Electrical contact pre-load structure

An electrical assembly comprising:

• a card;
• and
• a connector comprising:
• a housing comprising an opening at an end a member, and a notch sized to receive a cable;
• at least one conductive element comprising a mating end, a mounting end opposite the mating end, a contact portion curving inwardly relative to the opening, and an intermediate portion that extends between the mounting end and the contact portion;
• wherein:
• the contact portion of the at least one conductive element of the connector engages with the card,
• the member is positioned farther from the end than the contact portion of the at least one conductive element along a lateral direction,
• at least a portion of the member is positioned between the card and the intermediate portion of the at least one conductive element along a transverse direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, and
• a portion of the mounting end of the at least one conductive element extends parallel to the notch.

A method of manufacturing a connector comprising a plurality of conductive elements having mating ends, mounting ends opposite the mating ends, contact portions curving inwardly, tips extending from the contact portions towards the mating ends, and intermediate portions that extend between the mounting ends and the contact portions, the method comprising:

• positioning an insulative member between a first plurality of conductive elements held in a first leadframe assembly and a second plurality of conductive elements held in a second leadframe assembly;
• securing the first leadframe assembly to the second leadframe assembly such that contact portions of the first plurality of conductive elements are flexed away from contact portions of the second plurality of conductive elements and that the insulative member presses against elongated surfaces of the intermediate portions of the first and second plurality of conductive elements;
• and
• mounting the first leadframe assembly and the second leadframe assembly in a housing of the connector such that the contact portions of the first plurality of conductive elements and the contact portions of the second plurality of conductive elements are accessible to mating conductive elements through at least one opening in the housing.

A method of operating a connector comprising a housing comprising an opening at an end and a member, and at least one conductive element comprising a contact portion curving inwardly into the opening, wherein the member contacts the at least one conductive element from a location farther from the end than the contact portion, the method comprising:

• inserting a card into the opening;
• sliding the card past distal ends of the at least one conductive element and then engaging the card with the contact portion of the at least one conductive element;
• and
• disconnecting the at least one conductive element from the member at the location farther from the end than the contact portion of the at least one conductive element.