Hermaphroditic socket/adapter

An intercoupling component of the type used to electrically connect electrical devices, the intercoupling component comprising:

• a first terminal assembly including:
• a first insulating support member including
• a peripheral wall defining an interior recess with a first surface;
• a first array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, each aperture configured to receive a socket, and
• a second array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, configured to receive a pin;
• a third insulating support member, the third insulating support member including
• a fifth array of apertures corresponding to the first array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the third insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the third insulating support member, each aperture configured to receive a socket, and
• a sixth array of apertures corresponding to the second array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the third insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the third insulating support member, configured to receive a pin,
• wherein the first and third insulating support members are attached to each other with the first array of apertures substantially aligned with the fifth array of apertures and the second array of apertures substantially aligned with the sixth array of apertures, the third insulating support member extending across an open side of the interior recess;
• a first plurality of sockets for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the first array of apertures, each socket received within a corresponding aperture of the first array of apertures of the first insulating support member and having an end with an opening configured to receive a pin of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• and
• a first plurality of pins for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the second array of apertures, each pin received within an opening of a corresponding aperture of the second array of apertures of the first insulating support member and having an end configured to be received within a socket of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• and
• a second terminal assembly including:
• a second insulating support member including
• a second peripheral wall defining a second interior recess;
• a third array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the second insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the second insulating support member contiguous with the second recess, each aperture configured to receive a socket, and
• a fourth array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the second insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the second insulating support member contiguous with the second recess, configured to receive a pin;
• a second plurality of sockets for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the third array of apertures, each socket received within a corresponding aperture of the third array of apertures of the second insulating support member and having an end with an opening configured to receive a corresponding pin of the first terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• a second plurality of pins for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the fourth array of apertures, each pin received within an opening of a corresponding aperture of the fourth array of apertures of the second insulating support member and having an end configured to be received within a corresponding socket of the first terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact.

A method of manufacturing a terminal assembly of the type used to electrically connect electrical devices, the method comprising:

• providing a first insulating support member including
• a peripheral wall defining an interior recess;
• a first array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, each aperture configured to receive a socket, and
• a second array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, configured to receive a pin;
• attaching a second insulating support member to the first insulating support member, the second insulating support member including
• a third array of apertures corresponding to the first array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the second insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the second insulating support member, each aperture configured to receive a socket and
• a fourth array of apertures corresponding to the second array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the second insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the second insulating support member, configured to receive a pin;
• wherein first and second insulating members are attached to each other with the first array of apertures substantially aligned with the third array of apertures and the second array of apertures substantially aligned with the fourth array of apertures with the second insulating support member extending across an open side of the interior recess;
• providing a plurality of sockets for providing electrical connections, each socket having an end with an opening configured to receive a pin of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact, arranged in a configuration corresponding with the first array of apertures such that each socket is received within a corresponding aperture of the first array of apertures of the insulating support member;
• and
• providing a plurality of pins for providing electrical connections, each pin having an end configured to be received within a socket of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact, arranged in a configuration corresponding with the second array of apertures such that each pin is received within an opening of a corresponding aperture of the second array of apertures of the insulating support member.

A terminal assembly of the type used to electrically connect electrical devices, the terminal assembly comprising:

• a first insulating support member including
• a peripheral wall defining an interior recess;
• a first array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, each aperture configured to receive a socket, and
• a second array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, configured to receive a pin;
• wherein the first array of apertures and the second array of apertures are arranged in a pattern comprising a plurality of columns, each column having an axis, the columns located such that the distance between the axes of adjacent columns is less than a standard diameter of apertures of the first array of apertures;
• a plurality of sockets for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the first array of apertures, each socket received within a corresponding aperture of the first array of apertures of the first insulating support member and having an end with an opening configured to receive a pin of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• a plurality of pins for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the second array of apertures, each pin received within an opening of a corresponding aperture of the second array of apertures of the first insulating support member and having an end configured to be received within a socket of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact

A terminal assembly of the type used to electrically connect electrical devices, the terminal assembly comprising:

• a first insulating support member including
• a peripheral wall defining an interior recess;
• a first array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, each aperture configured to receive a socket, and
• a second array of apertures, each aperture extending from an upper surface of the first insulating support member to an opposite lower surface of the first insulating support member contiguous with the recess, configured to receive a pin;
• a plurality of sockets for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the first array of apertures, each socket received within a corresponding aperture of the first array of apertures of the first insulating support member and having an end with an opening configured to receive a pin of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• and
• a plurality of pins for providing electrical connections arranged in a configuration corresponding with the second array of apertures, each pin received within an opening of a corresponding aperture of the second array of apertures of the first insulating support member and having an end configured to be received within a socket of a corresponding terminal assembly and an opposite end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• wherein the interior recess is sized to provide the terminal assembly with a specific electrical characteristic.