Board-to-board electrical connectors

An electrical connector for interconnecting at least a first circuit board to a second circuit board, comprising:

• an insulating body having an upper portion defining an uppermost substantially flat first face configured for disposition adjacent a face of a first circuit board, a lower portion defining a substantially flat bottommost face, and longitudinal sides, said insulting body further defining adjacently disposed recesses defined in at least one of said sides:
• each said recess having a back wall extending between a substantially horizontal bottom surface defined by an inner surface of said lower portion and a substantially horizontal top surface defined by an inner surface of said upper portion, said top surface extending horizontally to a lesser extent than said bottom surface such that each said recess is open at said side of body member and at least partially open at said upper surface of said body member;
• a connector element disposed in each of said recesses, each said connector element having a first end and second end, and further comprising:
• a contact foot defined generally at said second end extending outwardly from said recess and disposed for mounting to a second circuit board;
• a generally horizontal mounted portion disposed within said recess and mounted directly against said horizontal bottom surface;
• a resiliently movable contact head defined generally at said first end and disposed above a plane of said uppermost first face, said contact head movable towards said uppermost first face upon being pressed into mating contact with the first circuit board;
• and
• a flexible stem portion resiliently disposed against said top surface of said recess extending between said contact head and said horizontal mounted portion with a turnover section disposed between said flexible stem portion and an end of said horizontal mounted portion generally adjacent said vertical back wall of said recess, said flexible stem portion extending at an angle from said horizontal mounted portion so as to extend past said top surface of said recess such that said contact head extends above said uppermost first face, said flexible stem portion being resiliently disposed against said top surface of said recess.

An electrical connector for mating circuit boards, comprising:

• a body having an upper portion defining an uppermost substantially flat first face configured to contact a first circuit board, a lower portion defining a substantially flat bottommost face and sides, said body further comprising adjacently disposed recesses defined disposed along said sides:
• a contact element disposed in each of said recesses, each contact element having a first end for mating with a first circuit board and a second end for mating with a second circuit board, each contact element further comprising:
• (a) a contact foot defined near said second end extending outwardly from said recess and configured for mounting to the second circuit board;
• (b) a generally horizontal mounted portion disposed within said recess and mounted parallel to said horizontal bottom surface;
• (c) a resiliently movable contact head defined at said first end of the contact element and disposed above a plane of said uppermost first face, said contact head movable towards said uppermost first face upon being pressed into mating contact with the first circuit board, the contact head having a forwardmost portion at its first end;
• and
• (d) a flexible stem portion resiliently disposed against said top surface of said recess extending between said contact head and said horizontal mounted portion with a turnover section disposed between said flexible stem portion and said horizontal mounted portion said flexible stem portion extending at an angle from said horizontal mounted portion, so as to extend past said top surface of said recess such that said contact head extends above said uppermost first face, wherein the forwardmost portion of the contact head extends away from said flexible stem portion and is free from engagement with said upper portion of said body.

An electrical connector for interconnecting at least two circuit boards, comprising:

• an insulating body defining a first face configured for disposition adjacent a face of a first circuit board;
• a contact element comprising a resiliently movable contact head disposed above a plane through said first face, said contact head being movable towards said first face upon being pressed into mating contact with the first circuit board;
• each contact element further comprising a leg portion with a contact foot connected to said leg portion for mating contact with a second circuit board;
• wherein said insulating body defines at least one row of adjacently disposed recesses, such that a contact element is disposed in each of said recesses, each contact element comprising a generally V-shaped portion with a first and second limb, said first limb having an end portion, said first limb being in contact with a face of the recess, and said second limb projecting at least in part through an aperture slot located in the opposite face of the recess;
• wherein the end portion of the first limb comprises said contact foot extending out of said respective recess for mating contact with said second circuit board and the end portion of said second limb is bent upwardly towards the recess, said end portion being unrestrained by the insulating body, thereby providing a sprung contact face to engage a complementary contact carried by said first circuit board.