Patent ID: 8292659

Claim:
An electrical connector, comprising: a first electrical connector including an electrical connector housing that receives a plurality of contact modules and is provided with first mating contacts and integral guiding slots; a second electrical connector including an electrical connector housing that receives a plurality of contact modules and is provided with second mating contacts that mate with the first mating contacts and guiding ribs arranged on a surface of the connector housing, the guiding ribs being insertable into corresponding guiding slots to facilitate mating of the first and second electrical connectors; each of the electrical connector housings having a plurality of electrically insulating plates, each of the plurality of electrically insulating plates extending from one side of the first or second connector linearly to another side such that each of the plurality of electrically insulating plates are substantially parallel to and spaced from each other and extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of insertion of the contact modules into the electrical connector housings, the electrically insulating plates supporting at least the first mating contacts and a plurality of supporting ribs formed on a surface of the plurality of electrically insulating plates of the first connector such that the plurality of supporting ribs support the first mating contacts so that they are preloaded against the plurality of supporting ribs.