Patent ID: 7179108

Claim:
A terminal assembly of the type used to electrically connect electrical devices, the terminal assembly comprising: an insulating support member including a first array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface to an opposite lower surface of the insulating support member and configured to receive a socket, and a second array of apertures, each aperture extending from the upper surface to the opposite lower surface of the insulating support member and configured to receive a pin; a plurality of sockets for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the first array of apertures, each socket received within a corresponding aperture of the first array of apertures of the insulating support member and having an end with an opening configured to receive a pin of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact; and a plurality of pins for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the second array of apertures, each pin received within an opening of a corresponding aperture of the second array of apertures of the insulating support member and having an end configured to be received within a socket of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact, the pins defining a plurality of voids between adjacent pins, each void extending from a surface of one pin to a surface of an adjacent pin; wherein the terminal assembly further comprises a plurality of interstitial spaces between the sockets; and a plurality of interstitial spaces between the pins; and wherein the plurality of sockets and the plurality of pins are arranged in a pattern comprising a plurality of rows and columns, each column arranged in an alternating sequences of sockets and pins that each interstitial space between the sockets is occupied by a pin and each interstitial space between the pins is occupied by a socket, each row arranged in an alternating sequence of sockets and pins that each interstitial space between the sockets is occupied by a pin and each interstitial space between the pins is occupied by a socket.