Patent ID: 6869292

Claim:
A modular mezzanine connector system, comprising: (a) a plug assembly, comprising: (a 1 ) a first common base comprising a plurality of fusible elements which are each disposed adjacent to the first common base; (a 2 ) a plug contact assembly mounted within the plug assembly comprising a plurality of plug contacts, each plug contact comprising an end which is secured to one of the fusible elements adjacent to the first common base; (a 3 ) a plug cover coupled to the first common base; and (a 4 ) a spacer mounted between the plug cover and the first common base; and (b) a receptacle assembly that mates with the plug assembly, comprising: (b 1 ) a second common base comprising a plurality of fusible elements which are each disposed adjacent to the second common base and wherein the first common base and the second common base are substantially identical and interchangeable; (b 2 ) a receptacle contact assembly mounted within the receptacle assembly and comprising a plurality of receptacle contacts, each receptacle contact comprising an end which is secured to one of the fusible elements adjacent to the second common base; and (b 3 ) a receptacle cover that is coupled to the second common base and that mates with the plug cover.