Connector assembly for electrically interconnecting two printed circuit board like members

Claim 1

A connector assembly for electrically interconnecting a first printed circuit board like member having electrical contacts thereon with a second printed circuit board like member having electrical contacts thereon, comprising: an elongated support member for being mounted on a first printed circuit board like member, said support member having opposite ends and being generally C-shaped as seen from one of the ends of the support member, said support member having arm portions which each terminate at a respective free end, the arm portions of the support member being spaced apart to define therebetween a longitudinal opening extending between the opposite ends of the support member for receiving a second printed circuit board like member; flexible circuitry mounted on said support member, said flexible circuitry including a plurality of generally parallel-spaced electrical conductors for being electrically connected with the electrical contacts on the first printed circuit board like member when the support member is mounted on the first printed circuit board like member, said plurality of generally parallel-spaced electrical conductors on the flexible circuitry each terminating at a contact pad, the flexible circuitry being positioned on the support member so that contact pads are positioned on at least one of the arm portions of the support member on at least one side of the longitudinal opening to provide an electrical connection with the electrical contacts on the second printed circuit board like member when the second printed circuit board like member is received within the longitudinal opening, at least some of the contact pads being aligned in a row; an elastomer sheet positioned between the at least one arm portion of the support member and the flexible circuitry, at least one upstanding rib extending from the elastomer sheet and positioned in alignment with the aligned row of contact pads, said elastomer sheet being fabricated of material which possesses compliant properties and which is of a thickness that allows individual contact pads of the flexible circuitry to move relative to other contact pads when the second printed circuit board like member is received within the longitudinal opening; and means for adhering the elastomer sheet to at least one of the flexible circuitry and the arm portion of the support member.