Electrical contact with reduced self-inductance

Claim 2

An electrical contact for use in a connector between mutually opposed electrical interfaces, comprising: a generally planar contact body having first and second major faces, the body including a pair of spaced apart spring arms connected by a resilient bight portion, the spring arms having respective free ends each with an outwardly facing edge which defines a contact nose engageable with a respective one of the interfaces, and that respective shorting sections extending from each of the free ends generally toward each other and being offset such that, upon deflection of the spring arms relatively closer together, the shorting sections overlap and the first major face of one shorting section engages the second major face of the other shorting section, whereby a shortened electrical path is formed between the contact noses while the spring arms, the bight portion, and the shorting section lie in a common plane.

Claim 3

The contact according to claim 1, wherein the bight portion is an arcuate section of the contact body.

Claim 4

The contact according to claim 1, wherein the bight portion is bisected by a central axis of the contact body.

Claim 5

The contact according to claim 1, wherein the spring arms angularly diverge as they extend from the bight portion.

Claim 6

An electrical contact for use in a connector between mutually opposed electrical interfaces, comprising: a generally planar contact body stamped from sheet material, the body having first and second major faces corresponding to opposite side surfaces of the sheet material, the body including a resilient bight portion and a pair of spaced apart spring arms extending from the bight portion, the spring arms having respective free ends each with an outwardly facing edge which defines a contact nose engageable with a respective one of the interfaces, and respective shorting sections extending from each of the free ends generally toward each other and being offset such that the first major face of one shorting section is substantially coplanar with the second major face of the other shorting section, whereby upon deflection of the spring arms relatively closer together, the substantially coplanar major faces of the respective shorting sections come into mutual engagement, while the spring arms, the bight portion, and the shorting sections lie in a common plane so as to form a shortened electrical path is formed between the contact noses.

Claim 7

An electrical contact for use in a connector between mutually opposed electrical interfaces, comprising: a generally planar contact body stamped from sheet material, the body having first and second major faces corresponding to opposite side surfaces of the sheet material, the body including a resilient bight portion and a pair of spaced apart spring arms extending from the bight portion, the spring arms having respective free ends each with an outwardly facing edge which defines a contact nose engageable with a respective one of the interfaces, and respective shorting sections extending from each of the free ends generally toward each other and being offset such that the first major face of one shorting section is substantially coplanar with the second major face of the other shorting section, whereby upon deflection of the spring arms relatively closer together, the substantially coplanar major faces of the respective shorting sections come into mutual engagement, while the spring arms, the bight portion, and the shorting sections lie in a common plane so as to form a shortened electrical path is formed between the contact noses.

Claim 8

The contact according to claim 5, wherein the bight portion is an arcuate section of the contact body.

Claim 9

The contact according to claim 5, wherein the bight portion is bisected by a central axis of the contact body.

Claim 10

The contact according to claim 5, wherein the spring arms angularly diverge as they extend from the bight portion.