Patent ID: 7090512

Claim:
An electrical connector for mating with a self-supporting plate fabricated from a conductive material, said plate formed with a plate mounting edge and first and second sin-faces extending from the plate mounting edge, said connector comprising: a contact comprising: a contact mounting edge and a lead interface edge opposite said contact mounting edge; a first contact beam and a second contact beam extending from said contact mounting edge, said first contact beam configured to engage the first surface of the self-supporting plate when passed over the plate mounting edge, and said second contact beam configured to engage the second surface of the self-supporting plate when passed over the plate mounting edge, said first and second contact beams being laterally offset from one another along said contact mounting edge, thereby mechanically and electrically interfacing said contact to said self supporting plate; at least one lead contact extending from the lead interface edge, said lead contact configured to mate with a mating connector; and said contact comprising a substantially planar body section, a plurality of openings extending through said body section, and compliant web sections between adjacent openings, wherein said compliant web sections permit said body section to flex about said compliant web sections and relieve mechanical stress upon said first and second contact beams.