Connector, method for insertion of a male contact into a female contact, and device for carrying out said method

Claim 1

In a connector assembly comprising a board provided with a plurality of holes of given internal diameter and an overlying connection body having an insulating piece parallel to and spaced some distance above said board and relatively movable towards said board in a direction perpendicular to said board, said insulating piece having opposite parallel faces and the same number of pins to the number of said holes, each of said pins projecting beyond each parallel face of said insulating piece, the improvement wherein: each of said pins has from its end proximate to the board: (i) a first longitudinal section of a diameter smaller than said internal diameter of said holes, (ii) a second longitudinal section of a diameter larger than said internal diameter, (iii) a third longitudinally tapered part between said first and second sections, (iv) at least one guiding part located in a bore of said insulating piece, and (v) a terminal projection constituting a male connection member for a corresponding removable female one, and; (vi) said insulating piece having for each pin, a said bore having a lower, smaller diameter section at its side facing said board, of a diameter at most equal to the diameter of said guiding part, and an upper section of a diameter larger than the diameter of said guiding part, wherein said pin is fitted in a said board hole and makes a slight interference fit with said lower, smaller diameter section of said bore, wherein, movement of said connection body and said insulating piece towards said board effects, when said third tapered part abuts said board, movement of said lower, smaller diameter section of said bore relative to said guiding part such that said guiding part is located entirely in said upper section of the bore to provide said pin with a lateral freedom with respect to said insulating piece and said pin is self centered in said hole by contact between said third tapered part of said pin and the hole of said board.