Electrical contact for shock-resistant electrical connector

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a connector body supporting a socket assembly, the socket assembly adapted to receive a pin contact therein;
• and
• the socket assembly comprising:
• a socket core that includes:
• a base portion;
• and
• a plurality of arcuate leaf contacts, each of the arcuate leaf contacts having a fixed length from the base portion to a distal end of the socket core;
• and
• a socket hood having a cylindrical inner surface surrounding the leaf contacts;
• the leaf contacts each have an outwardly flanged distal portion, the outwardly flanged distal portions define an outer diameter that cooperates with the cylindrical inner surface of the socket hood to define a range of outward radial deflection of the leaf contacts when the socket assembly is subjected to shock forces.

A method of modifying an electrical connector that includes a socket core adapted to receive a pin contact, the method comprising:

• accessing arcuate leaf contacts at a distal portion of the socket core, each of the arcuate leaf contacts having a fixed length from a base portion of the socket core to a distal end of the socket core;
• and
• providing a socket hood surrounding the distal portion of the socket core, the socket hood having an inner surface surrounding the distal portion of the socket core, the inner surface including:
• a first cylindrical section having a first inner diameter;
• and
• a second cylindrical section having a second inner diameter about the arcuate leaf contacts, the second inner diameter abutting the arcuate leaf contacts when no pin contact resides therein, being smaller than the first inner diameter, and defining a range of outward radial deflection of the arcuate leaf contacts when the electrical connector is subjected to shock forces.