Terminal assembly with pin-retaining socket

A socket terminal assembly configured to electrically connect a contacting area of an integrated circuit with a corresponding connection region of a substrate, the socket terminal assembly comprising:

• a socket shell including
• a first shell portion defining a first interior cavity and a first protrusion extending inwardly relative to the first shell portion, the first protrusion defining an opening into the first interior cavity within the socket shell, and
• a second shell portion configured to contact the corresponding connection region of the substrate;
• a pin including
• a first pin portion having a first outer dimension and defining a second interior cavity within the pin, and
• a second pin portion having a second outer dimension that is smaller than the first outer dimension, the first pin portion received within the first shell portion of the socket shell with the second pin portion extending through the opening and out of the socket shell, and
• a resilient member interposed between the socket shell and the pin.

A connector assembly of the type used to electrically connect a first substrate with a second substrate, the connector assembly comprising:

• an insulating support member including an array of apertures, each aperture extending from a first surface of the insulating support member to an opposite second surface of the insulating support member, each aperture configured to receive a terminal assembly;
• and
• a plurality of terminal assemblies which provide electrical connections between connection regions of the first substrate and respective corresponding connection regions of the second substrate, a terminal assembly disposed in each of the apertures, each terminal assembly including:
• a socket including a first end configured to contact a corresponding connection region of the first substrate, and a socket body extending from the first end to an opposed second end of the socket, the socket body defining a socket cavity;
• a pin at least partially received within the socket cavity, the pin including a pin head configured to contact a corresponding connection region of the second substrate, and a pin body extending from the pin head;
• and
• a resilient member received within the socket cavity and configured to bias the socket and pin in opposed directions,
• wherein the pin body is greater in dimension than the pin head such that an outer surface of the pin includes a pin shoulder at the transition between the pin head and pin body, and
• the second end of the socket body includes an inward protrusion configured to engage the pin shoulder so as to retain the pin body within the socket cavity.

An intercoupling device for providing an electrical connection between electrical contacts of a first substrate and electrical contacts of a second substrate, the intercoupling device comprising:

• a first assembly including a first insulating support member having a first array of apertures and a second array of apertures, each aperture of the first and second arrays of apertures extending from a first surface of the first insulating support member to a second surface of the first insulating support member, and
• a second assembly including a second insulating support member having a third array of apertures and a fourth array of apertures, each aperture of the third and fourth arrays of apertures extending from a first surface of the second insulating support member to a second surface of the second insulating support member,
• the second assembly configured to join with the first assembly such that the first array of apertures is aligned with the third array of apertures, and the second array of apertures is aligned with the fourth array of apertures,
• the device further comprising:
• a plurality of female contacts disposed in the first and fourth arrays of apertures, each female contact having a first end with an opening configured to receive a male contact of a corresponding aligned aperture and an opposite second end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• and
• a plurality of male contacts disposed in the second and third arrays of apertures, each male contact having a first end configured to be received within the opening of a female contact of a corresponding aligned aperture and an opposite second end configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact;
• wherein
• the insulating support members have projections surrounding each aperture of the first and fourth arrays of apertures, the projections extending outward from the first surface in a direction corresponding to an axial direction of the aperture;
• each aperture of the second and third arrays of apertures is dimensioned to receive a projection therein, and
• when the intercoupling device is assembled so that the second assembly is joined with the first assembly, projections associated with apertures of the first and fourth arrays are received within corresponding apertures of the second and third arrays.

An intercoupling component comprises mating first and second connector assemblies wherein

• the first connector assembly includes a first insulative member, and the second connector assembly includes a second insulative member;
• the first insulative member has an array of first apertures sized and configured to receive male contacts and an array of second apertures sized and configured to receive female contacts, and the first connector assembly includes male contacts disposed in the first apertures of the first insulative member, and female contacts disposed in the second apertures of the first insulative member;
• the second insulative member has corresponding apertures arranged such that male contacts and female contacts of the second insulative member can be positioned engaging, respectively, the female and male contacts of the first insulative member, and the second connector assembly includes male contacts and female contacts disposed in the corresponding apertures of the second insulative member such that male contacts and female contacts of the second insulative member engage, respectively, the female and male contacts of the first insulative member;
• the apertures of the first insulative member and the second insulative member corresponding to female contacts include projections projecting from a mating surface of the corresponding insulative member, and
• the apertures of the first insulative member and the second insulative member corresponding to male contacts include widened portions sized to receive the projections.