Patent ID: 7393214

Claim:
A multiple-contact electrical connector for making electrical contact with a micro-scale electrically conductive male mating element for electronic device connections, said connector comprising: a tubular element having an inner diameter less than a maximum outer diameter of a mating element; and a printed circuit board having a mating element; at least two slots helically cut in said tubular element, said slots forming at least two electrically conductive helical prongs terminating at a first end of said tubular element and extending from a common cylindrical collar region, said helical prongs being operative to impose mechanical resistance around said mating element upon attempted removal of said mating element from said tubular element, wherein the mating element comprises a metal ball and wherein the tubular element has an inner diameter less than the maximum outer diameter of said metal ball whereby both side edges of said helical prongs engage said metal ball at its maximum diameter, said prongs providing sufficient resilience to grip said ball while said tubular element is expanded to accommodate said prongs inserted along the longitudinal axis of said tubular element, wherein the upstream side of the ball, being of a smaller diameter, is subjected to less retaining force than the maximum outer diameter of said ball so that, if the ball is attempted to be withdrawn, the force from the prongs on the ball increases, as the prongs are induced to unravel around the axis of the tubular element, thereby offering enhanced resistance to withdrawal.