Electric connector in which a plurality of contact members can be readily assembled to an insulator

An electric connector for electrically connecting a first circuit member to a second circuit member, said first and second circuit members being held in a spaced parallel relationship, said first and said second circuit members having a plurality of first contact pads confronting a plurality of second contact pads, respectively, said connector comprising:

• an insulator plate extending in a predetermined direction parallel to and between said first and said second circuit member, said insulator plate defining a plurality of through holes, each of said through holes extending through said insulator plate in a direction perpendicular to said parallel relationship, said insulator having an internal projection in each of said through holes, respectively;
• and
• a frame having a first and a second frame surface opposite to each other in said predetermined direction and defining a central space extending from said first frame surface to said second frame surface, said central space accommodating said insulator;
• fastening means connected to said frame for fastening said first and said second circuit members towards said first and said second insulator surfaces of the insulator in said predetermined direction, respectively,
• a plurality of contact members made of conductive material, each of said contact members being shaped to be inserted into an individually associated one of said through holes by sliding said contact member in said direction perpendicular to said parallel relationship;
• each of said contact members comprising:
• a holding portion for elastically holding each of said contact members by its snapping over an individually associated one of said internal projections, each of said contact members being removable from its individually associated one of said through holes by sliding in said direction perpendicular to said parallel relationship with an elastical deformation of said holding portion for enabling it to escape from said internal projection;
• a first terminal portion integral with said holding portion for being brought into contact with an individually associated one of said first contact pads;
• and
• a second terminal portion integral with said holding portion for being brought into contact with an individually associated one of said second contact pads when said contact member is snapped over said projection.

An electric connector used for an interface between a pair of circuit members each having a plurality of contact pads, a first and second circuit members being held in a space parallel relationship, said first and said second circuit members having a plurality of first contact pads confronting a plurality of second contact pads, respectively, said connector comprising:

• an insulator plate extending in a predetermined direction parallel to and between said first and said second circuit members, said insulator plate defining a plurality of through holes, each of said through holes extending through said insulator plate in a direction perpendicular to said parallel relationship, at locations corresponding to said pads on said circuit members, and each of said through holes having an internal projection;
• and
• a contact member received in each of said through holes in said insulator, each of said contact members being in the form of a W-shaped leaf spring which has a central palate portion and a pair of terminal portions arranged at free ends of said leaf spring and on opposite sides of said central palate portion, said central palate portion being placed in said predetermined direction within said through holes and being in engagement with said internal projection, said contact member being removable from each through hole in response to an elastical deformation of said central palate portion, said terminal portions being brought into contact with said contact pads on said circuit members, respectively.