Electrical connector for antenna or the like

An electrical connector comprising a pair of conductive terminals for securing an electrical component to a substrate, each terminal comprising:

• a base having opposing ends;
• a first deflectable extension projecting from one of the ends of the base;
• a second deflectable extension projecting from the other of the ends of the base and cooperating with the first extension to removably retain the component therebetween, the second extension including a pair of spaced-apart arms;
• the electrical connector further comprising an insulative block coupled to the pair of terminals, the block being mountable on the substrate and having first and second generally opposing side faces, each terminal being associated with a respective side face of the block and mountable to the substrate, each terminal being adapted to removably secure respective ends of an electrical component thereto, the block further having generally opposing back and front faces and a center portion extending between the front face and back face, the block still further having a front portion extending along the front face between the first and second side faces and defining first and second bays within which the first and second terminals reside, wherein the front portion has an aperture extending thereinto from each bay, wherein each terminal further has an extending member extending into the aperture to anchor such terminal to the block, and wherein the extending member comprises a third arm extending from between the pair of spaced-apart arms.

An antenna connector for being mounted on a board and for connecting a loop antenna to a circuit on the board, the antenna connector comprising:

• a connector block constructed from a non-conductive material and having generally opposing top and bottom faces, first and second generally opposing side faces, and a center portion extending between the top face and bottom face and defining first and second bays isolated from each other, the first and second bays being exposed at the top and bottom faces, the first bay being further exposed at the first side face, the second bay being further exposed at the second side face, and
• first and second terminals mounted in the first and second bays of the connector block, each of the first and second terminals being constructed from a conductive material and having an open jaw defined by a pair of generally opposing deflectable extensions and generally positioned at the top face of the connector block, the extensions also defining a side of each terminal generally perpendicular to the jaw thereof, and a contacting portion generally opposite the open jaw and generally positioned at the bottom face of the connector block;
• wherein the antenna connector is mounted to the board such that the bottom face of the connector block faces the board, and such that the contacting portions of the first and second terminals are in electrical contact with corresponding pads on such board;
• wherein the first terminal receives an insertion portion of a first end of the loop antenna through the jaw thereof, and the second terminal receives an insertion portion of a second end of the loop antenna through the jaw thereof;
• and
• wherein the first and second terminals are arranged in the first and second bays of the connector block such that the insertion portions of the first and second ends of the loop antenna respectively extend through the side of the first terminal and away from the first side face of the connector block generally parallel to the mounted-to board and through the side of the second terminal and away from the second side face of the connector block generally parallel to the mounted-to board.