Electrical connector with stress-distribution features

The connector of claim 21, wherein the contact beams are arranged in a substantially linear array and the first and second contact beams are located at respective first and second outer ends of the substantially linear array.

The connector of claim 21, wherein the at least a portion of the first and second contact beams abut the respective first and second housing surfaces when the connector is not mounted on the substrate.

(canceled)

The connector of claim 21, wherein the contact beams extend substantially from the body in a first direction, and die contact between the contact beams and the respective first and second housing surfaces limits deflection of the contact beams in directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction as the terminal pins are inserted into the penetrations in the substrate.

A connector capable of being mounted on a substrate, the connector comprising:

• a housing defining a housing surface;
• and
• a contact mounted in the housing, the contact comprising a body, a plurality of terminal pins extending from a first edge of the body and capable of being received by penetrations in the substrate, and a plurality of contact beams extending from a second edge of the body, wherein the body includes a flared portion, the flared portion being spaced from the housing surface by a gap of no more than 0.002 inch when the connector is not mounted on the substrate.

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A method of restricting bowing in a connector configured for connection to a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing defining opposing first and housing surfaces;
• and
• mounting a contact in the housing, wherein the contact includes a contact body having opposing first and second edges, a plurality of terminal pins extending from the first edge and capable of connection to the substrate, and a plurality of contact beams extending from the second edge, such that at first and second contact beams of the plurality of contact beams are spaced from the first and second housing surfaces, respectively, by a gap of no more than 0.002 inch.