Surface mount compatible connector system with mechanical integrity

An electrical header for mechanical mounting and electrical connection with respect to plated through holes of a printed circuit board compatibly with a surface mount attaching process, comprising

• an electrically non-conducting, elongate body having a pair of opposite surfaces capable of smoothly sliding across respective opposite surfaces of another header, a groove on one of said opposite surfaces and a slot in the other of said surfaces for maintaining parallel alignment of respective headers during such sliding, and
• plural generally elongate contact means extending from said body for insertion into such plated through holes, said contact means comprising elongate pin type contacts positioned to extend generally in parallel relation to each other and linearly through said elongate body perpendicularly to the direction of body elongation, and
• said header having reservoir means for retaining solder type material for melting, for flow into respective plated through holes, and for re-solidifying mechanically and electrically to couple said component to such printed circuit board.

An electrical component for mechanical mounting and electrical connection with respect to plated through holes of a printed circuit board compatibly with a surface mount attaching process, comprising:

• plural generally elongate contacts,
• body means for holding said contacts with portions thereof spaced apart and extending in generally parallel relationship from a bottom surface of said body means for insertion into such plated through holes, said bottom surface having plural recesses proximate locations where respective contacts have said portions thereof extending from said body means, and
• respective solder supplies received in said recesses for melting, flow into respective plated through holes and re-solidifying mechanically to mount and electrically to connect said component with respect to such printed circuit board.

A method for attaching an electrical component to a printed circuit board compatibly with surface mount attaching processes, such printed circuit board having electrically conductive traces and plated through holes, such component having generally linearly extending contacts and a reservoir of solder type material, comprising

• using automated equipment to position such component with respect to such printed circuit board and to insert linearly extending contacts of such component into respective plated through holes in such printed circuit board while positioning such reservoir of solder type material in proximity to such holes,
• applying thermal energy to melt such solder type material to flow into such respective holes, and
• allowing such solder type material to solidify to form a mechanical and electrical connection of respective contacts in respective plated through holes.