Connecting device for testing printed circuit

Claim 1

Apparatus for electrically testing a printed circuit board (CI), comprising (a) a generally U-shaped base member (1) having a transverse portion (10) and a pair of parallel spaced leg portions (11, 11'); (b) at least one intermediate member (3 1 , 3 2 ) removably mounted within the space defined between said leg portions, said intermediate member comprising a generally U-shaped block having a transverse portion (30 1 , 30 2 ) and a pair of parallel spaced leg portions (32 1 , 32 1 '), said intermediate member being arranged with the same orientation as said base member and with its transverse portion adjacent the transverse portion of said base member; (c) at lease one plug member (5 1 , 5 2 ) arranged on the opposite side of said intermediate member from said base member; (d) the transverse portion of said intermediate member containing a plurality of parallel through openings extending longitudinally in the direction between said base and plug members; (e) a plurality of open-ended first female contacts (4 1 , 4 1 ') mounted in the through openings contained in said intermediate member, respectively, said plug member having at one end an end portion extending within the space defined between said intermediate member leg portions, said one end portion containing a plurality of second female contacts (6 1 , 6 1 ') arranged colinearly opposite said first female contacts, respectively; (f) a plurality of parallel male contacts (21 1 , 21 1 ') mounted on said base member, said male contacts extending at one end completely through said first female contacts and into the corresponding second female contacts, respectively, said male contacts being adapted for connection at their other ends with conductors on the printed circuit board; and (g) short circuit means (S) contained in said intermediate member for establishing a short circuit between at least one pair of said first female contacts, thereby to short circuit the associated pair of male contacts and the printed circuit conductors associated therewith, said second female contacts being operable to directly receive said male contacts upon removal of said intermediate member from said base member and upon insertion of said plug member one end within the space defined between said base member leg portions.