Contact element and method for its manufacture

A method for the manufacture of a contact element comprising forming said contact element using a LiGA method, wherein upon manufacture said contact element includes:

• contact points for the electrically conductive connection of contact regions of mutually spaced elements, wherein said contact element is completely formed of one or more deposited materials, of which at least one is electrically conductive;
• a spring section which is elastically deformed when contact is made with the contact regions;
• a snap-lock connection which holds the contact element in a position in which the spring section is partially deformed;
• and
• two rigid supporting sections, wherein in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction connecting the contact points, the spring section is arranged between the two rigid supporting sections, and the contact element is formed into a single part by material deposition.

A contact device having a mounting which possesses a plurality of through-openings, as well as having several contact elements each of which include:

• contact points for the electrically conductive connection of contact regions of mutually spaced elements, wherein said contact element is completely formed of one or more deposited materials, of which at least one is electrically conductive;
• a spring section which is elastically deformed when contact is made with the contact regions;
• a snap-lock connection which holds the contact element in a position in which the spring section is partially deformed;
• and
• two rigid supporting sections, wherein in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction connecting the contact points, the spring section is arranged between the two rigid supporting sections, and the contact element is formed into a single part by material deposition,
• wherein the contact elements are arranged in the through-openings and wherein the sections of said contact elements containing the contact points project beyond the mounting.