Electrical connector assembly

Claim 2

An electrical connector assembly for interconnecting an electrical circuit element having a plurality of conductive pads on one surface thereof with a mounting member having conductive strips thereon, comprising: an insulative housing member having means defining an upwardly facing planar surface adapted to support said circuit element and a lower surface adapted to overlie said mounting member; a plurality of compartments formed in said housing member, said compartments opening upwardly at said planar surface; vertical apertures in said housing member extending downwardly from said compartments to said lower surface; and a contact positioned in each of said compartments, said contact being formed of a spring metal strip, said contact means defining an upper portion extending above said planar surface, said means having a generally convex configuration for making wiping engagement with one of said conductive pads, a lower portion extending across and downwardly through said aperture below said lower surface, said lower portion having a generally convex configuration for making wiping engagement with one of said conductive strips, and an intermediate portion joining said upper and lower portions.

Claim 3

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein an upwardly facing shoulder is provided on one side of each said compartment adjacent the lower portion thereof, and said lower portion of said contact has a free end which extends over said shoulder.

Claim 4

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a recess is provided on one side of said compartment adjacent to said planar surface; and said upper portion of said contact has a free end which extends into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.

Claim 5

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said contact has a generally S-shaped configuration.

Claim 6

An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein an upwardly facing shoulder is provided on one side of each said compartment adjacent the lower portion thereof, and said lower portion of said contact has a free end which extends over said shoulder.

Claim 7

An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein a recess is provided on the side of said compartment opposite to said one side and adjacent to said planar surface; and said upper portion of said contact has a free end which extends into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.

Claim 8

An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said contact embodies a curved transitional section adjacent to said lower portion thereof; and said curved transitional section engages said opposite side of said compartment.

Claim 9

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing member embodies a pair of parallel upright walls along the sides thereof, said walls extending above said planar surface.

Claim 10

An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein windows extend through said walls opening into said compartments; and said upper portions of said contacts have free ends which extend into said windows.

Claim 11

An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said free ends extend through said windows; and said free ends of said contact upper portions have tips which extend upwardly a distance greater than the distance said upper portions extend above said upwardly facing surface.

Claim 12

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including cover means for releasably retaining an electrical circuit element on said housing member in engagement with said upwardly facing surface.

Claim 13

An electrical connector assembly for receiving an electrical circuit element having a plurality of conductive pads on one surface thereof comprising: a mounting member having conductive strips thereon; an insulative housing member having means defining an upwardly facing planar surface adapted to support said circuit element and a lower surface, means releasably mounting said housing member on said mounting member; a plurality of compartments formed in said housing member, said compartments opening upwardly at said palanr surface; vertical apertures in said housing member extending downwardly from said compartments to said lower surface; and a contact positioned in each of said compartments, said contact being formed of a spring metal strip, said contact having means defining an upper portion extending above said planar surface, said means having a generally convex configuration for making wiping engagement with one of said conductive pads, a lower portion extending across and into said aperture to said lower surface, said lower portion having a generally convex configuration and making wiping engagement with one of said conductive strips, and an intermediate portion joining said upper and lower portions, said lower portion extending below said lower surface of said housing member when said housing member is detached from said mounting member.

Claim 14

An electrical connector assembly for receiving an electrical circuit element having a plurality of conductive pads on one surface thereof comprising: a mounting member having conductive strips thereon; an insulative housing member having means defining an upwardly facing planar surface adapted to support said circuit element and a lower surface, means releasably mounting said housing member on said mounting member; a plurality of compartments formed in said housing member, said compartments opening upwardly at said palanr surface; vertical apertures in said housing member extending downwardly from said compartments to said lower surface; and a contact positioned in each of said compartments, said contact being formed of a spring metal strip, said contact having means defining an upper portion extending above said planar surface, said means having a generally convex configuration for making wiping engagement with one of said conductive pads, a lower portion extending across and into said aperture to said lower surface, said lower portion having a generally convex configuration and making wiping engagement with one of said conductive strips, and an intermediate portion joining said upper and lower portions, said lower portion extending below said lower surface of said housing member when said housing member is detached from said mounting member.

Claim 15

An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said contact has a generally S-shaped configuration.

Claim 16

An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein an upwardly facing shoulder is provided on one side of each said compartment adjacent the lower portion thereof, and said lower portion of said contact has a free end which extends over said shoulder.

Claim 17

An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein a recess is provided on one side of said compartment adjacent to said planar surface; and said upper portion of said contact has a free end which extends into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.

Claim 18

An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said contact has a generally S-shaped configuration; and upwardly facing shoulder is provided on one side of each said compartment adjacent the lower portion thereof, and said lower portion of said contact has a free end which extends over said shoulder; a recess is provided on the other side of said compartment adjacent to said planar surface; and said upper portion of said contact has a free end which extends into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.