Independent socket for use with stacked memory card connector assembly

Claim 1

A connector assembly for surface mounting on a PC board, comprising: a lower connector and an upper connector aligned and stacked with each other in a vertical direction, each connector including an insulative housing having a plurality of passageways extending therethrough in a front-to-end direction for receiving a corresponding number of first contacts therein; an independent auxiliary alignment socket disposed substantially spaced from and in front of said lower connector, whereby said socket is generally aligned with the lower connector in the front-to-end direction and is parallel to the housing thereof; said socket including an elongated insulative housing having a plurality of passageways extending therethrough in the vertical direction for receiving therein a corresponding number of second contacts wherein each second contact of the socket has a contact section adapted to be electrically and mechanically engaged with tails of the first contacts of the upper connector, respectively, and a tail section adapted to be surface-mounted on the PC board; and a pair of mounting blocks positioned at two opposite ends of the housing of the socket, each mounting block at least including mounting means for independently retaining said socket onto the PC board with no structural fixation relationship to the housings of the upper connector and the lower connector; wherein said connector is a memory card connector whereby a pair of guiding arms extend at two opposite ends of the housing in the front-to-end direction; and wherein each mounting block has a triangular pier on each side for stabilization of the socket on the PC board, and the tails of the second contacts of the socket are confined within an area defined by two lengthwise opposite piers.