Patent ID: 6315620
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: H01R,H02K

Abstract:
An electrical connector system comprising:a first pad connector member having a plurality of primary electrically conductive pad elements;a second pad connector member having a plurality of secondary electrically conductive pad elements positioned along an edge of a planar support structure; anda straddle-mount electrical connector comprising:a plurality of electrically conductive leaf-spring elements configured for alignment with the plurality of primary pad elements, each leaf-spring element including an exposed contact portion, a retained end adjacent the exposed contact portion, an elongated footing portion, and a spring-biased contact end adjacent the elongated footing portion; anda housing having a base member, opposing side members and a retaining member extending between the opposing side members, the base member supporting substantially the entire length of the elongated footing portion of each leaf-spring element, and the retaining member including a lip securing the retained end of each leaf-spring element to allow the exposed contact portion of each leaf-spring element to extend above the housing, the opposing side members defining substantially parallel outward-facing grooves for receiving inward-facing parallel edges of the planar support structure to provide a straddle-mount connection of the housing to the planar support structure, and the spring-biased contact ends extending forward from the base member to slidably engage the secondary pad elements as the substantially parallel outward-facing grooves receive the inward-facing parallel edges of the planar support structure, the spring-biased contact ends pressing against the secondary pad elements with a spring force to facilitate frictional contact with the secondary pad elements.