Patent ID: 8246358
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. An electrical contact device comprising: first and second contact portions, each of said first and second contact portions comprising first and second spaced-apart contact arms, and each of said first and second contact portions further comprising a base, wherein said first and second contact arms each include an inner end connected to the base and an outer end spaced from the base; said first and second contact portions located relative to each other such that when said contact device is in a first operative condition, said outer ends of the respective first contact arms of the first and second contact portions abut each other and define a first electrical conduction path and said outer ends of the respective second contact arms of the first and second contact portions are spaced from each other and define an open contact insertion slot there between; said contact device selectively movable to a second operative condition when an associated removable device is inserted in said contact insertion slot such that said outer ends of the respective first contact arms of the first and second contact portions are spaced apart from each other and separated by said associated removable device and said outer ends of the respective second contact arms of the first and second contact portions are electrically connected to each other through the associated removable device so that a second electrical conduction path is defined by the respective second contact arms; said contact device connected to a backplane, wherein said base of said first contact portion is electrically connected to a first electrical location on said backplane and said base of said second contact portion is electrically connected to a second electrical location on said backplane, wherein said backplane comprises a backplane insertion slot and the respective bases of the first and second contact portions are connected to opposite first and second sides of the backplane insertion slot such that the respective first and second contact arms extend into the backplane insertion slot and such that said contact insertion slot defined between the respective second contact arms is aligned with the backplane insertion slot.