Patent ID: 7442089

Claim:
A vertical connector for providing a connection between a circuit board and an opposing electronic element, the circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces disposed thereon and the opposing electronic element including a male portion having a plurality of conductive members disposed thereon, comprising: an insulative connector housing having a mating face including a receptacle portion for receiving the male portion of the opposing electronic element and a mounting portion for mounting said connector housing to said circuit board, the connector housing including at least first and second sidewalls, the receptacle portion being disposed between the first and second sidewalls, said first and second sidewalls each respectively including a plurality of first and second vertical cavities; a plurality of conductive terminals supported by said housing, the terminals being arranged in distinct sets of first and second terminals in said first and second connector housing sidewalls, the first and second terminals including contact portions extending into said receptacle portion for contacting a corresponding conductive member of said opposing electronic element inserted into said receptacle portion, tail portions for mounting said terminals to a circuit board, body portions interconnecting the terminal contact and tail portions together, the tail portions of said first and second terminal extending away from the terminal body portions and out of said first and second cavities to locations exterior of said first and second sidewalls, and retention portions for retaining the terminals in place with the connector housing, the terminal retention portions being disposed between said terminal contact and terminal tail portions and said terminal retention portions of said first and second terminal sets extending into said connector housing respectively from said first and second sides.