Patent ID: 7713069

Claim:
An electrical connector configured to interconnect first and second electrical components, the connector comprising: a connector housing having a mating face extending substantially in an axial direction, the mating face having a slot opening; and a connector contact extending through the connector housing and the slot opening and being electrically coupled to the first electrical component, the connector contact having a base portion located at a depth within the connector housing and a curved portion formed along and protruding through the slot opening and beyond the mating face, the curved portion having a mating section that extends from the mating face to an apex located a distance away from the mating face, the curved portion also having a forward-facing section that extends from the apex, the forward-facing section extending back toward the connector housing, the mating and forward-facing sections having corresponding slopes, the slope of the mating section being shallower than the slope of the forward-facing section; wherein the connector contact includes a beam connecting the base portion and the curved portion, the beam extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the mating face of the connector housing; and wherein the connector contact is configured to pivot about the base portion when a mating contact of the second electrical component is moved alongside the mating face in the axial direction and engages the mating section of the curved portion, the curved portion being movable within and along the slot opening in the axial direction.