Electrical connector for connection to LSI package having preloaded and cantilevered plate type contact with L-shape slits for providing two contact points

An electrical connector for connecting an LSI package with a plurality of package pins protruding in a predetermined direction therefrom, said connector comprising:

• a plurality of contact elements to be brought into contact with said package pins, respectively;
• a base insulator having a plurality of contact receiving holes for fixedly receiving said contact elements to generally extend in a first direction, respectively;
• each of said contact receiving holes having an extended hole portion adjacent said contact element in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for loosely receiving a corresponding one of said package pins;
• a cover insulator mounted on said base insulator, said cover being movable in the second direction for receiving said LSI package thereon and having a plurality of through openings for loosely receiving said package pins passing therethrough, whereby said package pins are moved in said second direction within said contact receiving holes in order to be brought into contact with said contact elements when said cover insulator is moved to mount said LSI package, said cover being moved in the second direction relative to said base insulator, each of said contact elements comprising a terminal pin portion, a contact plate portion, and an intermediate portion bridging an area between said terminal pin portion and said contact plate portion;
• wherein:
• said terminal pin portion protrudes from said base insulator in the first direction;
• said intermediate portion is fixedly supported to said base insulator within said contact receiving hole in order to cantilever said contact plate portion in said contact receiving hole;
• said contact plate portion having two elastically supported finger portions defined by an L-shape slit cut and extending from a side of the contact plate portion to the intermediate plate portion, said two finger portions projecting from said intermediate plate portion and then extending in parallel in the second direction, said two finger portions providing a two-point contact with said package pin;
• and
• said contact receiving hole having a wall portion projecting inwardly and partially projecting from an inner wall of said hole and partially engaging said contact plate portion to elastically deflect said contact plate portion into a preloaded condition in order to form a gap between said contact plate portion and said inner wall into which said package pin is inserted to be electrically connected to said contact plate portion.