Solder-free backplane connector

A device for electronically connecting an electronic module to a backplane having a series of contact pads, comprising

• an insulative body substantially U-shaped in cross section to define an elongated central recess bounded by parallel walls and having a back surface opposite the recess, a series of orifice means each having a dog leg configuration and longitudinally spaced at one end having a portion opening through at least one of the parallel walls and an opposite portion opening through the back surface at the other end of the orifice means;
• a pair of wadded button springs positioned in each one of the series of orifice means, one of said pair being positioned in the respective orifice means portion opening through the parallel wall and the other being positioned in the orifice means portion opening through the back surface;
• a conductive dog leg member positioned between each pair of wadded button springs in the orifice means;
• and
• a conductive plunger slidably mounted in each one of the orifices and extending through the parallel wall into the central recess, whereby an electronic module positioned in the elongate recess engages the series of plungers against the urging of one of the pair of springs, and the series of wadded button springs on the back surface is able to electrically engage contact pads on a backplane.

A device for electrically connecting a series of contact surfaces of an electronic module to a series of contact pads of a backplane assembly, comprising

• an insulative body having a first exterior surface for opposing the contact pads and a second exterior surface for opposing the contact surfaces;
• the insulative body having a series of orifices extending from the first to the second exterior surface;
• at least one electrically conductive wadded button spring positioned in each orifice;
• at least one series of electrically conductive plungers mounted slidably in each of the orifices extending from one of the first and second exterior surfaces, said series of plungers engaging the wadded button springs, and being urged outwardly of the body by the button springs;
• each of the orifices having a portion of lesser diameter to form a shoulder;
• and
• at least one outwardly extending finger attached to each plunger and positioned to engage the shoulder to hold the plungers inwardly of the body against the urging of the button springs.

A device for electrically connecting a series of contact surfaces of an electronic module to a series of contact pads of a backplane assembly where the contact surfaces are in a plane perpendicular to the contact pads, comprising:

• an insulative body having first and second exterior surfaces in planes perpendicular to one another, a series of orifice means open at opposite ends in the respective first and second exterior surfaces, each orifice means being of a dog leg configuration;
• a pair of wadded button springs positioned in each of the orifice means;
• a conductive member having a dog leg configuration positioned between and in engagement with each of the pair of wadded button springs;
• and
• a plunger slidably mounted in each of the series of orifice means opening in at least one of the first and second exterior surfaces, each plunger being urged in an outwardly direction to protrude from the orifice means.