Patent ID: 6290507
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: H01R,H05K

Abstract:
An interposer component adapted to receive a plurality of like metal contacts to form an interposer assembly for establishing electrical connections between pairs of opposed contact pads arranged in a pattern, the interposer component comprising:a plate formed from a single piece of insulating material, the plate having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface extending parallel to the top surface and a substantially uniform thickness;a plurality of single contact passages extending through the thickness of the plate from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof, the passages spaced apart from each other and arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the pairs of spaced contact pad pairs;each passage including opposed first and second passage ends, the first passage end comprising a first end wall, a pair of opposed walls joining the first end wall and extending to the second end, the walls extending generally perpendicularly to the top and bottom surfaces of the plate; anda plurality of projections integrally formed from the insulating material, each projection located in a passage and extending from the second end a distance into the passage to a projection end, the projection end spaced from the first end wall to define a narrowed passage portion therebetween so that the projection obstructs the passage mediate the top and bottom surfaces, each projection being symmetrical about a plane mediate the top and bottom surfaces and parallel thereto, each projection including first and second retention surfaces on opposite sides of the plane, the first retention surface sloping from the projection end towards the top surface of the plate and the second retention surface sloping from the projection end towards the bottom surface of the plate, each retention surface including a contact camming surface wherein contacts may be inserted into the passages from either the top surface or the bottom surface of the plate.