Abstract: An electrical connector (30) comprises a main housing (32) consisting of an island section (34) and a pressing block (36) wherein the island section (34) defines a plurality of passageways (38) for receiving a corresponding number of socket type contacts (40) therein and each passageway (38) defines an alignment slot (42) therein. A plurality of retention devices (46) are disposed on the front surface of the pressing block (36) for alignment with the corresponding passageways (38), respectively. A pair of boardlocks (56) are positioned at two opposite ends of the pressing block (36) and a pair of rivets (54) are attached thereabouts for securing a shell (50) to the pressing block (36).

Abstract: An I/O connector (10) includes an insulative housing (12) having a plurality of passageways (14) extending therethrough for receiving a corresponding number of contacts (16) therein. A metal shell (18) is attached to the front mating surface (22) of the housing (12). A spacer (24) is attached to the housing (12) from the back wherein the spacer (24) includes a pair of engagement blocks (36) outwardly extending at two longitudinally opposite ends and pressed by the vertical plates (62) of the corresponding rivets (60), respectively. Therefore, the tails of the contacts (16) can be precisely aligned with regard to the circuits on the PC board. A pair of boardlocks (40) each without its own retention plate in alignment with the corresponding rivet (60), while includes an extended tag (46) extending through a through-slot (54) in the housing (12) for having its distal end contact the shell (18) to constitute a grounding path.