Card edge connector with pull through bellows contact and lay-over insulator

Claim 1

A printed circuit card edge electrical connector assembly adapted for structural mounting on a substrate having contact receiving apertures therein, said electrical connector assembly comprising: an insulative block having a top and a bottom, said insulative block comprising: interior walls defining a plurality of sleeves formed through said insulative block, said sleeves having a substantially unobstructed region which is open at the top and bottom portions thereof; a first pair of parallel, laterally spaced alignment troughs in each said sleeve adjacent the substantially unobstructed region through said said insulator; each said first pair of troughs defining a first alignment track, said first track being open at both ends and being substantially shorter than said sleeves, said first track having its lower termination portion near the bottom of the insulator and its lead in portion substantially beneath the top of the insulator; and a second pair of parallel, laterally spaced alignment troughs in each said sleeve adjacent the substantially unobstructed region through said insulator; each said second pair of troughs defining a second alignment track, said second track being open at both ends and being substantially shorter than said sleeves; contacts receivable in secure axial alignment into the sleeves of said insulative block, said contacts including: a lower tail portion; an intermediate mounting portion; an upper contactor region comprising a loop portion which has a substantially elliptical-shaped torroidal cross section, the major axis of which extends longitudinally to the contact axis, said loop portion being compressable along its minor axis for reliable electrical engagement between the front portion of said loop and a printed circuit card edge to be connected and wherein the plane of the rear portion of said loop lies generally parallel to the plane of the intermediate and tail portions of the contact and is postitionable flush against the inside of the outer walls of said insulator sleeves; a first laterally disposed projection comprising a first pair of transversely extending ears, said first ears being formed as an integral portion of said intermediate mounting portion, said first projection being in general axial alignment with said lower tail portion and extendable into and receivable in sliding engagement with said first alignment track; a second laterally disposed projection comprising a second pair of transversely extending ears said second ears being formed as an integral part of the rear portion of the loop of said upper contactor region, said second projection being extendable into and receivable in sliding engagement with said second alignment track; and whereby the axial alignment of said contact relative to said sleeve is securable by sliding engagement of said first and second projections with said first and second alignment tracks, respectively, said contacts being movable longitudinally within the substantially unobstructed region of said sleeve for structurally mounting the intermediate portions thereof in the contact receiving apertures in the substrate.