Patent ID: 7874880

Claim:
An adapter apparatus comprising: a substrate, wherein a plurality of openings are defined through the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a first surface region and a second surface region opposite the first surface region, wherein each of the openings is defined through the substrate from the first surface region to the second surface region, wherein an engagement surface defines at least a portion of the opening proximate the first surface region to engage a first end of the plurality of windings mounted within the opening; and a plurality of conductive sleeve spring contacts, wherein each of the plurality of sleeve spring contacts is mounted within a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of sleeve spring contacts comprises a plurality of windings about an axis of the sleeve spring contact forming at least a first winding section and a second winding section, wherein the second winding section of the sleeve spring contact comprises at least three or more windings in contact with adjacent windings, wherein one or more windings of the second winding section comprise windings having a smaller diameter than other windings of the second winding section for making contact with a male pin when the male pin is inserted along the axis of the sleeve spring contact, and further wherein each of the conductive sleeve spring contacts comprises a conductive pin element mounted at least partially within the opening proximate the second surface region, wherein the conductive pin element comprises an engagement surface to engage a second end of the plurality of windings mounted within the opening, and further wherein the conductive pin element is mounted at least partially within the opening proximate the second surface region using a curable material such that the plurality of windings are at least partially compressed within the opening between the engagement surface proximate the first surface region and the engagement surface of the conductive pin element.