contact and retention projections extending from proximate edges of the grounding and retention member, the first contact and retention projections cooperate with the shell of the connector to provide an electrical connection between the grounding and retention member and the shell; and
second contact and retention projections extending from proximate edges of the openings, the second contact and retention projections having mounting legs, retention legs and U-shaped members attach the retention legs to the mounting legs, the retention legs being elastically bent or formed to extend into the opening a greater distance than mounting legs, the second contact and retention projections cooperate to retain the contacts in the contact receiving passageways and to provide an electrical connection between the contacts and the grounding and retention member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The connector as recited in claim 7, wherein three second contact and retention projections extend from proximate the edge of the openings.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The connector as recited in claim 8, wherein the first contact and retention projections are members which are bent at an angle relative to a first surface of the grounding and retention member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The connector as recited in claim 9, wherein multiple first contact and retention projections extend from each edge of the grounding and retention member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The connector as recited in claim 10, wherein the openings have the same diameter.