Patent ID: RE41699

Claim:
A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising: a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein; a circuit board positioned adjacent to the receptacle; a plurality of contact tines, each having a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board, a second free end and a contact portion between the first and second ends, the tine contact portions being positioned within the receptacle to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first force on the tine contact portion against the corresponding plug contact in response to having been moved in the first direction; and a plurality of resilient, non-conductive elongated spring arms, each having an independently movable spring member portion within the receptacle positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the tine contact portions to be engaged by the corresponding tine contact portion when moved, in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each spring arm being configured for the spring member portion thereof to apply a second force on the corresponding tine contact portion against the corresponding plug contact in response to having been moved in the first direction to produce a contact force between the corresponding tine contact portion and plug contact substantially equal to the sum of the first and second forces and to assist return movement of the corresponding tine contact portion in a second direction opposite the first direction when the plug is removed from the receptacle.