Patent ID: 7367816

Claim:
An electrical connector assembly used to electrically connect first and second circuit boards, comprising: A) a socket connector fixed to the first circuit board including: i) an insulating socket base having a mating space to receive portions of a mating plug connector, a plurality of first terminal-receiving slots, and a platform defined by side walls extending in the mating space; and ii) a plurality of first terminals received in the first terminal-receiving slots, each first terminal comprising: a) a first terminal solder lead connected to a conductive trace on the first circuit board; b) a first inverted U-shaped portion; c) a base U-shaped portion having a first leg serving as a first elastic-contact portion; and d) an elastic tail extending generally downward at an angle from an end of the first elastic-contact portion and generally along the first leg and having a free end portion which abuts against a sidewall of the platform in the mating space; and the first terminal lead, the first inverted U-shaped portion, the base U-shaped portion and the elastic tail are connected successively, and B) the mating plug connector fixed to the second circuit board configured to be engaged with the socket connector, including: i) an insulating plug base having a plurality of second terminal-receiving slots; and ii) a plurality of second terminals received in the second terminal-receiving slots, each second terminal having a second terminal lead connected to a conductive traces on the second circuit board and a second inverted U-shaped portion, wherein the second inverted U-shaped portion is inserted into the base U-shaped portion of the first terminal to form an electrical connection with the first elastic contact portion of the socket connector when the plug connector is engaged with the socket connector.