Patent ID: 7189079

Claim:
A connector for connecting an electronic device to a substrate, the connector comprising: a sheet of non-conductive flexible film, the film having a plurality of H-shaped openings formed therein, each of the openings defining opposing first and second ring retention flaps formed in the film; a plurality of continuous, conductive hollow rings, each of the rings including a continuous body that extends completely around an axis of rotation to define a hollow interior volume of said ring, each of the rings enclosing a hollow volume, said rings being held upright in said openings by the opening first and second retention flaps which extend at least part way into said ring hollow interior volumes; and, each of said rings is provided with first and second solder barriers on exterior surfaces of said rings for inhibiting the wicking of molten solder around circumferences of said rings during soldering of said rings to a substrate, said first and second solder barriers are disposed opposite each other on said exterior surfaces of each of said rings.